Dog Community

The Dashing Dog! HELP!

Posted : 5/15/2006 1:53:08 PM

Hi there.. it's been a while since I have posted. I have a problem with my little 2 year old min pin.. she dashes when she has a chance. Last Wednesday we got home and let her out of the car and the garage door was closing but she was able to get out at the last second. Before we even know she was out she was gone. We looked for her and called her and thought she couldn't have gotten far that quick. After scouring the neighborhood and bawling at the thought she would get hit, she came out from somewhere. She just ignored me telling her to come once I found her, but I was able to make it to her. This is only the second time she has ever escaped. My question is how to I: 1) make her not take off if the door is open (she is so quick) and 2) If she does run off, how do I get her to pay attention to me, not all the outdoor excitment?
Ever since Wednesday I have been sick thinking about losing her and I don't know what to do to prevent this happening again. I guess twice in 2 years isn't bad, but I would like it to never happen again.
She is just not to be trusted without a leash.
Thanks!
Kalishea

glenmar

Posted : 5/15/2006 2:00:58 PM

Hi, welcome to idog. First off, I never open a car door until my garage door is allll the way down. Second, when I do open the door, my dogs are trained to WAIT until I release them. And third, you MUST teach your girl an absolutely rock solid recall. We have a number of trainers here on idog, and I'm sure someone will be along soon. However, I'll tell you right now that every one of them is going to suggest you get this girl into a positive reinforcement training class. And, I'll agree with that in advance.

kalishea

Posted : 5/15/2006 2:11:37 PM

Ya know, I never open the car door until the door is all the way down either, but my DEAR husband thought it was down enough that she couldn't get out even though I said wait. Boy was he in serious trouble that night! The thing is, she responds very very well to my commands IN THE HOUSE, but as soon as she gets outside, I don't exisit. Yes, I need some help.

sooner

Posted : 5/15/2006 2:18:59 PM

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Posted : 5/15/2006 3:46:16 PM

Sounds to me like its a matter of your baby girl not being trained properly. I notice as my girl ages I give her slack and she picks up on it quick! When Rory was a puppy I used to obviously walk her from the car to the front door on her leash. As she got older and was more obediant and would stay close to me I didnt bother (I know, I know) and she would start venturing a lil farther and farther everytime so back to the leash we went! I get so comfertable with my girl sometimes I forget its my responsibility to keep her safe. Try closing the garage before letting her out or when you open the door of the car make her wait until you say its ok. I'm sure she'll have no chance running away then

loveukaykay

Posted : 5/15/2006 4:12:53 PM

If nothing else and in the mean time you can just ALWAYS have her on a leash when outdoors or in the car, that way she doesnt even have the chance to get lost.

Michelle Kemp

Posted : 5/17/2006 10:49:51 AM

I also have a door darter. I have a 2 year old Rotti/St.Bernard mix who used to lurk for the chance to bolt out of the door. My son had accidentally let her out one time and she was missing for 4 days. ( the most horrid experience!) I did a lot of reading up on this subject to find that it is a behavioral problem and that they need to be trained. There are also devices that you can buy to help. I saw a mat that you can put at your door that will give a slight shock when they step on it. That will not work for mine as she is so large that she could go right over it or not be bothered by the jolt. Invisible fencing is also an option. It can be kind of pricy but it works miracles!.

tiffy

Posted : 5/17/2006 12:06:39 PM

Maybe its a min pin thing, Sammy is great for bolting. He totally ignores me when he gets out and hes so quick theres no way to catch him. Lately when this happens I get in the car and he gets in. Thank god he is microchipped, hes been picked up by the pound twice. One time someone wanted to adopt him, but I said they probably couldn't handle him. Hes a challenge to say the least!

tashakota

Posted : 5/17/2006 12:31:35 PM

Teaching a wait command is very valuable. I use wait when they are in the car, waiting at the door and on walks when I want them to stop and wait for me. Actually, I guess we kind of use stay and wait interchangeably... hmm.. need to work on that. But you get the idea. They cannot get out of the car until I say "free". Or go outside. etc. If one of them does (and it's usually the littlest guy, I think he thinks he's just too cute and can get away with it) then we have a "heh, anh anh" kind of thing that stops them in their tracks. This takes a while to get and my youngest is 5 years old now... but before then, we taught the wait for cars first.

Buster's Mom

Posted : 5/17/2006 5:35:28 PM

Both of our dogs will dash.
Once they have stepped out the door, Coco the doxie-chi mix
will cower and stop running or chasing a duck when she hears a
stern voice.
Buster, the beagle will follow his nose to the next zip code if he gets
out. The first time the neighbor kids caught him. The second time
the deepness of my husband's voice stopped him. My voice just
won't come out sounding the same. ( I guess I get no respect !)

Coco, who had been a stray previously, dumped by someone, knows
what it is like to live under cars & go without a meal - she won't go far.

Buster, on the other hand thinks that there is a meal around every corner.
He's been living fat & happy, so there is no hesitation to take an adventure.

All this has made me very paranoid. I put a kiddy fence on the front door.
I don't want to lose my dog just because the UPS man came to deliver.

I guess I am not really sure with all the training in the world if they
won't just dart out for the heck of it. Okay - I am not trusting.
Just want to keep my furbabies safe.