Kingdom of Pets

Posted by miyaboy
Oct 13, 2009

My miniature pinscher (Lucky) likes to run out of the gate whenever he sees the gate open. He is 5 years old. I usually keep him in my backyard. When I bring him out unleashed and when someone opens the automatic gate that is controlled by a remote control, he will dash out to the road. I ran after him and used the recall command but the moment he see me doing that, he stopped for a second and stared at me before running faster away from me the next moment. He usually responds well to the recall command at home and on the leash.

I tried to teach him not to run out by using the leash with opening the gate to see his reaction. The gate starts off as closed. If he does not rush to the front when the gate is open, I will reward him with praise and sometimes treats. If he dashes forward towards the gate, I will say No! in a low voice to correct him. This traning method is repeated after 10min intervals for 3 times daily. He responds well during the training. When he is off-leash, he will dash out again. I am confused about his disobedience. I am wondering is my method incorrect?

Can someone with a better method give advice on correcting this behaviour problem?

Thanks.

Posted by kjd
Oct 13, 2009

When you run after your dog, he thinks you are joining in the fun. Try stooping down and calling him to you. Or, when he is looking at you, run back into the yard -- get him to chase you.

This won't help him learn the recall, but, when he is running into the road, getting him back where it is safe is the most important thing.

I once chased my dog around the neighborhood. When I gave up and returned home, she followed me. I stooped down and held out my arms. She came immediately. She had lots of fun being chased by me!

Posted by KOPsarah
Oct 19, 2009

I agree with KJD about running the other way to encourage your dog rather than running after him, although this feels very counterintuitive at the time it is much more effective. Work on his recall by having someone sit with him near the gate and positioning yourself in the opposite direction to the gate, call him too you in an excited voice while running backwards a little, when he comes make a huge fuss and give him a treat. Do this regularly until you can have him sitting off lead with the other person and still call him to you far away in the opposite direction. Because the whole thing will be so much fun for your dog he will soon learn that going to you is much more exciting than whatever may be going on outside the gate.

Dog running out of the gate to road