How to Train Your Dog to Not Run
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Introduction
If your dog has started running away from you, or away from home, he is in danger of several hazards. Your dog can easily run so far that he gets lost and can't find his way home, he can run out into traffic and become an accident victim, he can run afoul of another dog's territory and be attacked, or in a rural setting, he may be attacked by wild or feral animals. Coyotes especially are known for attacking dogs that have strayed too far from their owners or homes. Curbing running behavior and teaching your dog to stay home, or with you, is an important skill to keep your dog safe.
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Defining Tasks
Some dogs are especially prone to running. There are several reasons for a dog's running behavior; they may be scared, excited, or they may have learned to run after prey or to explore their environment. These are natural instinctive behaviors for a dog, and, with the exception of being scared, it’s fun for your dog--a reward in itself. Training your dog not to run will need to address the natural reward he gets from the behavior, and counteract it. It can be difficult and take some time to eliminate this behavior, especially once it has developed, however, it is critical to overcome your dog's tendency to run--for his own safety. Preventing the behavior from developing in the first place, by training your young dog to respond to your verbal commands, keeping him in an enclosed area, or on a leash, will prevent the self-rewarding running behavior from occurring in the first place. Ensure enclosures such as fenced yards are secure, gates are closed, and that your dog cannot jump the fence, or dig under the fence to escape. Some dogs have a tendency to go for the door or gate every time it opens, escaping if they can. Training to teach your dog that you own the door will curb this door bolting behavior.
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Getting Started
You will need to spend some time teaching your dog commands to control him, both on-leash and off. This will require a time investment and lots of treats, praise, and rewards. You can also teach your dog not to bolt for an open door or gate, and it may be useful to engage an assistant to help you with this. Using a long leash during training is helpful to simulate your dog being off leash, while still retaining the ability to restrain him and prevent him from running. In extreme circumstances, where the dog is repeatedly in danger, the use or a whistle and shock collar may be necessary to prevent the dog from running and putting himself in harm's way.
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The Claim Exits Method
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Effective
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Set up
If your dog has a tendency to rush a door or gate whenever it is open or unattended and escape that way, you will need to establish that entrance ways are your territory. You will need to carefully supervise your dog during the training period to make sure he does not escape. Put a long leash on your dog to help ensure his safety. Have an assistant come to your door or a yard gate and open it.
Provide verbal cue
When your dog runs for the door or gate, say “No” or “Stop”.
Physically block
Restrain the dog. If he gets to the door first, then put your body between the door and your dog. Physically block your dog; own the space. Wait there.
Reinforce retreat
Wait for your dog to back away from the door and be calm. When this occurs, reward your dog and move away from the door. If your dog runs for the door again, repeat previous steps.
Establish ownership of exits
Repeat this exercise many times daily, and over several days until your dog learns that you own the door, and that they will be rewarded for ignoring an opened door or gate.
The Alternate Behavior Method
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Teach 'come'
Teach your dog to come when called. Call your do and give her a treat when she comes. Eventually do not always give treats to your dog for coming to you, only occasionally reward her. Most dogs become proficient at this command, you can eventually reward with just attention and praise.
Teach 'touch'
Teach your dog to come and touch your hand with her nose by calling out “Touch”. Always provide a high-value treat when performing this command, such as cheese or meat. Do not use this command as often as 'come', which is for every day and is not always rewarded with a treat. In an emergency situation you can call out “Touch” and get a more sure response, since your dog will expect a tangible reward for responding every time. Also, because your dog actually touches her nose to your hand, she will be close enough for to restrain her in a dangerous situation.
Teach 'down'
You should also teach your dog to go 'down' from a distance. Working in an enclosed area, free from hazards, while off leash, teach your dog to lie down. Reward her with a treat when she performs this task at a distance. Add distractions, such as other dogs, throwing balls, passersby, etc.. and give the 'down' command, so that your dog learns to respond to this while off-leash, even when distracted.
Use long leash
Use a long leash, 20 feet or more. Walk your dog in a relatively quiet, safe neighborhood. Give your dog some leash. Give the commands 'come', 'down', and 'touch' frequently to get her used to responding in different situations. Reward her for responding correctly.
Apply off-leash
Repeat these exercises over several days to establish good voice control over your dog that can be applied even when off-leash. If your dog starts to run away from you when off leash, you will be able to give a verbal command to direct her behavior.
The Negative Consequences Method
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Set up warning and stimulus collar
Using negative consequences for running behavior may be necessary for dogs that are in an environment where it's not possible to contain or supervise the dog, such as for rural dogs. Fit your dog with a shock collar and have a whistle on hand. Supervise your dog while off leash.
Signal
When your dog runs from you or your yard, let out a blast on the whistle. If the dog comes to you, give a treat.
Activate stimulus collar
If your dog proceeds, rather than returning to you, activate the shock collar. Be sure to educate yourself on proper usage of training collars before use; shock collars should be adjusted to the minimum effective setting.
Reward return
Call your dog back to you, reward for coming back.
Establish
Repeat this exercise multiple times over a period of several days, until your dog learns not to run away from you or your yard area, as negative consequences will occur. If you are not going to be present, you can use a shock collar with a specific range; if the dog strays more than 20-50 or 100 yards from the transmitter, they will receive a signal to stop followed by a shock if they continue.
Written by Laurie Haggart
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/14/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Sugar
Corgi
8 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
When off leash Sugar LOVES running, mostly in circles . When i try to call her back, she keeps running, usually away from me . Like its a game. We live on a busy road, she has room to run in back of house but cant trust she wont keep running into the road.
Nov. 21, 2021
Sugar's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Patti, First, start working on a reliable Come. Check out the Reel In method from the article linked below. Reel In method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall More Come - pay attention to the PreMack Principle and long leash training sections especially once pup has learned what Come initially means. These need to be practiced around all types of distractions like dogs and kids at the park to ensure pup is reliable before attempting true off leash. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/train-dog-to-come-when-called/ Another activity you can practice is walking around places like your yard or a field with pup on the long training leash and changing directions frequently without saying anything. Whenever she takes notice (at first because the leash finally tugs, but later just because you moved), then toss a treat at her for looking your way or coming over to you - without calling her; this encourages her to choose to pay attention to where you are and associate your presence with good things on her own, so she will want to be with you. The Reel In method is sufficient for most dogs but some dogs do need to be e-collar trained afterward as well to teach reliability around high distractions also, especially if there is any compulsive behavior with circling going on (I can't tell without seeing pup if pup is just running for fun or compulsively circling - running isn't unusual) but either way the foundation of Come and practicing the Reel In method on a long leash is needed first. E-collar Come info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtJxSXu4rfs&t=331s Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Nov. 26, 2021
Bailey
Husky /Retriever
2 Years
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Gets out and don’t come back and jumps on people
Nov. 6, 2021
Bailey's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Janet, First, I recommend teaching a reliable Come command. Reel In method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall Come: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/train-dog-to-come-when-called/ Second, assuming pup is staying outside in a physical fence - like a wooden fence, that he is escaping out of through things like digging or fence climbing, I recommend installing an invisible fence two feet inside of your physical fence around the yard. Another option would be to use something like Halo, which is a device that works similar to invisible fences with the included collar, but uses GPS mapping to create the borders instead of burying something, this can be better than an invisible fence in a rental situation or large area. The electric fence should help pup not to even approach the physical fence so that they won't have opportunity to dig or climb it. The invisible in-ground electric fence or Halo should only be paired with the real fence and not in place of it, or it will not be effective with an escape artist in most cases. There still needs to be a physical barrier so that pup can't just bolt through the electric fence quickly. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Nov. 8, 2021