***Urgent***....help!

[Sweet Phoebe]

Hi guys. This time, the post isn't about Phoebe. It is about another dog we adopted.....well, actually we saved him from being put down. Long story short, my sister in law got a very cute pup at 5 wks old. Now he is 9 months old (was neutured at 6 months), but they gave him away because he would always run away, and is agressive around other people. Well, after the dog being transported around to 3 or 4 homes, my S when he is outside. My SIL got him back, and told us they were going to the dog pound, and the dog pound told them most likely he will be put down, since he is aggressive with others.


We knew him since 5 weeks old.,& he isn't aggressive with us. So I told my SIL DO NOT send him to death row (the pound), and that we will take him. I love dogs too much to see that happen.

Problem is this, and I really need your help. Sunday night, my daughter opened the door, and the dog escaped outside under her legs.(he is a known escape artist).. He ran and ran. We tried to call him and chase him, but the more we got closer to him, the faster he would run. So we lost him. Then at 3:00am on Sunday, he was barking like crazy running down our street. How embarassing. :eek: Everyone's lights turned on, and they were peeking out their windows. Again, we ran after him and called him, and he would run away from us. A man stepped outside to see what was going on that lived a few houses down, and the dog was barking at him....real aggressively. My husband went over, and the dog ran away from him. So Sunday at 2:00pm, we called the police dept to see if their was any calls about him, and they said Yes, someone called about a whote dog runnig the neighborhood. They vgave us a location he was last seen. We drove a mile out, and luckily, we found him curled up on a church's steps. We called him, and finally after 14 hours, he came.

We want to keep the dog, but he is already stressing me out. He is GREAT with me and the kids, also with Phoebe. BUT when he gets out and runs, he turns into a complete different dog. He gets aggressive with everyone, tries to intimidate them, barks, and runs faster away when we call him.

Do you have any suggestions? He has been running away and barking like this for months...that is why he went from home to home. It is a shame, because when he is indoors, he is a real sweet dog.

Please, help anybody. :confused:

[Squawksx3]

We got our 10 yr old Labx when he was 6 months old... he's a rescue with a terrible life prior to us taking him in but that another chapter hehe..... he was also a runner. Soon as the door opened he was gone and the chase was on.
This worked for us: we kept a long, soft lead on him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It was about 6 ft long. As soon as he would bolt out the door we would grab the lead and stop him in his tracks. It only took a few weeks before he got the message he wasn't going anywhere. After that, we could open the door wide open and he would stand there until we told him it was ok to go outside... and he never ran again... he stayed right in the front yard. This wont work on some breeds/dogs but its worth a try to stop the running. Just make sure there isn't anything in the house that the lead can get hooked on... he'll need to be watched and monitored while having the lead on. As for the aggressiveness, I would take him out more and get him socialized. Make sure you have control and gently correct him if he starts barking or shows signs of aggression. It sounds like no one has worked with him and he's been running amuck for awhile. It may really help if you get him into training classes like at Petsmart... its great for socializing also. Best of luck to you and bless your heart for saving him from death row. Most shelters will put them down if they return to the shelter for one reason or another :( .

[rileystar04]

I personally have no idea what to do. My aunt had a pekingese that would run away just like your pup, and it adventually lead to her death....

I suggest getting to a professional trainer ASAP. He or she will have tons of suggestions and will be able to help you out more than I could.

[PatchO'Pits]

We got our 10 yr old Labx when he was 6 months old... he's a rescue with a terrible life prior to us taking him in but that another chapter hehe..... he was also a runner. Soon as the door opened he was gone and the chase was on.
This worked for us: we kept a long, soft lead on him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It was about 6 ft long. As soon as he would bolt out the door we would grab the lead and stop him in his tracks. It only took a few weeks before he got the message he wasn't going anywhere. After that, we could open the door wide open and he would stand there until we told him it was ok to go outside... and he never ran again... he stayed right in the front yard. This wont work on some breeds/dogs but its worth a try to stop the running. Just make sure there isn't anything in the house that the lead can get hooked on... he'll need to be watched and monitored while having the lead on. As for the aggressiveness, I would take him out more and get him socialized. Make sure you have control and gently correct him if he starts barking or shows signs of aggression. It sounds like no one has worked with him and he's been running amuck for awhile. It may really help if you get him into training classes like at Petsmart... its great for socializing also. Best of luck to you and bless your heart for saving him from death row. Most shelters will put them down if they return to the shelter for one reason or another :( .

Good advice!

also I agree w/ rileystar04 especially because of his aggression a trainer needs to be consulted asap a behaviorist is best if possible


good luck and keep us posted.

I'm sure mutt manners will add some more good info too

[Magnum]

I totaly agree with everyone here, and I also want to thank you for saving his life. It's very sad he was not properly raised, but he is still so young and has many years of companionship to share with you and your family. ;)

[Mutt Manners]

well this is a very difficult thing to break adlut dogs of especially when you are talking about a dog who has been doing this for quite sometime and knows he can get away with it.

I like the leash idea - I too have used that in the past. With this dog there are a couple of things I would try.

1. I would start descentizing him to an open door. Any door that opens out into a non fenced area needs to be worked on. Put a leash and training collar (choke chain - be sure to put this on the correct way - make the loop and make sure you can make a p formation with the loop then put it put hands thru the loop and put over the dogs head - keep dog on your left side) walk him up to the door and open it. Prepare yourself as he will BOLT. When he does stand still and he will do the correcting him self. Let the chain go tight and then pull him back quickly. The choke chain is a great tool but please realize that it is NOT intended to REMAIN tight against the dogs neck. It is a training tool used to snap and release just a quickly. Don't allow him to keep the chain tight. You need slack. Snap ands release as many times as needed to get his attention. Walk him back inside and start over. If he knows Sit, then have him sit before you open the door. If he breaks the sit then correct him (snap and release on the chain) and tell him NO! Once he listens then praise him for listening. If you can open the door without him bolting then praise him. Your goal is to get him to listen to you and not bolt thru the door. You may need your hubby or male friend to help you with this if he is a strong dog.

If this does not work after a week of solid trying and working at least 30 minutes per day on this technique then I would go to a shock collar for a short period of time. It's pretty easy, put the collar on, place a minimum of 6 ffot lead on him (just in l\case so you have something to step on if he runs. Hold the remote, open the door and when he runs TELL HIM NO - if he continues hit the shock button. When he yipes then tell him to come. If he does not shock again and go get him. I would work this maybe 2 times a day and opening the door at least 2-3 times each session. He should get the picture.

Let me say this to everyone - I DO NOT recommend shock collars to very many people. In this case, this poor dog has already been headed to the dog pound and death row and if he continues to escape he is risking his life and those others who are driving on near by roads and highways.

I wish you the best of luck with the descentizing training and hope that works for you and your rescue puppy. I would reccomend getting yourself a LONG rope and tying that to his collar rather then using a 6 foot lead. It will give you a longer line to step on and it's cheeper then those 15 or 30 foot leads you find in the pet stores.

Good luck and keep us posted on your outcome.

Julie