Naughty dog running off in woods

[mamhaf]

Our 4-year-old staffie cross is becoming very naughty about running off when we take her for a walk in the woods - sometimes not coming back for up to 20 minutes.
We took her to obedience classes a few years ago, and follow their advice - giving her treats when she comes back when she's called etc - but it seems once she's decided to go off for a run (chasing squirrels maybe), there's no attracting her back.
We tend to not give her much attention after she's had one of her mad 15 minutes, just put her on the lead and bring her home...but is that the right thing?
How do we re-train her to come back when called the first time?

In my experience, they try this on when going through an adolesent stage. 4yrs old is not adolesent. My 1.5yr old boy dog does this regularly if there is another dog about, woosh hes gone!
I take him to training (used to as a pup and now again) because of his disappearing acts. It does seem to be slowly helping. When he decides hes going off, it doesnt matter how harshly or softly i recall him he just keeps on going - little sod. So maybe think about taking her back to class? Not a puppy class a general class.

I wonder why she does it. Is it to see another dog or just to investiagte the sniffs? Has she been spayed?
We have a bitch dog too and apart from her naughty adolesent running offs, weve never since had a problem with her.

Yes, she's been spayed. Interestingly, the dog trainer said he found that dogs who'd been spayed before being in season often stayed immature - she does still act in a very puppyish way.
She did catch and kill a rabbit earlier in the year and I wonder if that gave her a taste for acting like this - we don't know what she's up to when she runs off.

Our bitch was spayed only this week. She is 6yrs old and quite mature. Not at all interested in playing unless catching a ball. So that confirms the locking into a puppyfied state if done when younger.

I think you should do some class of some sort with her, maybe agility or fly ball or just a general training class.
I wonder if she is bored with just sticking with you on the walks and is looking for more stimulation/fun?
Its gotta be worth a try? And, until your satisfied with her would avoid the woods and go somewhere else if at all possible like a large open space/field?

out of interest do you do the same walk every day? mine started to act a bit like this ,so i varied the walks we did ,now he still bolts off after squirrels but he comes back to check where i am ,as he doesnt know where i will be .

Message withdrawn

Ratclare - yes, it does tend to be the same (beautiful) walk - it's a path through a wood and, in theory, a good place to let her off the lead. I think it's definitely the squirrels - perhaps once the weather gets colder she'll improve.
At least it's not near a road, so she shouldn't come to any harm.
Varying the route would be good, but the alternatives are places where there's often livestock around, so she'd have to stay on the lead anyway, not solving the problem.
Mellowma - sorry to hear about your problems, it would be a real shame to have to rehome her. Our dog's ok in the garden, which she can't escape from, it's just when she's out that it's a problem. Have you tried obedience classes? When we did go, it worked well and we might need to return. I wonder what your dh does differently that she responds to him?