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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dog Bolting away when off lead

38 replies

Blankscreen · 27/04/2021 14:57

We've got a 7 month old cavapoo and when she is let off the lead she bolts as far and as fast as she can.

We:ve done lots of long lead training with high value treats and praise and she still reverts to type. I'm terrified she is going to get lost or run over.

Anyone have any tips that we can try

Thanks

OP posts:

Slub · 27/04/2021 14:58

Keep the dog on a lead.

You're welcome.

Newfluff · 27/04/2021 15:01

You haven't done enough training. Every time she is allowed to bolt she gets a much better reward than a bit of cheese.
She needs to be on lead.

Hellocatshome · 27/04/2021 15:01

Stop letting her off the lead.
Take her to secure dog fields, you can usually hire them by the hour. Do not let her off the lead in a non enclosed space until she has learnt recall.

antidisestablishmentarianism · 27/04/2021 15:03

keep your dog on a long lead (20m or more) and practice recall all the time for high value treats. You can also practice a down and stay at a distance too which can be a life saver. You shouldnt let it off the long line unless the recall is secure. Every time the dog bolts not on a long line and you struggle to get it back then the escaping is rewarded (with freedom). you need to make sure being with you is THE BEST.

Tambora · 27/04/2021 15:06

My NDN's poodle bolts. They've had her 10 years and tried everything, so they never let her off the lead.

LolaSmiles · 27/04/2021 15:08

Until she doesn't bolt as far and fast as she can there's not enough lead/long line training.

Others may disagree with me but I don't think some excitement at the start of off lead is the end of the world as long as you retain control. For example mine have an initial burst, but they sit to be unclipped and remain sat until they're given the command that they're free to run. When they get to the edge of what I considered ok for the situation, they either return or go no further depending on the command given

Until your dog's recall is good, the reward of freedom is greater than the reward of staying close/doing as they're told.

Planttrees · 27/04/2021 15:08

Very simple really - keep her on a lead at all times!

lljkk · 27/04/2021 15:13

7 months is very young. I would have hope you'll get there with decent recall, but don't take chances in meantime.

Wolfiefan · 27/04/2021 15:25

Longline is a great idea. Make sure it’s attached to a good harness (perfect fit etc) not a collar.
Total recall is a great book.
Secure fields are brill.
But you must prevent your dog being able to practice the bolting behaviour.

Soubriquet · 27/04/2021 15:27

Some dogs never develop a recall

Yours is too young to say never but for now, don’t let her off the lead

KurtWilde · 27/04/2021 15:28

She needs to stay on her lead.

Floralnomad · 27/04/2021 15:49

She needs to be on a long line and you need to investigate some different training methods as obviously what you have done isn’t working . Treats would never work with my dog because he’s not remotely food orientated so he’s trained with tennis balls ( any ball really) as that is what he’s obsessed with . He is also not allowed balls in the house so they stay special .

FeatheredHope · 27/04/2021 15:53

Carry on training. She’s a 7 month old cockapoo. That’s a long training road potentially ahead of you - she’s still very young and there will potentially be regressions as she learns and grows (and hits puberty!).
And in the meantime, you always keep her on a lead until you are very sure of her recall.

Like all puppies, it’s all training, positive reinforcement and patience. Very few magical shortcuts to it I’m afraid.

SlothMama · 27/04/2021 15:57

She's still very young, for now keep her on a long line which you can stand on if she bolts. You need to be more exciting than whatever she is bolting for, try and find a recall class. That really helped us.

HumphreyCobblers · 27/04/2021 16:12

I practice recall with my schnauzer every single day but I still can’t let her off the lead out in public. Basically she is really good until there is something more interesting going on. She is just over a year old now and I am starting to see glimmers of hope that the constant training might be starting to pay off, she has stopped barking at other dogs when we are out and about at least.

Badgershy · 27/04/2021 16:15

7 months old is teenage territory when all your hard work goes out of the window. We've been through this. Our dog is now 19 months and his recall still isn't 100%. What you need to do is keep her on a long line at all times. Biothane ones are brilliant as they don't absorb water and get heavy. They're tricky to handle at first but once you've got to grips with them they really are absolutely fantastic for giving pup some freedom whilst maintaining control. You then need to go back to basics with training. Best of luck.

MrsTophamHat · 27/04/2021 16:31

We had a dog like that. We never let him off the lead apart from on a particular deserted beach when he would have his run around and then his separation anxiety would kick in so he would be happy to trot about near where we were. If we spotted so much as a speck on the horizon, he was back on lead though, as he would have chased other people and dogs if he had seen them first.

Original poster

Blankscreen · 27/04/2021 17:14

Thanks everyone. I'll carry on with the long line

Il've considered hiring a field but reading the comments on here about keeping her on the lead I'm not sure I should assuming she will just run off albeit safely as does it just reinforce that behaviour?

It's such a shame as she is so good in every other respect.

OP posts:

sunflowersandbuttercups · 27/04/2021 17:15

Part of it will be because she's a teenager and being stubborn, but if she's always done it, it could just be a training issue - with some dogs, it takes much longer for things to "click" than with others.

For now, you just need to keep her on lead/long-line unless you can hire a secure space for her to run. Some dogs are never able to be safely off lead, though most improve over time/with enough training.

antidisestablishmentarianism · 28/04/2021 11:07

I think you could use a secure field but be prepared to wait it out for her to return to you, in other words don't call her and then not have a means of recalling her if she ignores you.

Chocolateandamaretto · 28/04/2021 11:35

Do you know why she's bolting? Is it just the joy of running or is she going to other dogs?

Ours is 10 months and we're still working on it but our biggest hurdle is other dogs he wants to play with and we realised we could have the smelliest loveliest treat with us but if he's buggering off to play then he doesn't want a snack. He's still on his long line but he's improved massively by us using a toy to call him away from other dogs because he's bolting to go play with someone.

Original poster

Blankscreen · 28/04/2021 12:01

We took her to the park last night with the long lead but had it trailing on the floor she was great didn't run off whilst in the open area.

We when went into the wooded area and she completely loses her mind she just literally wants to chase anything and everything and is loving life. We kept on the lead and tried recall but she was just ignoring us.

She ran across the park to the woods the other day so she is definitely attracted to them and once she is in the zone she just doesn't listen or hear anything

OP posts:

FeatheredHope · 28/04/2021 13:11

I mean this gently, but you have a dog bred from two HUNTING breeds. What exactly did you expect? The likelihood was that she was always going to have a relatively high prey drive and as everyone has pointed out, she’s a young teenager. Just keep training. And I would suggest going to an actual training class (as they might just about be allowed now). It’s always helpful to have an expert opinion and a safe space to do it in.

Floralnomad · 28/04/2021 13:49

Perhaps you just need to be selective about where you let her off . I don’t let my dog off in woods , he stays on a long lead because otherwise he would be down a rabbit or fox hole or killing the wildlife . There are plenty of other places where he goes offlead so to me it’s just not worth the risk even though he probably would be fine now he’s older .

averythinline · 28/04/2021 14:05

Maybe see if you find a gundog trainer near you lots do course'sfor pers as well...there's a novice gundog Facebook group....make sure its a positive reward one...

we had a good puppy trainer but have gone specialist for the same reason...or a trainer that's used to that types of dog....we will never use our dog as a gundog....and what ours has said is not massively different to other training advice but they are also really about working with the type dog...although focusing on the dog in front of you....

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