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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Dog keeps running away on walks

56 replies

Circle3 · 27/03/2024 10:22

Hi, I have an 17 month old Labrador. He is very big and strong. He's not aggressive but is a bundle of energy and very scent driven. As soon as I let him off the lead in the park, he's sniffing the ground frantically. I'm scared to let him in the large open space of the park as he bolts across to the other side, zig zag sniffing the ground and doesn't come back when I call him. I have a bad knee so getting to him quickly is difficult. He's ok at recall without other dogs around, and we have done lots of training in this, but it seems we are going through a bad stage.

He can become very excited and whimpers and whines when he sees another dog. He's intact and I suspect he is running to find a mate. But surely all the female dogs in the park can't be on heat. I try to entice him over with high value treats, but is totally not interested even when I hold the treat right near his face. Walks are really no fun anymore as I have to put him on the lead and he's so strong!!

Will this get better? Does he have hormonal cycles and he may calm down soon? Is this just typical teenage behaviour? Or is it time to get him castrated? Also, he's super territorial at home, barking at visitors at the door.

The vet suggested that castration can make dogs more aggressive as they act 'in fear' and can be very defensive. And also more prone to disease. But the situation, we are at is extremely hard work and distressing. I'm fairly sure the answer is obvious, but just wanted to hear what other owners have done in similar situations.

OP posts:

KnackeredBack · 27/03/2024 10:31

Honestly, unless his recall is bombproof, you need to keep him on a lead all the time. I say this as the owner of a large idiot hound, who ignores recalls if not wanting to return. He's never off, unless he'd in the middle of the countryside and I can see in all directions that there is no-one around.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 27/03/2024 10:32

Stop letting him off a lead, he’s just learning that ignoring you is an option and as running around is far more fun than coming back he’s reinforcing that ignoring you = good.

Mrsjayy · 27/03/2024 10:37

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 27/03/2024 10:32

Stop letting him off a lead, he’s just learning that ignoring you is an option and as running around is far more fun than coming back he’s reinforcing that ignoring you = good.

I agree with this just stop letting him off lead. Some dogs especially young unneutered dogs recall is rubbish and it takes time, we take ours to a secure field and go to a dog group sometimes so he can mix with others.

NeurodivergentBurnout · 27/03/2024 10:38

Keep him on the lead. I have a very reactive dog (after a trauma) and we did behaviour training. I was referred by the vet and my pet insurance covered it, I only had to pay the excess. They taught me lots of strategies for handing my dog, one being if she’s straining on the lead, we stop, I try to relax the lead and we go again when she’s stopped pulling. Some walks are better than others. I would definitely look into behaviour therapy so you can look at triggers and how to manage your dog so walks are more enjoyable.

Hoppinggreen · 27/03/2024 10:42

You only let a dog off the lead if you are VERY confident he has excellent recall. Its dangerous for all humans and dogs in the vicinity so you need to stop that.
Our dogs recall DID improve after his nuts came off but its not guaranteed.
Get a harness or headcollar to make him more manageable and work on his training. Its not easier as even if he is food motivated he may find other things more interestting than you. Look at "sexier than a squirrel" on Youtube for help and/or get a professional in

AllieOup · 27/03/2024 10:43

Why are you letting him off the lead if he's running off??

You don't do that until you're confident in recall.

Mrsttcno1 · 27/03/2024 10:45

Agree with other posters OP, you need a lead all of the time, get a longline lead (NOT A FLEXI LEAD) so he still has some freedom and you can practice recall but you still have ultimate control, and invest in a good dog trainer to help you.

We have a nearly 3 year old Labrador and he’s absolutely amazing now with completely bullet proof recall, but getting here did take a LOT of hard work, consistency, hours and hours of training, to get here. Hang in there x

haggisaggis · 27/03/2024 10:46

Use a longline but make sure you use it with a harness and not a collar!

Original poster

Circle3 · 27/03/2024 10:48

Thanks. I thought everyone was going to say I must get him neutered! I had been feeling a fool for not having it done sooner. Yes I agree he needs to know who's the boss.

He's fine off the lead initially and comes back to me when I call him, and is even quite scared of some dogs, but then picks up a scent and is just desperate to track down a female dog.

I can't imagine walking him on a lead the whole time as he really has so much energy, so maybe we will have to find a private, enclosed space.

OP posts:

21ZIGGY · 27/03/2024 10:49

If youre dog isnt aggressive or nervous then what youre vet said about castration isnt a worry. My dog hasnt changed post castration save that his recall has improved

MeinKraft · 27/03/2024 10:49

Yeah you should get him neutered. Stop letting him off the lead for all our sakes please.

MeinKraft · 27/03/2024 10:51

And btw if he does find a female in heat when he's off lead, how do you think that's going to end up 🤯

Mrsjayy · 27/03/2024 10:52

Circle3 · 27/03/2024 10:48

Thanks. I thought everyone was going to say I must get him neutered! I had been feeling a fool for not having it done sooner. Yes I agree he needs to know who's the boss.

He's fine off the lead initially and comes back to me when I call him, and is even quite scared of some dogs, but then picks up a scent and is just desperate to track down a female dog.

I can't imagine walking him on a lead the whole time as he really has so much energy, so maybe we will have to find a private, enclosed space.

The enclosed fields are really popular these days and they are great for a safe bound about!

Notthatcatagain · 27/03/2024 10:55

It's a requirement that you should have your dog in your control at all times, if his recall isn't perfect then he's not being controlled and should be on a lead

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/03/2024 10:57

Put the dog on a lead.
Get him castrated - unless for some very very good reason your Vet doesn't neuter large dogs until they are 2 or fully grown ?
( but if he was in a rescue waiting to be adopted he would be castrated )
Is he wearing a harness with a lead, or a lead and collar ? you may find you are able to hold him better with a harness ?
If you really want him off lead, then hire one of these dog fields for an hour.

Devilshands · 27/03/2024 11:04

If your dog doesn't come back straight away every single time it is called then it should not be off a lead. At all. No excuses.

And don't be fooled by thinking it's a female dog. It could be anything. Squirrel. Rabbit. Cat etc. If your dog doesn't come when it's on the scent of one thing then what's to stop it running off after a different scent and being hit by a car?

And I mean this gently, but if you have a bad knee...how much exercise are you giving your dog? Labradors are very easy to train (smart, food motivated etc) so recall should not really be an issue. I'd assume that you under exercise the dog and under stimulate it - which does very often result in poor recall (because why would the dog come back) and poor manners/behaviour.

Original poster

Circle3 · 27/03/2024 11:08

How much exercise would you suggest a Labrador gets?

OP posts:

Shopper727 · 27/03/2024 11:09

We got our retriever castrated last year at 3 best thing we ever did tbh. However you can’t just let your dog off in public to boind around with no recall. What do you use to recall him, does he have an incentive to come back? Liver paste is my recall training star as he loves it and only use it for recall.

You need to spend time with him training him, you need to be the prize so his eyes are on you not on other dogs etc. I can recall mine back from anything now because we have a relationship, he knows to stay near and looks to me for cues but most of all he listens. If your dog is bounding about without a care or listening to you he should not be off lead. It’s dangerous for him and for other dogs/people/livestock/horses if he’s running about daft and you can’t get him back. I couldn’t relax on a walk if I knew letting him off he’d run off and possibly get hurt from another dog or he would jump at a child and scare them. You’ll get there

Velvian · 27/03/2024 11:13

Definitely keep him on a lead, do some lead training so that he learns not to pull. Get him neutered and in the meantime, hire a private enclosed space for a run around a couple of times a week.

What if he actually catches up with another dog, he is going to causing that owner some issues. You are in danger of your dog or a dog he is pursuing getting out onto a road.

Devilshands · 27/03/2024 11:15

Circle3 · 27/03/2024 11:08

How much exercise would you suggest a Labrador gets?

An hour. Minimum. And that is good walks - an hour running off the lead across a distance. Not an hour walking around the block or down to the local school and back or an hour stood in a field watching the dog entertain itself etc.

But realistically, to give the dog what the breed is built for? Two hours. That's what the Kennel Club, AKC and most breeders expect anyone buying a Labrador to give the dog. On top of that they need mental stimulation etc.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/03/2024 11:15

how much exercise ? at least a good hour twice a day so yes you will do a good few steps :)

PennyPickles60 · 27/03/2024 11:21

Put him on a long line and work on his recall.

MindHowYouGoes · 27/03/2024 11:24

If you find him hard to hold get him a good harness with a d ring on the front and a double ended lead with one clipped to his front and one to the back. Never use the front one by itself. It makes walking a strong dog much more manageable if you can control his shoulders while you’re working on loose leash walking.

Get a long biothane training lead (for use with the harness) so he can have a bit of a run around while still being on a leash. You just have to get good at coiling it up as you go so you don’t end up in a mess

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 27/03/2024 11:25

castration does tend to just chill your dog out which in turn can make them listen more.
If your Lab has bad recall hard as it sounds he shouldn’t be off lead.
Bare in mind if you do castrate him you will need to adjust his food what ever anyone tells you they will balloon if you are not careful.
you could try chemical castration first too see if it improves his behaviour I did that with one of mine best thing I did for him.

Original poster

Circle3 · 27/03/2024 11:26

Thanks for all the constructive advice. We were doing great with recall, looking at me for cues etc. We had a great bond and I've taken him for long and very enjoyable walks. He has been able to walk past other dogs without paying them much attention and still does most of the time. He is able to play with other dogs in a non aggressive way and the other owners are happy to let their dog play with mine. We have been walking for an hour a day, and sometimes a pavement walk in the evenings. But I will take onboard the suggestion that he is under stimulated.

I am not letting him bound up to other people. He does not jump up or bother dogs who are on a lead. I am a fit person, but have a recent knee injury from a gym class.

But he is now not as consistent with recall (I suspect when he picks up a female scent), so I am putting him on his lead mid walk. I agree that we need to go back to basics with training, I am not irresponsible. I am concerned and wanting to do something about it. And yes, I do know the consequences if he meets a female dog on heat 🤯

OP posts:

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