Dog runs away every walk: going to lose him forever if we can’t stop it

[Teifion]

We have a seven month old puppy who in the last few weeks has suddenly gained new confidence on walks and just runs off out of sight and won’t respond to calls to return. He was fine before this and had surprisingly good recall.

We take treats on every walk and reward recall but he’s now too excited by other things for treats to tempt him back.

Several times in two weeks I’ve thought he was lost forever. For a few days I’ve walked him in the only fenced area for dog walkers near us but it’s small and he hates it so won’t run at all in there and therefore is hyper and manic from lack of exercise all day. We can’t even practice recall in there as he won’t run. I can’t practice recall on a long extendable lead either as he won’t run when on those!

Any ideas what to do to train him not to run out of sight?

Some dogs love a good run, there's loads of places around me suitable for off lead walking, why would I deny her that?

Keep him on a lead outside, get a copy of Total Recall. Follow it religiously. You will fuck up from time to time. Your dog is still very young and also he’ll start being a little teenage shit soon. But persevere for happy walkies!

Sorry to point out the obvious but he absolutely should be on a lead unless he has an iron clad recall. Having him off the lead without that is super dangerous. He could get stolen, hurt or lost. He could also end up running up to a dog that’s not safe to approach, which could be really dangerous.

Keep him on a lead - he could run in the road and cause a serious accident.

I agree with the use of a long line. Don't use a retractable lead, they’re not the same. Honestly, some dogs are arseholes from 6/7 months, we have labs and it’s constant training with them from 12 weeks, ours are working dogs but we’ve had our moments when they’re teenagers 🤣.

Put him on a long lead and work on the recall on every walk. He is still very young x

The best thing we did was have a recall command that wasn't their name.

I don't understand how losing him even once hasn't made you realise how terrified and heart broken you'd feel if you lost him forever!! You're putting him in danger and he's just a cavalier - it's not like he's a working cocker or a springer....he'd be fine on a long lead. I'm probably over-cautious but my Bichon is always on a long lead because he'd bolt if he saw a cat or had a fright, or he'd run up to big dogs and start barking :/

Lots of sensible advice on here. Definitely don’t continue to let him off until he has good recall. A trainer will help as will taking him to a larger secure dog field

I looked after a friend's dog that was like this. She NEVER let him off the lead because he wouldn't come back. He wasn't lead-trained either, so I found giving him any exercise was a bit of a nightmare, as I had three dogs of my own at the time. However, my friend's dog was obsessed with my young pointer, who has excellent recall, and I found if I let them both off together he just stuck to her and went exactly where she went. By the end of his 10-day stay he was responding to the whistle well.
Do you have any friends with dogs that you could try this with, in a fenced area?

Where I live the default is to use a lead. If you want to remove it you need to be on private property or in a specifically designated area, which is almost always enclosed. Your dog does not need to go off lead on a regular walk.

Having him off the lead without that is super dangerous. He could get stolen, hurt or lost. He could also end up running up to a dog that’s not safe to approach, which could be really dangerous.

Not to mention other people on the receiving end of a dog running around: motorists, kids, people who are scared of dogs.

I'd be furious to be driving and an out of control dog ran into the road. Also when I take my dog on public transport, there are people who visibly shrink back when he is on a tight lead. They shouldn't be subjected to a loose dog when just walking around.

I used an extension lead for my collie and as I called her I recalled her I pulled in the lead…you need to have him on an extension lead all the time..if you haven’t got recall you are screw...you need to have him at a word…not cruel ,,safe for the dog and safe for everyone.

Why on earth are you letting him off the lead?

Put him
on a retractable lead

you have to be more exciting for him or rather the activity you play/offer him has to be more fun for him to want to stick around, work on bonding and engagement

Long lead training and high value treats. I think small dogs mature quickly so he’s probably in his “teen” phase. Also take him places he doesn’t know and isn’t familiar with. I also found that my dogs respond 100 times better to a dog whistle, it’s consistent and never changes.

It’s a wonder it hasn’t got run over or pinched
thats what leads are for and it should be on one if your in a town anyway

Its perfectly normal, he's hit adolescence and is a full on teenager. You need to go back to basics with recall training and pop him on a long training lead whilst he relearns

Its perfectly normal, he's hit adolescence and is a full on teenager. You need to go back to basics with recall training and pop him on a long training lead whilst he relearns

Why are you letting him off the lead if his recall isn't good. Puppies are like this and you need to keep him on a lead until you can trust his recall skills. Or, carry on doing the same thing as now expecting something differnt and you will loose him forever. Just keep him on a lead until he calms down and is past the puppy and teenage dog phases.

Forgot to say, the book "Total Recall" by Pippa Mattheson is brilliant and I found it a real help

You can stop it. Dont let him off the lead.

He's starting his adolescent phase, you need to take a few steps back and keep him on a lead ( long line) until you've trained him to focus on you.
For a handler its a frustrating time but if you work hard now it will reap rewards.

They sound like much nicer dogs. Unfortunately mine is an American Akita. He’s floofy and beautiful but his personality is lacking. Pyreneans are gorgeous! Hope you get good cuddles.