I have a two year old Bichon and Shih Tzu mix. I have a fenced in yard. She got out today because my daughter left the gate open. She played a game of not letting me get her. She acted like it was a game. I was able to get her by offering her a treat. This actually happened once last year while camping.
She needs to be trained. That means on leash and later off leash, and in a variety of locations and situations. If you don't know how to train a dog, you can check into obedience classes in your area, or do some reading on the subject.
You're very lucky that she survived, many dogs don't in that situation. They think it's all fun and games until that car hits them.
susan
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a wabbit, Fuzzy Wuzzy had a dandelion habit! RIP little Wuz... don't go far.
Recall is one of the most important things to train a dog. Use the food rewards, repeat, repeat, repeat then do it with every member of the family, then repeat again. As Susan said, use a leash to enforce until there is no failure, then keep re-enforcing during her lifetime. Every dog will escape at some time during it's life and with proper training your outcome won't be the horror stories we've all seen or heard of.
Skip makes a good point, avoid the chase games - especially now during the training.
Doug, DVM
Doug & Sandy
Jill (11yr old Golden)& Charmin (16 yr old something)
Henry NOW a camping cat
2008 Southwind
2009 Honda CRV
Not to belabor the point, but train, train, and train!
First order of business should be a basic obedience class. After that, see if any clubs or schools in your area offer a little course called Reliable Recall, or something like that.
Not only do you want to avoid chase games, but you also don't ever want to call a dog to punish them. Dogs aren't dumb, and they equate agitated/upset owner with punishment, so you have to keep a cool head.
Samantha (the poster)
Tim, spouse and driver of the Corgi-Bus
Buddy, Diva, and Pippin - Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Recall ("come") is definitely a top priority. There are a few others that can also be extremely useful in an emergency. An "out" or "off" command or I use an "aahh" that lets my dogs know that they are to stop what they're doing and stop it now. That can put a quick end to any notion of play. But it takes time to condition that response in. "Down" when properly taught can stop your dog and hold her there.
Do some looking around at your options and come back with your questions as you proceed. I will tell you this... you may know little or nothing about training a dog. But if you apply yourself and start learning, and devote a few minutes a day .... ten or fifteen, yes really, you don't need hours per day... to training your little friend, you will be amazed at the results in a few weeks. And besides getting a much better behaved companion, you'll have a dog with a better chance of living to a ripe old age.
Won't work for you. but friend of mine trained rabbit dogs. If they ran, and would not come when called. He waited untill they got the "right" distance away, and then. He would shoot them with his shotgun. They would never run away after that.
BTW. It didn't hurt them, just stung some, Didn't break the skin. but they didn't run away any more.
You have some good advise here. Remember dogs are pack animals and if you go after them, they think they are leading the pack. You want to peak there interest and go in the opposite direction so they follow (come) to you. Also, reward them when you get them or they will think they are being punished if they come to you.
Tom, Cheryl & Blossom(coonhound mix)
'05 Winnebago Journey 36G w/Cat. C-7 350 hp Freightliner XC
AFE air filter, aero turbine muffler, 4 FSD Konis, ultra track bell crank and Safe-T-Plus
FMCA 397030
WIT 129107
Terryallan wrote: Won't work for you. but friend of mine trained rabbit dogs. If they ran, and would not come when called. He waited untill they got the "right" distance away, and then. He would shoot them with his shotgun. They would never run away after that.
BTW. It didn't hurt them, just stung some, Didn't break the skin. but they didn't run away any more.
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