Running Away!

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KingOfQueens

Forums Novice
Hi all.

Just hoping for some help with an issue I'm having.

When I (or my grandmother) go to pick up Kevin (13wks old), or bring him inside, he runs away. I don't think he's scared, as his tail is always in the air, and he seems to enjoy running away. He runs around the backyard, until I can finally catch him. He also will NOT come when I call him. He knows his name, but just refuses to come. He'll just stare at me and walk or run away. Is this just him being a little arse? Or IS he actually scared of something? Help! It's starting to really get to me!
 
I think Kevin thinks running away from you is a grand and glorious game. My first Sheltie was the same way. She would run from us for literally hours, all with a big smile on her face. That's when we realized that chasing her was definitely not a good thing, and wasn't teaching her good behavior.

We started using treats to get her to come to us, and if all else failed we'd put her on a leash if we didn't want her outside for too long. She still had trouble with recall the rest of her life, but not chasing her did help a lot.

You may want to work on recall inside where there are less distractions, and when he's outside keep him on a leash until he fully understand. Also, super yummy treats that he loves will help tremendously in getting him to come to you.

So no, I don't think he's being a little arse. He's just being a playful puppy who doesn't understand it's not a game. :biggrin2:
 
It's a game for sure. Try running from him and getting him to chase you. Offer a treat when he gets close enough. Try sitting on the ground, and see if he comes to investigate. Looming over top of an animal is intimidating to them and he doesn't speak your language yet, so try watching him to see what works for him. I used a leash for potty time and Sally learned that meant she needed to take care of business. Be patient, he's just little.
 
MissieLynn said:
...he's being a little arse vs. He's just being a playful puppy...
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It strikes me that he is being a little arse!!!! :yes: But, folks are correct, he is also just being a typical puppy and it's all a big game to him. Being a little arse is what puppies do and (in part) how they learn. The efforts you take to curtail this behavior will teach him when and where he can continue those antics.
 
Ah, the teenage-week phase! :rolleyes2: Yes, this is the favorite game for puppies this age. My 20-week old does the same thing, as has every puppy I've had before her. She will be juuuust out of reach and when I reach for her, she's off. She thinks it's great fun. Me, not so much, but every puppy does it.

The most important thing you can teach Kevin is a solid recall. I do this inside the house by putting her on one side of the room and calling her from the other side with her favorite thing: string cheese and the command word, "come." She comes running and thinks it's great. We do this over and over. Pretty quickly, she associated "come" with "cheese" and she comes. This won't always work outside at this age though when they're so easily distracted.

The best method for this is to attach a long leash to the collar and when he races by you, step on the leash. As you reel him in, give the command word and a treat when he gets to you. It takes some time because the "chase" game is still fun, but he'll learn what it means and you'll accomplish some training.

Whatever you do, don't scold him when he doesn't come and you finally catch him. This teaches him that coming is a bad thing and reinforces the running away. Always be upbeat and happy when you pick him up, even if he's making you nuts! :yes:
 
Thank you everyone for all your awesome replies!

He sure knows how to frustrate me :P He's a good boy in all other respects, it's just the blimmin' coming to me! I'll try with yummy food, and hopefully that'll work. Kev does like his food.

Though if I'm in bed, or on the couch, and I call him, he'll look and either ignore me, or walk away. Is that because his recall is nonexistant? So he doesn't realize what I'm asking of him?

I very rarely actually 'scold' him. If he's doing something naughty I'll clap or say 'ah ah!' loudly and he gets that he's doing something naughty. I don't tell him off for running away, I just mutter under my breath how the pound is only a call away :lol:

He's such a smart boy, and at the park he has good recall, I'll call and he'll trot beside me as we're walking, but if he catches a scent, there's no chance. I usually have to excite the Lab, then Kevin gets excited and runs to see what all the fuss is about. :rolleyes2:
 
KingOfQueens said:
Though if I'm in bed, or on the couch, and I call him, he'll look and either ignore me, or walk away. Is that because his recall is nonexistant? So he doesn't realize what I'm asking of him?
Click to expand...

Yes, it sounds as if that's the case. Start training him with a single word command that you use just for his recall and a treat when he responds and comes. Be consistent, and do it several times every day...from the couch, the bed, the floor, or anywhere that you want him to come to you. I would not do this outside though until he's totally trained, unless you're in a fenced area.

I do hope he's on leash when you walk him in the park...at least until his recall is rock solid!
 
Think of it this way. You probably say Kevin's name 20, even 50 times a day. How does he know which instance of you saying his name you want him to come to you, atm he just has to guess. That's why you need to teach him a word that means 'come to me'.

When you teach come, do it in a place with low distractions, maybe inside the house to begin with, when you move it outside, like Ann said, it's best done with a lead on. Keep it close to start with as you are just focusing on teaching him the command, worrying about a distance recall comes later. To get a really solid recall into adulthood always reward when he comes. When they're young you should keep your pockets full of treats to reward him whenever he does the right thing.

Some additional tips for recall.
- Coming to you should always be a fun thing at this stage, puppies respond much better this way. Never make it a chore. So if you want to call him inside, which he may not want, when he first comes to you make a big deal of it, reward him, then take him inside.
- Your voice should be high and upbeat and you should adopt an 'open' position. An open position is something like arms held out (in obedience we teach people to hold their hands in the air so it can be seen at a distance), or a slight bow at the waist (mimicking a play bow). Dogs are much more responsive to these gestures and a high voice.
- Never ask them to come if they are distracted, always set a pup up for success. You don't want the recall word to become white noise. If you think it's going to be hard to get him to come to you then you should go to him.

Puppies, and adolescents, have a very short attention span, and recalls can be a challenge. I can tell you the no. 1 thing people go to obedience classes for is recall (followed by better control over greetings). Unless you're fun why would they want to go to you?

In more difficult situations there are a couple of good ways getting their attention and a recall. One is to run away - few dogs, esp herding breeds, can resist their owner running away. My Deska comes galloping if he even hears me say "I'm running away" just in case I am. The other is a squeaky toy. That squeak noise gets through that brain like a whistle. In my classes I have owners with highly distracted dogs, or pups, work with a squeaky toy. Doesn't need to be their favourite, just something that squeaks. A squeak toy that fits in your pocket is handy for taking on walks. And while you are still teaching him to come then a squeaky toy may fill the void to get him inside.
 
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