Wandering?

[Ritz459]

I didn't know exactly where to out this but I'm having a problem with Blackie. Blackie (my nine year old Lab/Rottie mix) has a problem with wandering everytime he is out of his kennel.

This morning for example: It was snowing, really windy, and only 20 degrees F, and I didn't really feel like walking in that so I decided to just let the dogs run (figuring they wouldn't go far because it was so cold.) They were running along the edge of our feild (about 3 acres away from our house) and I started hollering for them to come back. They didn't hear me so I was walking through our feild trying to get their attention. Rose finally saw me and came running up toward me but Blackie (even though he saw me) kept on going.
I couldn't go after him because I didn't have a leash so I just walked back to the house with Rose. After about 10-15 min, Blackie finally came back.

I don't like Blackie just wandering around because nobody out here has fences, but they have outside dogs, and Blackie can be dog aggresive. (I think it depends on the gender and size of the dog.)
I'm really not looking forward to having to walk him in really cold weather, but I don't know how else to exercise him. Does anybody have any advice to stop his wandering or ways that he can get his exercise?
(Also, would an invisable fence work to keep him contianed under supervision? He has a high pain tolorence so I'm not sure if it would or not.)

[fireworksinjuly]

Originally Posted by Ritz45

(Also, would an invisable fence work to keep him contianed under supervision? He has a high pain tolorence so I'm not sure if it would or not.)

I can’t help on the wandering front but I do have 2 cents on invisible fences. They only keep your dog IN they don’t keep other dogs or people OUT.
You said other neighbors have outdoor dogs and NO fence. If once of them got loose and into your yard it wouldn’t help one bit.

what about a real fence, chainlink or something? even if only in a small section of the yard not all three acres.

[Ritz459]

I would LOVE to fence in our yard (even just the back part) but we don't have the money at the moment. The neighborhood dogs aren't a problem because they are good dogs that stay at their own houses.
I think the only dogs that have ever came over to our house was Gage (he moved), Buddy (he also moved), Loupie (she died), and Cowboy (he isn't around anymore. Don't know why).

We have a garden that I could use for a dog run when during the winter months, but right now it is a muddy mess and Blackie HATES being in it. And when he is in the garden, he won't run, but he will just sit their by that gate looking pathetic.

I'm at loss about what to do .

[gaddylovesdogs]

Hmm....I understand not wanting to walk in bad weather!! I don't enjoy walking the girls when it's could out....but they won't really run around and "exercise themselves", so I have to .

What gets him excited? A certain toy or treat? You could put a few things that make him feel as if he HAS to run in the garden.....you could even attach a toy (even a kong) to a piece of rope and let him chase it (you pulling on the rope)......hmm.

[Alexis]

I was going to suggest fencing a small section also, but it seems that is not an option of you. I don't usually suggest this, but in your situation, it may be the only option; what about some sort of run with a line? Also, I would highly suggest working on his recall (are obedience classes out of the question?). Buy a long leash (15 feet of so). Start by calling his name while he is distracted. When he begins to come, say "come". Reward with LOTS of good treats. Make it worth it for him to come to you. While you are walking, contiue to change direction so that he constantly is following YOU. Again, make him want to do it (treats). My main suggestion would be to keep him on a leash and just really bundle up to stay warm. My mom's dog was attacked (totally unporvoked)and killed by a dog that was off leash (my mom's dog was on a leash), so I am super sensitive to the idea of an agressive dog being off leash.

[Pugdawg1]

Sounds like it's just one of those things where you have to be the responsible one and buck up and deal with the cold and keep him on a leash. I hate seeing loose dogs, and it seems to be a big problem where I am.. on my walk today, saw 5 loose dogs. Not cool, I don't care how sweet and charming and good they are. I used to live out in an area in the desert north of vegas, didnt have a fence, had a pug back then, and kept her on a long retractable leash when we were outside. Worked for us at that time.

[Ritz459]

Both of our dogs are 'home trained' so they have never been to an obedeince class. Blackie does know what come means and he is normally really good at it, but he isn't 100% reliable. (Let's just say he is 45% reliable off leash, 98% reliable on leash.)
I think his problem is that when he becomes 'deaf dog' and 'I won't come unless you have a Big Mac in your hand' when he is off leash is because he is hardly ever allowed to run unhindered by leashes anymore.
When he was young he was able to run free all of the time. (I know that wasn't very responsible of us and it wasn't safe for Blackie, but we know better now.)

I have a quick question though. The only way I can get him to run around in the garden is if I throw treats for him to find. (He doesn't play fetch anymore with a ball except when he is really hyper.)
But isn't throwing treats for him to get kind of defeating the purpose of exercising him? That is sort of like saying, 'I'll jog two miles and then eat a Blizzard from DQ to reward myself.' isn't it?

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

I agree with Swissies, working on recall and as much as I hate to say it some type of a run for him until he can be more trusted.

I can't stand the cold and hate going out in it for any reason but my dogs still need to be worked as well as walked and I just grit my teeth and put up with it. If Blackie doesn't do well with a run I guess I can only say bundle up warm.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by Pugdawg1

Sounds like it's just one of those things where you have to be the responsible one and buck up and deal with the cold and keep him on a leash. I hate seeing loose dogs, and it seems to be a big problem where I am.. on my walk today, saw 5 loose dogs. Not cool, I don't care how sweet and charming and good they are. I used to live out in an area in the desert north of vegas, didnt have a fence, had a pug back then, and kept her on a long retractable leash when we were outside. Worked for us at that time.

That is what I'm thinking I'm going to have to do.........oh well. I was hoping there was a way around having to freeze to death to exercise him but.......*sigh*........still, any other advice is greatly appriciated!

[sheltiepups]

Why not ropes? Have a really long rope or extractable leash.. that what my dogs are on. I do have to watch them why they are on it.. But it gives them the freedom to roam and me some security.

[gaddylovesdogs]

Originally Posted by sheltiepups

Why not ropes? Have a really long rope or extractable leash.. that what my dogs are on. I do have to watch them why they are on it.. But it gives them the freedom to roam and me some security.

That could work too. I have a 16' Flexi leash that works great in a large, unfenced park the girls like to play in. Whenever I have to walk them in the winter I make sure I have layers on....brr.....and warm shoes a hat and gloves.

I have a quick question though. The only way I can get him to run around in the garden is if I throw treats for him to find. (He doesn't play fetch anymore with a ball except when he is really hyper.)
But isn't throwing treats for him to get kind of defeating the purpose of exercising him? That is sort of like saying, 'I'll jog two miles and then eat a Blizzard from DQ to reward myself.' isn't it?

You could try low-calorie treats like Charlee Bear. These are small round liver-flavor treats that have less than 3 calories in each treat.

[oc_spirit]

Sounds like you're going to have to work on some recall but not just anything, you're going to have to change the command you use. You see Blackie has learned that come means that all the fund ends AND he has learnt that he doesn't always have to obey so the fun can continue if he wants it to. What you're going to have to do is pick a command (like "here") and retrain him to come using that command, then anytime he is loose randomly call him to you, give him a tiny piece of food or some pats then send him back out to play. Then when you want to go in cal him like you did before and give him a little reward then take him in. Vary how many times you randomly call him before you take him in so he doesn't learn that on the 3rd time the fun ends for example.

If you're not willing to do this training then all I can say is to take a responsibility like you commited to by getting a dog in the first place and go for a walk. To be honest, "it's too cold" is a pretty lame excuse for not taking a dog for a walk because he won't come back when you let him offleash. Try living up here in Canada where a regular winter day is -30 to -40C and blizzards aren't uncommon My husky still needs an hour walk every day and there's no way I'm letting him offleash in most areas! And even if I did, I wouldn't be able to see him if it's snowing! LOL

Cheers!

[IceyBlueSibes]

Originally Posted by oc_spirit

My husky still needs an hour walk every day and there's no way I'm letting him offleash in most areas! And even if I did, I wouldn't be able to see him if it's snowing! LOL

LOL! Sheiba cannot be trusted and as much as I would love to leave her offleash out front with me and the other two dogs, she just can't and needs to be put on a rope. Denali does very very well though and I'm surprised for a husky! I'm trying to show her the boundaries of the front yard. I'll put her in a down stay, and then run out to the road... I call her and she'll start to come and as soon as she gets to the edge of the road I tell her 'STOP!' and she stops, then I say "BACK!'' and she runs back into the yard. Someone walked by the other night and she wanted to run off and go say hello, but I told her stop and called her name, she stopped, sniffed the air and came back. I was so proud of her... mostly because I know that huskies can be thickheaded at times I'm sure you know what I mean Ren...

I agree with all of the advice that's been given. I was going to suggest a run as well. He can still have the freedom to run, but not wander off... but we used to take Sheiba and Sarge to an unfenced field, and we would put a 50ft rope on Sheiba. We didn't hold onto the leash but we had that much extra to try and catch her if she ran off, but she never did and we think the tension of the leash let her know that she wasn't free. Maybe you could invest in getting a rope, and just hold onto it and allow him to run?

[Ritz459]

Ya, I've kind of flunked training the come command. We got Blackie when he was maybe 5-6 months, so I was around 6, and he didn't start getting properly trianed untill I got old enough to trian him by myself. (No one else in my family cares about training them, walking them, giving them baths, etc. except me, my Mom and my 9 year old brother. My 16yr old brother likes dogs, but he doesn't like having full responsibility of them and my Dad is hardly ever at home. (He works at a Hospital.) Mel is to little and JeanAnne doesn't know how to take care of them.) He was around 4 when he started finally started walking on a leash nicely and not trying to slip is collar.
So, for the first 4 years or so of his life, he was a wild puppy that didn't know anything. (Except not to jump, not to get in the trash, not to come inside, etc. He just didn't know any basic commands excpet sit.) Let's just say he got started on his trianing a little late.

I use the command C'mere for come. Rose listens very well even though she is stubborn sometimes. I think the only time she doesn't come when I call is when she is chasing a rabbit or she has her head down a hole she dug, going after mice. (So in other words, when she is 'hunting'.) Blackie comes when he feels like it or when he is hungry.
I think I will try to reteach come, but I don't know if Blackie will ever be able to be off leash when he isn't fenced in.
Thank you for all of the suggestions!!

(and I do use a 16' retractable when I walk him. And the treats we give him are the Beggin Strips, which I think are the most high in fat treats out there! lol Maybe that is why he is a little Chubby! lol)

[Ritz459]

We did a double post Icey! :P The rope might not be a bad idea.......just a quick question though.....how easy would it snag on or get tangled up in something?