[melow246]

I have a two year old Schnoodle name Rufus that is extremely well-behaved for the most part. His one really bad behavior started about a year ago when we moved from Miami to rural upstate New York. Before the move, he was very good about not bolting through open doors, but ever since we moved it has been a constant battle to keep him from running out an open door. And, although we have mastered most of the basic commands, "come" seems to escape him. And the ones he does know (Sit, Stay, Wait) have little effect when he gets the taste of freedom. The other problem is that he is FAST. I have never met a dog that can run as fast as this one. This makes it extremely difficult to catch him. I usually have to wait for a stranger to happen by, at which point Rufus runs up to greet them and I have the opportunity to catch him. We live in an extremely remote area, so getting hit by a car is not a huge concern, though it's always in the back of my mind, but running into a bigger, more menacing animal (i.e. a bear) is a huge concern. I have tried several things, with different levels of success. We added a screen door to the porch, which adds a second barrier before he can reach the outdoors and my roommates and I are much more aware and careful of where he is when the door is open. But one small mistake on our part and he is off like a shot. Any ideas? I spent an hour just yesterday morning following him through the woods in my pajamas. I don't know what to try.

[Todd]

I have a few suggestions for you...

First of all, how much exercise do you provide him with? Seems he craves to go and run in the outdoors which is normal for dogs. What breed is the dog? I think if you took him out to run around a few times during the day it would calm down his desire to bolt out everytime the chance presents itself. It's best to let him run off leash because he will burn the most energy as he seems like a very high energy dog. You say he's small too. By any chance is he a Jack Russell? Just a guess lol. Anyway, you could keep a leash on him so he could drag it and it would be easier for you to catch him when necessary. You also need to teach him to come. A good method outdoors would be to use a clicker or whistel or just yell his name. clickers and whistles seems to be more sucessful outdoors. Start with him on the leash and blow the whistel or the clicker and prompt his to come to you for praise and a treat or favorite toy. Eventually you can try this off leash and this should work well.

You could also try an electric fenceing system if you wish like the inground fences they make for dogs. This way he can be outside without going far and you'll always be able to keep an eye on him.

Finally, when it comes to keeping him from bolting outside you need to reinforce the sit and stay command. Here's an article link that may help you to become the alpha in your relationship with your dog so he will be more likely to obey your commands;

How To Become ALPHA DOG -- Pack Leader -- You'll Learn Here -Be TOP DOG

Have him sit and stay and walk away and if he stays reward him with praise and a toy/treat. Gradually, day by day, move further and further away until you are able to leave the house without him running out. Once he gets this down still practice this command elsewhere with reward to reinforce the bahavior and let him know you appreciate it and he gets something out of it.

Good luck!

[cigwyllt]

Uhm - the OP has said what breed the dog is - a schnauzer/poodle cross.

You have my sincerest sympathy with your dog! My parents' dog, a spaniel cross is exactly the same. In the house he is an angel - submissive, well mannered, obedient (spoilt - but obedient) However, given the slightest chance he will run through the open gate and can be gone for as along as it takes to catch him. My two girls (but not my Jack Russell) will also take advantage of an accidentally open door (but not while I am watching!) and disappear.

My girls have good recall and always seem embarrassed when they are found - as though they really had not meant to be gone so long and they were just on the way back home anyway!

But my point is that even well behaved dogs with good recall can get a taste for freedom and wander off. The only way to prevent it is to have a system in place that will physically prevent them leaving.

Here in the UK I guess it is easier because most properties are fenced so it is a case of keeping your boundaries secure but I guess that isn't the case for you?

Echoing Todd's comments, does your dog get much opportunity to explore - I understand he is not safe to be lose if he has no sense of recall but do you walk him much and when he's out does he have a long leash and some freedom or is he close to you the whole time?

If it's not already a part of his life then you will both benefit from an increase in the amount of exercise he gets - reduced energy levels will make him less keen to bolt at a moment's notice.

If you are already doing all you can in terms of walking/exercising with a long leash then you need to look at ways you can be sure of keeping him indoors when necessary.

Not knowing the layout of your property there's not a lot I can suggest as it is probably very different from our homes here in the UK but one thing I would do would be to erect baby gates on all external doors so that you can open the door for ventilation/when someone calls but the dog is unable to go through. It is also much easier to squeeze through a gap in the baby gate and close it behind you without the following you.

The only way we can keep my parents dog in is through a really vigilant and careful management of the door/gate but it becomes second nature and it is easy enough to enforce, even with visitors.

Teaching recall can be extremely hard if your dog is not inclined to obey that command. Even after a course of training with a behaviourist my parents' dog will not come on command unless he is in the house or the garden. A solid recall is, in my eyes, an essential element of dog owning but there is no quick fix to teach it. Some dogs just are not interested in anything you have on offer once you are outdoors.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

Uhm - the OP has said what breed the dog is - a schnauzer/poodle cross.

You have my sincerest sympathy with your dog! My parents' dog, a spaniel cross is exactly the same. In the house he is an angel - submissive, well mannered, obedient (spoilt - but obedient) However, given the slightest chance he will run through the open gate and can be gone for as along as it takes to catch him. My two girls (but not my Jack Russell) will also take advantage of an accidentally open door (but not while I am watching!) and disappear.

My girls have good recall and always seem embarrassed when they are found - as though they really had not meant to be gone so long and they were just on the way back home anyway!

But my point is that even well behaved dogs with good recall can get a taste for freedom and wander off. The only way to prevent it is to have a system in place that will physically prevent them leaving.

Here in the UK I guess it is easier because most properties are fenced so it is a case of keeping your boundaries secure but I guess that isn't the case for you?

Echoing Todd's comments, does your dog get much opportunity to explore - I understand he is not safe to be lose if he has no sense of recall but do you walk him much and when he's out does he have a long leash and some freedom or is he close to you the whole time?

If it's not already a part of his life then you will both benefit from an increase in the amount of exercise he gets - reduced energy levels will make him less keen to bolt at a moment's notice.

If you are already doing all you can in terms of walking/exercising with a long leash then you need to look at ways you can be sure of keeping him indoors when necessary.

Not knowing the layout of your property there's not a lot I can suggest as it is probably very different from our homes here in the UK but one thing I would do would be to erect baby gates on all external doors so that you can open the door for ventilation/when someone calls but the dog is unable to go through. It is also much easier to squeeze through a gap in the baby gate and close it behind you without the following you.

The only way we can keep my parents dog in is through a really vigilant and careful management of the door/gate but it becomes second nature and it is easy enough to enforce, even with visitors.

Teaching recall can be extremely hard if your dog is not inclined to obey that command. Even after a course of training with a behaviourist my parents' dog will not come on command unless he is in the house or the garden. A solid recall is, in my eyes, an essential element of dog owning but there is no quick fix to teach it. Some dogs just are not interested in anything you have on offer once you are outdoors.

Oh, looks like the OP did mention the breed. Thanks for catching that for me...lol

[melow246]

Thanks for the advice. I will try the clicker/whistle as it's not something I've tried before. As far as exercise, we go for about a mile walk every morning and sometimes in the evenings, too. He goes for lots of other, though shorter, walks throughout the day, too. We also play a lot of fetch indoors. He loves to run, but since I've never been able to trust him off-leash, he doesn't get to run as far and as fast as he'd like. I run with him a couple times a week, but he's way faster than I am so I guess it's not good enough for him.

One thing I've noticed is that he is very prey-driven, which is something that became more pronounced when we moved. I think the woods and all the critters he sees, hears, and smells distract him to the point that he forgets I exist. He never actually catches anything but he loves to give chase.

[cigwyllt]

I don't know what size dog he is but a mile doesn't really seem that long especially if he is on the lead all the time. Can you get a really long leash for him - so that he can at least move more while he is out. To be honest, if he is seriously prey driven it might never be possible to let him loose. For his own sanity he will need to be able to run on a long leash.

[GSDS4Life]

Well my suggestion is to go back to basic training. This means with the "sit" "stay" command.

Put the leash on him and go a couple of feet in front of the door.. Have him do a "sit" "stay". Open the door slightly. If he gets out of his command, close the door and do it again. You may have to do this a few times. When he gets to the point where he stays in the "sit" "stay" reward him.

This will take a bit of time and patience.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

I don't know what size dog he is but a mile doesn't really seem that long especially if he is on the lead all the time. Can you get a really long leash for him - so that he can at least move more while he is out. To be honest, if he is seriously prey driven it might never be possible to let him loose. For his own sanity he will need to be able to run on a long leash.

I agree. he probably needs more, and run time burns more energy. Once you teach him to come he will hopefully be able to run off leash but his high prey drive may make this difficult. Instead og just walking have you considered running with him on lead, roller skating, or biking? This would enable you to go further in a similar amount of time and he will be moving faster and burning more energy. Another option is to sign up for a priivate fenced in dog park for him to run free in. Where are you from? I could help you find one. Have you considered the electric fence? This way he could fetch in the yard and would be unable to tun away.