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Home > Archive > Feb 21, 2008

Escapologist Baffles Owner
By Skyler Staats
Dear Skyler,
We have a 1 year old Golden Retriever who leaves the yard whenever she can sneak out. We have a very large enclosed yard for her to play in during the day while we are gone but if she is able to she pulls a Houdini, and runs for parts unknown. She is well trained in every other area (formally trained) but we have not been able to get her to stop running away. I've tried to follow her but we live in the county and she tends to take off and I lose her. This is the only time when she doesn't respond to the "Come" or "Here" commands. We hate the idea of chaining her in the backyard but this seems to be the only cost effective option to keep her safe. P.S. We also have another dog that doesn't leave the yard even if the opportunity arises. Somehow training with him has stuck. What are we doing wrong with the little girl?
Thank you, Houdini's Family

Dear Houdini’s Family,
Kudos’ on having your dog formally trained that is a great start. Though she is well trained, she may be running away for a few different reasons. You are not doing anything wrong; you are just missing a few pieces to the puzzle.  If she is not already, have her spayed it may make a difference. The desire to explore and roam will diminish after a dog has been altered, (especially true with male dogs). If she is already spayed, kudos again!
Although she has a large yard to play in, she may not be getting the mental stimulation she needs. That mental stimulation is the piece of the puzzle you are missing. Golden Retrievers are a working breed, they need a job. Running around in the backyard is not enough mental stimulation for a dog that is bred to work. She’s running away for parts unknown to escape what she feels is the boredom of her backyard.  She may be tapping into her instinct to sniff, track, and hunt around for prey. Most likely she never catches anything but she is actively using her brain to track prey such as birds, and rabbits. She has found a way to work, and is smart enough to pull a Houdini to do it. That is why when you call her to “Come” she does not respond. Her instinct to work over rides any formal training. Your other dog is obviously content just hanging out with his family, but your little Houdini needs a job.
She needs a mental workout, not just the physical workout of running in the backyard.  There are a number of things you can do to give her a mental workout, or job. Since she is already well trained, you are more than half way there.  Take her on structured walks and have her “Heel”.  She is not to be front of you, and don’t let her pull you. Stay in control.  This walk is to get her mind working and thinking. You do this by making her stop, sit, lie down, and then stay.  After she is in a stay position, walk away a few feet, call her to you, and then continue on with your walk repeating the drill intermittently.  Throughout the walk change your pace as well. This “working walk” will mentally fatigue her. It is not just a walk, but a walk where she has to listen to you, watch for your commands, follow them, and continue walking on. You will notice she will be on alert waiting for her next command and towards the end of the walk she will be tired, too tired to pull a Houdini later on. After a few weeks she may need more of a challenge. If you feel you are both ready, when you come across another dog or even a rabbit, let go of the leash put her in a down/stay position.  This will force her to think, and problem solve. It is also giving her the opportunity to explore her environment (on your terms) so parts unknown become known. Living in the country offers your dog a smorgasbord of wonderful smells and it’s only fair to let her explore them.
Tying or chaining her up may seem like a cost effective, easy fix but that is actually the worst thing you can do and I would never recommend tying a dog up unsupervised. There are too many safety issues involved and it will only make the problem much, much worse. Unlike your other dog, she has the need to explore her environment.  She will feel even more confined and bored and additional behavioral problems will soon follow.  If you need a quick fix, till she is retrained I would suggest leaving her in a secure part of the house.
There are a few other things you can do as well, such as enrolling her in agility or fly ball classes.  If she is gentle, you might want to consider her as a Pet Therapy dog. Other options are have her play hide and seek with her toys during the walks, or put a doggie backpack on her while you walk.  Inside the backpack you can fill 2 small food storage baggies with sand.  This will give her a “job” of carrying something.
The bottom line is… Houdini needs a new job. 
Skyler is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist. Through her business, Skyler Staats, Dog Trainer and Behaviorist, she has helped hundreds of people successfully learn to modify their dog's behavior. She also works with PAWS, a local non profit animal rescue group. You can contact her with your questions at editor@hvjournal.com. She  keeps a record of previous questions addressed on her web site,  www.SkylerStaats.net.

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