Dog's trail runs frustrate owner

Work on her off-leash skills, first and foremost.

By Paw's Corner
| 12:43 p.m. November 19, 2014

Winter Park - Maitland Observer
Neighborhood

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I love taking my Golden Lab, “Chloe,” out for walks in the nearby woods. Like other dog owners, I let her run off leash on the trails. Unlike other dog owners, I can’t get Chloe to stay near me. She immediately takes off, plunges into the pond, then dashes away into the forest. I’m tired of spending my whole time chasing her. What can I do? — Chuck in Quincy, Mass.

DEAR CHUCK: It sounds like Chloe is an energetic and fun dog! That’s always great, but I feel your pain when it comes to tracking her down in the woods.

Work on her off-leash skills, first and foremost. Make this a part of her training every single day — incorporate it into her walks if you can. You’ll need to take her to an enclosed outdoor space, like your yard or a mostly empty dog park.

The most basic command, of course, is getting her to come back when you call or whistle. Have Chloe sit and stay while you remove the leash. Let her dart away several feet, then call her back, in a calm but firm voice. When she comes back, have her sit again, then reward her. (Some owners use treats as a reward, others don’t — it’s your decision as to what works best, especially at the beginning of training.)

Over time you also should train her to stay, sit or lie down at a distance. All of these commands are achievable — it just takes time for both of you to learn a new way to communicate off leash.

During your woodland walks, pay close attention to things that really set Chloe off. She clearly loves the water — are other things attracting her as well? Learn those patterns so you can anticipate and head off potential escapes.