Chance of dog running away

[Sonora_Girl]

My four month old boxer is my first inside dog, and up until now I have taken her out on a leash each and everytime she goes. In the past couple nights when I have taken her out I have taken her out without one and she has done ok. My question is at this age will she take off and not come back?

 

[Steven Menk]

She'll probably get an adventurous streak at some point. The few times Cosworth managed to get off his leash at that age or a little older he'd run around like a mad man, but wouldn't actually go very far.

 

[Donna1969]

Blizzy was NEVER without a leash or a run with the exception of being at an enclosed area. On the many..many occasions that she somehow "escaped" she would run like a wild woman..very very scarey! Even though we have a big yard, I would cringe when she would bolt into the front yard..very very busy street there. Cars whip by at 60mps even though the speed limit it 40. You'd think after all the years with her I'd KNOW not to try and chase her but it was just instinct. My hubby learned a trick, he would grab his water bottle, beer bottle or whatever beverage he had, call her name and get her attention. She's see him slowing pouring liquid and run right to him. GOTCHA!

Yes, your baby at one time, run like there is no tomorrow. But rest assured your baby will come back. Just try not to chase the pup, they think its a game.

 

[Tatertot]

At that age, Harley thought it was a big game if he got out without a leash. I never took him without one, we lived right beside a very busy street. I was always very careful with him. He was like a child to me and I would have died if he had been hit by a car

But a few times, he wiggled out the door. One time he dragged me out onto ice and i fell and the leash went flying!!! yeah sure laugh now! But i was pregnant!!!

He did run, but all i had to do was go inside and hed get a little worried and come wait at the door (i hated doing that b/c of the busy street, but it was better than me chasing him and he thinking it was a game).

When he got out with another dog, that was it he was gone. I chased him and my moms dog over a mile once and was very late to work that day. I probably never would have got them back, but somebody jogging grabbed them. I didnt have their leashes, i just dropped everything and went after them. That was fun, walking a mile hunched over hanging on to 2 collars.

But now he always goes out leashless. We live in the country with very little traffic. He has no desire to run. Occasionally he takes off after a cat or rabbit, but they run into the woods or the field behind the house. He cant go far, he trees them and that is it.

If your dog does bolt, dont chase it, you will only encourage. Get a treat or ignore her or something

 

[Dempseysmama]

I would keep him on a leash until he has his recall down. I mean really down. Because if he sees you calling him and a squirrel saying chase me...He would go for the squirrel. And how scary would that be. Once he is veyr good with his recall, he will pass up anything to come back to you. If it were me, that is what I would do. He would most likely come back, but the scare would kill me. Good luck!