HELP! Boxer burn out the front door into the neighborhood!

[Stefan]

Sneak Aways and Praise

There is alot of great input here and I will use it when it comes neccessary. What I've done with Athena and it's worked wonders is by using a 20 ft long line and doing sneak aways, basically what you do is take your dog to an open area and when they get distracted turn and walk away, if they don't follow shortly there after they'll get a tug and then come. Work on this for a few days then turn the walk into a jog and when they get good a sprint. When they come running to you, get down on a knee and praise and play a little bit (make sure they don't run past you, if they do get up and walk in the opposite direction). This is also a great time to work on other commands.

 

[mtoo]

Just venting about my own runaway

My foster dog, Louise, does this. It has happened three times now, the last time was just this evening.

Louise does great recalls until she bolts out that door. My problem is I have three small children and five exterior doors. Each time she has escaped one of the kids has accidently let her out.

Tonight was the worst. She tore out through the garage door without my knowing it and she did not have a collar/id on! Dh saw it happen but she just goes full speed without even looking back. By the time I got outside, only seconds later, I couldn't even see her. We live in an allotment at the corner of two roads and someone from the neighborhood saw her running down one of the roads! I just knew we were going to find her dead or injured.

We found her a couple of streets away, right out by one of the roads. I jumped out of the van and called her and she came running right over. I praised and praised her though what I really wanted to do was...well I won't say what I really wanted to do, .

I find the whole thing very frusterating. I've never had a dog run like that and I've been around dogs all my life. We used to live in a rural area and it wouldn't have mattered then, now it's literally a life and death situation.

Kerri

 

[Rocks mom]

Run Away Boxer

My Rock is one of the worlds worst at bolting out the door. We live in the woods and when he is out he is really out. Nothing like trying to find a boxer in the woods. Then trying to catch him is like playing football. I try to make it a game of catch for him but what I end up doing is getting him to come as close as I can them I jump on a tackle him til one of my kids can get a leash on him to lead him home. It can be frustrating, I want him to be like one of the dogs you see on the movies where they sit right beside their owners no matter where they are or what they are doing. Nope not mine he's on a tieout across the yard so he doesn't do the great boxer disappearing act.

 

[ladyluck_t]

You have got some great advice so far, but i noticed a few things that i would consider missing from some of it.
1. When you are practicing the recall command, make sure that not everytime you issue the come command is the end of a play session. I even do the come in the house, when the dog is playing or not paying attention, i call "Katie, come" in a high pitched fun sounding voice, praise, treat, then issue the "Go Play" command. I believe you should do this when training on lead with the come command as well. Also change things up, sometimes issue the go play, sometimes the sit, sometimes the down, or sometimes the "inside" command, even a "let's play" command (it is what i use to initiate a keep-away game). So your baby has no idea what is going to happen. Boxers are curious enough to want to see what is up your sleeve this time,

2. One of the commands that i work on with my foster dogs most diligently, is the sit/stay for the door to be opened. I have a threshold between my entry way and living room (you can make one with painters tape if you dont have one) i knock on my own door (from inside) and then make the "kids" sit/stay behind the threshold line. and then step back and open the door (keeping my hands on the knob always) i gradually increase the time the door is open, i sometimes turn my back on the dogs, and pretend to talk out the door, and then i have someone help me by knocking outside and me open the door. I usually dont have my fosters long enough to have me walk out the door while they stay in the sit/stay. (this method also helps with the jumping up on visitors)