She runs from me when it's time to go into the garage

[JeepnGirl]

I want to see if this is something my four month old will out grow............

I have the same routine Monday - Friday. My puppy is very smart and has figured out my routine. When it's time for me to put her in the garage for the day so I can go to work she starts running around, acting like we're playing tag.

It's become a game to her. I don't chase her BUT I follow her around until I can corner her and catch her. Unfortunately, I' don't want this to become a huge issue when she gets older.

How can I nip this in the bud? or is this a phase she will out grow?

What do you think?

 

[Boxer_21]

Originally posted by JeepnGirl
It's become a game to her. I don't chase her BUT I follow her around until I can corner her and catch her.

You're right, they do see this as a game. It's very important that you don't continue to chase after her as this will make training her more difficult. It's only encouraging her to continue to run and play keep away from you. I realize that you said you follow her and not chase after her, but in reality it's all the same to her. She's getting you to follow her and it's giving her the chance to run from you. That's the whole point of their game, to have fun!!

Unfortunately, I' don't want this to become a huge issue when she gets older.

Without some serious training on your part, this will become a huge problem as time goes on. In fact, teaching her to come when called could save her life someday.

How can I nip this in the bud?

If you do a search on "recall" or other related terms you'll be able to pull up numerous past threads on this issue.

Here are a few to get you started.

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48145
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=47346
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48087
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42329&highlight=recall

Good luck!!

- Mandy

 

[jaimie]

I had the same problem with Brandy and what I would do is ignore her when she started running from me, turn around & walk away. Go get something to eat or drink, and I even put the leash on her about an hour or so before I had to leave and let her drag it around that worked too. Now, she still occassionally *tries* this keep away game but when she hears my serious voice say BRANDY (very stern but not yelling!) she comes running & heels.

Good Luck & make sure you use the search button they have other good tips to use there too!


Jaimie

 

[Kushwaha]

heh :D We encouraged this in Pluto initially - if he ran after us, he caught us fast, but we could 'miss' him while he zipped and zoomed around us -- not much exercise to us but much for him. Thought it was ideal for my parents (60+) ... turned out that it is a problem when we're outside the safety of our house. Now, they can't take him for walks. :(

Fortunately, we have a trainer coming in from yesterday and with proper training and our collective effort, Pluto will soon become the *real* darling that he is.

[a] & [p]

 

[sunni_d]

I know the feeling

Girl......I know the feeling. Lucy was the same way. I would either have to leave her in the house until it was time to leave and I could walk her out to the pen or trick her into getting in the truck and then drag her to the pen. Both were not any fun. Then one day I had saved some rib bones froma BBQ the nite before and decided to give her one in her pen. Once she saw the bone she was an angel. So I learned my lesson. Lucy will do anything for treats. I am still waiting for the day when she will get a wild streak and refuse her pen but its been almost a year now and no problems. I will also mention this was around the 1 year old mark when I had this revelation. But then again lots of things changed with her around that time. Also now she will go to her pen with out a treat but I always feel bad for now giving her a reward when i run out of them. Hope this helps.

Sunni and Lucy

 

[Debbie Magon]

Is your boxer alone all day in the garage?
If she is missbehaving when you want to lock her up this may well be why.
A boxer needs stimulation and company.
Being shut in a garage for long hours while everyone works is not very fair on a dog, especially a young dog.

Can you get someone in to break up her day?
A friend or neighbour that you trust would be wonderful for her.
Also make sure her environment has plenty of safe toys and interesting things to nose about with.

 

[JeepnGirl]

Yes, my girlfriend comes home on her lunch break everyday and lets her out of the garage to play. My girlfriend will also come by some times when she has deliveries to make for work and picks Zoey up to go on deliveries with her.

It doesn't matter if I leave her for an hour or for 7 hours. She hates to be alone but she's too young (4 months) to leave in the house all day because of the bathroom situation.

I have tried the turn around and walk the other way method.....that works good BUT I still can't catch her. So, now I've gone to bribing her with treats. I go out into the garage and pick up all her toys, organize her bed, and give her a treat. She still knows I'm going to leave her, she just hasn't figured out how to get her treat and get away from me, yet.

Hopefully, she'll out grow it.

Thanks, for all the advice.

 

[jaimie]

She won't out grow it, you need to remedy it. I would get her a crate. My girls don't "like" going into their crate but when I tell them to go in it they don't run they go into it. Get her a crate and make sure it is big enough for her to turn around in, give her water, kong & whatever. She will not only be much happier but so will you when she goes into her crate and you don't have to chase her down before you go to work.

Good Luck,

Jaimie