Today my sheltie ran outside in the front yard which is normal and she started to run behind the tree I think for a rabbit. I tell her with the deep stern voice to come inside, which is the command to go inside—-she knows this command very well.... so instead she goes off running in the parking lot across the street into the grass/bushes.. all while I’m using my very deep stern Voice which she usually respects and does immediately what I say but this time she knowingly kept ignoring my commands and ran across the street. Recently my nephew moved in he’s four months old And I think she’s felt jealous about not getting enough attention but I still can’t understand why she would blatantly ignore me and run across the street, she was not running after anything at all nothing caught her eye she just wanted to run across the street to the grassy spot/bushes. She’s done this once before with each parent my mom and stepdad but I figured because they weren’t me that she just didn’t want to listen to them. Even just last night when I was moving stuff in the house she was going in and out side with me completely a bang my commands to stay in the grass in the front yard can anyone please tell me the reason for her behavior this morning I do not want to have a dead dog on my hands
My sheltie totally ignored me and ran across the street!!! She has never done this before
Piper's mom
Moderator
Personally I don't allow my dogs to be off leash in the front yard no matter how well they listen to me.
Last year I was working with my then 3 year old doing obedience on the driveway. He then caught sight of the neighbors Mastiff (in a fenced yard) and took off barking and snarling along the fence! This dog could've had him for breakfast but Piper refused to come to me as I ran trying to grab him! This from a dog I've done competitive obedience with for over 2 years (at that point). I did catch him and give him heck but would he do it again? Oh ya...I have no doubt. Now he's never off leash.
Last year I was working with my then 3 year old doing obedience on the driveway. He then caught sight of the neighbors Mastiff (in a fenced yard) and took off barking and snarling along the fence! This dog could've had him for breakfast but Piper refused to come to me as I ran trying to grab him! This from a dog I've done competitive obedience with for over 2 years (at that point). I did catch him and give him heck but would he do it again? Oh ya...I have no doubt. Now he's never off leash.
Margi
Premium Member
Take this incident as a blessing--you found out she will disobey/ignore you and she didn't get hit in the process. If she'll do it once, odds are she will do it again. Personally I wouldn't risk it.
Thanks its sad because I wanted to be able to train my sheltie to be able to walk off leash and follow my every command but I also have a step brother who’s Klee klai is perfectly well trained on and off leash but he still would never ever let his dog run off leash. Maybe I have to get it into my thick skull that they too have feelings and maybe don’t want to follow your command right now lol every once in a while at least.
Hanne
Forums Sage
Although my Minnie is very obedient and 99.9% confident in calling,
I am almost sure if she sees a hare running, she would run after it
- very, very annoying, but not to be disobedient
I would have a chance with the call
- If I see the hare just before her hunting instinct comes into effect
Their hunting instinct enters and closes their hearing, which is natural since all their senses must be / are concentrated around the hunt = the prey must be caught = food.
They will first come back to "our world" when they give up catching the prey.
Remember our race is not a trained hunting dog
I am almost sure if she sees a hare running, she would run after it
- very, very annoying, but not to be disobedient
I would have a chance with the call
- If I see the hare just before her hunting instinct comes into effect
Their hunting instinct enters and closes their hearing, which is natural since all their senses must be / are concentrated around the hunt = the prey must be caught = food.
They will first come back to "our world" when they give up catching the prey.
Remember our race is not a trained hunting dog
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Caro
Moderator
I agree, don't trust a dog off-lead around roads, it's too big a risk.
With your recall, it may have been your voice that sent her running off! Dogs respond to a fun voice - give her reason to come to you. A high pitched voice is much better and she should feel rewarded for coming to you, not scared. Practise recalls in a safe space whenever you can. Call her, reward her when she comes and keep doing this. Have a call command. Play chase games - where she chases you. And if your dog gets away from you, you should never chase it. You should run away and get her to chase you.
I spend a lot of time in classes teaching recall, it isn't an automatic thing. People assume a dog should do something because they were told to, but actually you should think - why would a dog do this, come to me when there's other more exciting things to do? Have a look on line for instructions on teaching recall. There's lots of ways to do this, but the best way is to get a recall is to turn it into a game.
My dogs are off lead most of the time (I live in a largely off-lead area), but they aren't off lead out the front of my place or anywhere near a road, Deska was always on-lead around bicycles and Tully around kangaroos - there's no point trying to fight their instinct to chase. If I wasn't 100% sure they would come to me when called then they weren't off lead, when they were I had a great recall because coming back to me was fun!
With your recall, it may have been your voice that sent her running off! Dogs respond to a fun voice - give her reason to come to you. A high pitched voice is much better and she should feel rewarded for coming to you, not scared. Practise recalls in a safe space whenever you can. Call her, reward her when she comes and keep doing this. Have a call command. Play chase games - where she chases you. And if your dog gets away from you, you should never chase it. You should run away and get her to chase you.
I spend a lot of time in classes teaching recall, it isn't an automatic thing. People assume a dog should do something because they were told to, but actually you should think - why would a dog do this, come to me when there's other more exciting things to do? Have a look on line for instructions on teaching recall. There's lots of ways to do this, but the best way is to get a recall is to turn it into a game.
My dogs are off lead most of the time (I live in a largely off-lead area), but they aren't off lead out the front of my place or anywhere near a road, Deska was always on-lead around bicycles and Tully around kangaroos - there's no point trying to fight their instinct to chase. If I wasn't 100% sure they would come to me when called then they weren't off lead, when they were I had a great recall because coming back to me was fun!
Wendy C
Forums Enthusiast
Thanks so much for the info on recall, I for one will check that out....the game of chase sounds great!
Cooper is not off leash except in the back yard. When he turns 6 months he can go into the community dog park and we are really looking forward to that. They have a section for large dogs and one for small, to get the key to go in you need to show paperwork saying they have had all their vaccinations. I hear it’s a wonderfully cared for area.
ghggp
Moderator
There is a deadly disease stalking your dog.....
a hideous, stealthy thing just waiting its chance to steal your beloved friend. It is not a new disease, or one for which there are inoculations. The disease is called "Trust."
You knew before you ever took your dog home that it could not be trusted. The rescue group/breeder who provided you with this precious animal warned you, drummed it into your head. Dogs steal off counters, destroy anything expensive, chase cats, take forever to house train, and must never be allowed off lead!!
When the big day finally arrived, heeding the sage advice, you escorted your dog to his new home, properly collared and tagged, the lead held tightly in your hand.
At home the house was "dog-proofed." Everything of value was stored in the spare bedroom, garbage stowed on top of the refrigerator, cats separated, and a gate placed across the living room to keep at least one part of the house puddle free. All windows and doors had been properly secured, and signs placed in all strategic points reminding all to "Close the door!"
Soon it becomes second nature to make sure the door closes nine tenths of a second after it was opened and that it is really latched. "Don't let the dog out" is your second most verbalized expression. (The first is "No!")
You worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your darling will get out and disaster will surely follow. Your friends comment about who you love most, your family or the dog. You know that to relax your vigil for a moment might lose him to you forever.
And so the weeks and months pass, with your dog becoming more civilized every day, and the seeds of trust are planted. It seems that each new day brings less destruction, less breakage. Almost before you know it, your gangly, slurpy dog has turned into an elegant, dignified friend.
Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you take him more places. No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in the car. And darned if that cake wasn't still on the counter this morning. And, oh yes, wasn't that the cat he was sleeping with so cozily on your pillow last night?
At this point you are beginning to become infected, the disease is spreading its roots deep into your mind.
And then one of your friends suggest obedience classes, and, after a time you even let him run loose from the car into the house when you get home. Why not, he always runs straight to the door, dancing a frenzy of joy and waits to be let in. And, remember he comes every time he is called. You know he is the exception that disproves the rule. (And sometimes late at night, you even let him slip out the front door to go potty and then right back in.)
Years pass -- it is hard to remember why you ever worried so much. He would never think of running out the door left open while you bring in the packages from the car. It would be beneath his dignity to jump out the window of the car while you run into the convenience store. And when you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn, it only takes one whistle to send him racing back to you in a burst of speed when the walk comes too close to the highway. (He still gets in the garbage, but nobody is perfect!)
This is the time the disease has waited for so patiently. Sometimes it only has to wait a year or two, but often it takes much longer. He spies the neighbour dog across the street, and suddenly forgets everything he ever knew about not slipping out doors, jumping out windows or coming when called due to traffic. Perhaps it was only a paper fluttering in the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running...
Stopped in an instant. Stilled forever. Your heart is broken at the sight of his still beautiful body.
The disease is trust. The final outcome -- hit by a car.
Every morning my dog bounced around off lead exploring. Every morning for seven years he came back when he was called. He was perfectly obedient, perfectly trustworthy. He died fourteen hours after being hit by a car.
Please do not risk your friend and your heart. Save the trust for things that do not matter.
Please read this every year on your dog's birthday, lest we forget.
~Author Unknow
When I rescued my first sheltie, Billy, Michigan Sheltie Rescue sent me home with a packet of information... this was included... The impact of reading this was profound. My shelties have never been off lead unless safe in my fenced backyard. I have gates blocking them from reaching the front door. Please be careful...
a hideous, stealthy thing just waiting its chance to steal your beloved friend. It is not a new disease, or one for which there are inoculations. The disease is called "Trust."
You knew before you ever took your dog home that it could not be trusted. The rescue group/breeder who provided you with this precious animal warned you, drummed it into your head. Dogs steal off counters, destroy anything expensive, chase cats, take forever to house train, and must never be allowed off lead!!
When the big day finally arrived, heeding the sage advice, you escorted your dog to his new home, properly collared and tagged, the lead held tightly in your hand.
At home the house was "dog-proofed." Everything of value was stored in the spare bedroom, garbage stowed on top of the refrigerator, cats separated, and a gate placed across the living room to keep at least one part of the house puddle free. All windows and doors had been properly secured, and signs placed in all strategic points reminding all to "Close the door!"
Soon it becomes second nature to make sure the door closes nine tenths of a second after it was opened and that it is really latched. "Don't let the dog out" is your second most verbalized expression. (The first is "No!")
You worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your darling will get out and disaster will surely follow. Your friends comment about who you love most, your family or the dog. You know that to relax your vigil for a moment might lose him to you forever.
And so the weeks and months pass, with your dog becoming more civilized every day, and the seeds of trust are planted. It seems that each new day brings less destruction, less breakage. Almost before you know it, your gangly, slurpy dog has turned into an elegant, dignified friend.
Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you take him more places. No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in the car. And darned if that cake wasn't still on the counter this morning. And, oh yes, wasn't that the cat he was sleeping with so cozily on your pillow last night?
At this point you are beginning to become infected, the disease is spreading its roots deep into your mind.
And then one of your friends suggest obedience classes, and, after a time you even let him run loose from the car into the house when you get home. Why not, he always runs straight to the door, dancing a frenzy of joy and waits to be let in. And, remember he comes every time he is called. You know he is the exception that disproves the rule. (And sometimes late at night, you even let him slip out the front door to go potty and then right back in.)
Years pass -- it is hard to remember why you ever worried so much. He would never think of running out the door left open while you bring in the packages from the car. It would be beneath his dignity to jump out the window of the car while you run into the convenience store. And when you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn, it only takes one whistle to send him racing back to you in a burst of speed when the walk comes too close to the highway. (He still gets in the garbage, but nobody is perfect!)
This is the time the disease has waited for so patiently. Sometimes it only has to wait a year or two, but often it takes much longer. He spies the neighbour dog across the street, and suddenly forgets everything he ever knew about not slipping out doors, jumping out windows or coming when called due to traffic. Perhaps it was only a paper fluttering in the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running...
Stopped in an instant. Stilled forever. Your heart is broken at the sight of his still beautiful body.
The disease is trust. The final outcome -- hit by a car.
Every morning my dog bounced around off lead exploring. Every morning for seven years he came back when he was called. He was perfectly obedient, perfectly trustworthy. He died fourteen hours after being hit by a car.
Please do not risk your friend and your heart. Save the trust for things that do not matter.
Please read this every year on your dog's birthday, lest we forget.
~Author Unknow
When I rescued my first sheltie, Billy, Michigan Sheltie Rescue sent me home with a packet of information... this was included... The impact of reading this was profound. My shelties have never been off lead unless safe in my fenced backyard. I have gates blocking them from reaching the front door. Please be careful...
Wendy C
Forums Enthusiast
I also have a gate so the dog can’t reach the front door. When we first moved here it was a whole different area then the dogs ( I had 2 seniors) were used to. One afternoon a neighbor came to the door and was chatting with hubby door open the cocker spaniel sitting nicely listening UNTIL another dog running loose with its owner came into view and the cocker was gone in a flash and onto the road...thank goodness it was ok that time, but would never happen again the gate went up! We put it back up before Cooper arrived. That’s a wonderful message the Rescue provided!!
Piper's mom
Moderator
Thank you for posting this Gloria, it certainly is my greatest fear.
I don't know if you remember but when I first joined SN I found that Piper's brother's owner had also joined. His brother's name was Barley and she would post picture him all the time.
After a time I saw nothing posted about him so on a visit to the breeder I asked her about Barley (I'd spent so much time with the pups of this litter I was concerned). She then told me how Barley had escaped from the yard and been hit by a car and died. I felt awful for that family who loved him so so much. Even now thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.
You really can't trust them, they are dogs after all and instincts will take over.