sammy ran into the street!

[goodheart]

ugh, it was so scary!

we are staying at my BF's house in indiana right now (ok, inaccurate term -- we just got married at the courthouse last week, so i guess he's officially the husband; it's taking time to get used to referring to him that way ). he lives on a corner of a VERY busy road and this morning sammy was standing at the door following a friend out. at my house, she usually waits politely at the door (we've been working on this in her training class) - but maybe i was under the illusion that she does that b/c she's well trained and it is more that my screen door shuts very quickly. anyways... this morning i was standing right behind her, but she snuck right out the door despite me calling "wait" and "come." i tried calling her to come with her name using a high pitched voice, like we've been working on, but she totally ignored me. then i changed my tone to a really stern one - still no response. she was running around the front yard and eventually out on the street. THANK GOD there were no cars out there - i was SO scared. although i've been told in training NOT to run after the dog since they'll just think it is a game, i wasn't sure what else to do and it was obviously a dangerous situation so i finally ran out in my socks in the snow and grabbed her... i know it isn't really worth scolding her since she won't know what she did wrong, but she could definitely tell i wasn't happy with her =(

oy. we have worked really hard at "come," especially outside on walks and at the dog park, and she's almost always reliable. i guess almost is not good enough for these bad situations. i'll keep working very hard on "wait" - that would have been the prevention here...

any other tips welcome!

[CheddarComet]

That is so scary. I am so sorry. My Cheddar did that the other day - ran out of his collar down the steps b/c he was afraid of an ice hockey bag on the stoop- and into the street. I crouched down and yelled his name but he also thought it was a game. I understand how scared you were and am sorry that happened. I bought a new color so he can't pull out of it again. One thing that has worked in the past was offering whatever treat they really wanted, like "Peanut Butter!" Good luck and congratulations!!
Kelly

[tuffystar]

That is so scary! You did everything I would have done. Maybe try a long lead and then teaching Sammy to come when called. You can make it harder by having someone on the other end with something really yummy then calling him. If he doesn't come reel him in. I guess more training is all you can do.

NOW FOR YOUR OTHER NEWS!

[lindamarie]

SAMMY! NO!! Don't do that!!!
How frightening!! I'm so glad everything is okay.
I recall one time when my Springer got loose years ago and I ran into the street to block all traffic. I figured they could hit me but not my dog!
CONGRATS ON YOUR MARRIAGE TOO!!

[lindamarie]

OOPS! I forgot to add tricks to preventing this.
It seems you are doing well so far with the WAIT except for this one time.

When Bogart's trainer came to the house to train him, we worked on this.
I don't know if I can explain this or not, but I'll try.

Have Sammy at the door (where it's safe) and tell him to STAY. Then start to go out the door. If he follows, give an AHHH!! Like a growl and put him back in a STAY.
He has to learn that he can only go out when you give him the OKAY!!
Like I said this is hard to explain, but stand there and look at him and ask him teasingly, "Ya wanna come out, ya wanna come out?" If he does than give him the AHHH and return him to the STAY!.
He will eventually learn he can ony go out with an OKAY!!
I know.........confusing!

[tykesmom]

Thank goodness Sammy - and you! - are ok!!! I've found that the few times Tyke has gotten out, the best thing for me to do to get her to come back is to run AWAY from her! If I run toward her, she just thinks it is a wonderful game, but if I run away, she doesn't want to be left behind!!!

[blueteal]

So happy Sammy is a-ok and congrats on your wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jac]

Wow...congratulations on your wedding!
Oh, that Sammy! It is my greatest fear...and my dogs have done it a lot...
I read, recently, that you don't want to take any chances on the "come" command in an emergency...so one of the easiest things to teach is sit...and if can teach your dog to sit on command every time, with no exception, then in an emergency you yell, "Sammy sit!" and he should...and if you have also taught him to stay consistently, you can follow the sit with stay until you can get him.
I know the panic...all you want do is catch them! I have often wondered, although I never think to try this when I panic, if I would just sit on the ground...my dogs can't resist when I sit on the ground! Maybe they would come to me...I just never think to try, better to get them!

[lmtoth2]

I'm so glad Sammy is ok. Kirby always scares me like that...when people come to the door he tries to get to them to sniff them and I'm afraid he'll forget to listen and run out (he listens so well until those darn instinct kick in). We're still a work in progress

[Cinsmom]

Silly doodles, scaring us like that!

Congrat's on your marriage!! How cool!!

That is scary. My dogs have gotten out to and they don't come back when called. They will come if there aren't any distractions but if there is something to chase forget about it.

Congrats on your marriage!!

[goodheart]

shouting "sit" is a great idea - i'll definitely try that should she sneak past me again!

and thanks everyone for the congratulations on the wedding - it was on the "down-low" for a little while due to school/work circumstances (i'm going to quit school to move here, so we didn't want my faculty to hear about it randomly - although i doubt they read labradoodle boards ) but now that everyone is informed, we're "out" in the open about it and it is very exciting! i am going to move down here to south bend, indiana -- anyone from around here for doodle play dates? we will also have a second dog -- my husband's (!!) landlord will be abroad for the year so we will be taking her of her dog. he's a 7-year old rescue so we have no idea of his dog ancestry, but he's very calm and cute and he and sammy tire each other out running back and forth through the house. maybe she'll learn to chill from him!!!!

[m&t]

So scary! Unfortunately I know exactly how that feels. I'm glad that nothing bad happened!