1st May 2006

How can I stop my young dog Patch bolting when I let him off the lead?

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Question:

My dog, Patch, is 10 months old. I've had him for about three weeks now, from the local dogs' home. If I let him off the lead and he sees another dog or a child, he'll bolt after them and only return when it suits him - sometimes after I have had to follow him for some distance. Other than this, he obeys commands. How can I stop him doing bolting like this?

Answer:

You need to prevent Patch from practicing this behaviour. He cannot be allowed to chase children, especially. Attach a long line to a harness (to prevent him injuring his neck should he run to the end of it) whenever you are in an area where he meets other dogs or children. Teach him to fetch a ball or play an exciting game when out for walks, so that he becomes more interested in interacting with you than running off. If he sees another dog, by all means start by letting him say hello. Then, after 30 seconds, call him and encourage him to come back to you by putting a little pressure on the long line. When he comes back, you can then use the other dog as a reward, even, by letting him go and say hello a second time. If you prevent him from meeting other dogs altogether, he may simply become frustrated and so even more excited when he does see them. The key is finding the reward that he values more than anything else - so experiment with different toys and foods.