I have a real problem with my one dog. He won't come when called. Once he's off the leash, he becomes completely deaf to any commands.
He broke his leash yesterday and ran off. After chasing him for an hour across the busy 45 MPH road we live on now and through several neighboring homes and into the woods, I went home and got our van. I spotted him on the side of road. As he loves to go for rides, he came when I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride, hopped in the van, and I took him home.
We adopted the dog when he was about a year old from a friend who could no longer keep him. He got away with this behavior with her and we have been unable to "unteach" it. He does beautifully on a lead or in the house or other confined area, but once free, he runs and doesn't come back until he's good and ready. This is the first time he's gotten loose at our new house and immediately headed up the driveway and into the thankfully non-busy 45 MPH road.
He's about 6 years old and is an unneutered (not MY idea) male. Do you think it would help to have him neutered? I am probably going to do it as the vet recommended we should think about it to cut down on problems as he gets older.
How can we teach him to listen? I've tried the long lead line and getting him to sit, stay, and then come when called, which he will do - on the lead. But once off the line, he's "deaf." I've never had this problem with any other dog I've ever had.
He broke his leash yesterday and ran off. After chasing him for an hour across the busy 45 MPH road we live on now and through several neighboring homes and into the woods, I went home and got our van. I spotted him on the side of road. As he loves to go for rides, he came when I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride, hopped in the van, and I took him home.
We adopted the dog when he was about a year old from a friend who could no longer keep him. He got away with this behavior with her and we have been unable to "unteach" it. He does beautifully on a lead or in the house or other confined area, but once free, he runs and doesn't come back until he's good and ready. This is the first time he's gotten loose at our new house and immediately headed up the driveway and into the thankfully non-busy 45 MPH road.
He's about 6 years old and is an unneutered (not MY idea) male. Do you think it would help to have him neutered? I am probably going to do it as the vet recommended we should think about it to cut down on problems as he gets older.
How can we teach him to listen? I've tried the long lead line and getting him to sit, stay, and then come when called, which he will do - on the lead. But once off the line, he's "deaf." I've never had this problem with any other dog I've ever had.