Puppy Reality Series by Dr. Ray – Part 4

Posted March 12, 2014

Your pup will run away

You love your puppy. She’s 8 months old now, has settled down a bit, and she has stolen your heart. She loves you too…. that’s what the kisses, cuddles and wagging tail tell you, right?

Yes, she does love you. But she will run away if given a chance.

Although you are the center of her universe, there’s a lot of other neat things in her universe…. another dog’s bum, a rolling piece of garbage, or even a crow landing way over there. The “recall” is a talent that not all dogs develop and even the smarter ones take a year to be reliable. The successful recall requires your puppy to disregard all the activities, smells, people and pets that are in visual and “nasal” contact. That won’t happen until all these interesting things are NOT as interesting as your recall incentive…..which is what? Use treats at least until a year of age and then see how things go. Many will eventually come back just to please you but that response takes time.

Reality point: Some breeds will never develop a reliable recall: Beagles, Bloodhounds, Sight Hounds (Greyhounds, Whippets, etc), Boxers and small terriers (Jack Russels, Cairns, etc). Always, always use a leash and collar or harness, especially next to roads.

Dr. Ray

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