Run away labrador

[jo90]

Our 3 year old black lab has started running off on his own during his regular dog walks. Head down and away for half an hour or so. Is this to be expected since it is seriously spoiling his daily walks for us. And is there a reason or even a solution.

[wildwood]

Is your dog fixed or looking for what dogs do? There is always a reason, perhaps you are not interacting with him enough because you are obviously not in control of it.

If your dog gets up to no good while on his walkabouts you may get into serious trouble.

[lankeela]

Until you train him on a lead and get a reliable recall in a confined area then you should not let him off anywhere he can go off on his own, as he will be a danger to himself and anyone else if he causes an accident. Also someone could steal him, or he could get in a fight with another dog so for his sake stop letting him off. Use a flexi lead if you want him to have free runs. Take him to training classes and learn how to teach him to come when called.

[woofgang]

Lankeela has it on the button. He has decided that you are not the boss of him and he doesn't have to do what he is told...soooo dangerous. If he is still entire, then getting him neutered will (eventually) lessen his male urges but he has learned that he can run away and get away with it, so also needs to learn a solid recall and you need to learn how to be his boss!!

[B00]

I'm quite baffled what you do with yourself whilst he's nowhere in sight for half an hour or so? That's a long time to be stood there on your tod!

[tamborine]

chasing the scent of a bitch on heat? Dont let him off the lead.

[fredpuli47]

Going to a bitch in season is a good reason for his disappearing ! Hope there are no products!Trouble is he may remember where there was a bitch. I had one dog who'd insist upon leading to where he knew a bitch lived even though she wasn't then in season.Daft and romantic, but at least he remembered !
Training him again is the only answer.There's no instant cure.

[corylus]

Our 4 year old black lab started off running last autumn whenever we were distracted when walking him and our terrier. He was off about half a mile away, we had to fetch him back in the car, there was a bitch there, but she wasn't on heat. After 2 episodes of this running off in a week, I had him castrated, (ie don't you mess about with me mate !) since then he's only run off once and otherwise is quite biddable and obedient. We've had 4 (entire) male dogs and this is the only one who's ever kept legging it.

The problem is that although the dog is chipped and has a tag on his collar and therefore could be returned to us he might cause a traffic accident and get injured/killed himself. I wouldn't want that to happen, hence the castration which does seem to have helped.