Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

Are labs prone to running off?

griffinej5 Mar 16, 2004 09:55 PM

Or is it just that I know of a lot who do. I have a mix who is mostly lab, and she runs when she gets a chance. My mailman has 3 or 4, and he says the only one of his who doesn't is the 6 year old, but she used to. If you couldn't tell mine was out again today. She goes for about two hours when she does. She has to try every escape method once. Today it was out the door of a tennis court where my mom took her to run around (she thought the door was shut, and it wasn't) A few days after we got her, it was out the window. She slipped her collar one day. She managed to detach her leashes before. She now has a greyhound collar and a leash made for big heavy dogs (she's about 60 pounds). My dog has been through a lot of homes, so that probably has a part in it. However, I believe the mailman's had his dogs since they were little. The other two or three in the neighborhood who don't walk much don't go out running. They're also fat. Ours get a lot of activity, so I guess they're in shape enough to run around for a few hours.

Replies (4)

PHFasDog Mar 17, 2004 10:18 AM

Hi,

Almost ALL untrained dogs will run away if given the chance. It can take years of special training to ever be able to trust a dog offleash and even then, I never would trust a dog offleash. It is up to a dogs owner to make sure that the dog doesn't get loose, because typically...a loose dog ends up a dead dog.

So, I'd enroll in an obedience class so that at least if the dog does get loose, there is a chance that she will listen to you and come back.

Good luck!
-----
Melody/PHFasDog
Email me at PHFasDog

My furkids:
Shadow, Jadzia and Lyta.
Kira waiting the bridge.

Dogs come into our lives, and too quickly go leaving pawprints on our hearts, and we will never be quite the same again.

JaimeMarie Mar 17, 2004 03:21 PM

I have a lab mix. She doesn't run away any more. She did the first 2 yrs of her life. It took a long time to train her. But now she will stay in the yard. I still don't totally trust her. If she saw a squirrel across the street she would be gone in a heart beat. So we keep her on lead, or in a fence. When she used to get lose as a puppy, we would run the other way and she would chase us. Or kneel down and dig in the dirt with our backs to her. She would come to see what we are doing.
Your dog sounds like she has had a lot of homes. Maybe you should find a good dog trainer and sign up. This will teach you ways to build a bond with your new dog.
Just make sure you research the trainer before signing up. I had a bad experiance with one in the past. She wanted me to hit my malamute on the nose with a rubber hose. At that point I found a new trainer.
Good luck,
Jaime

DodgerandJager Mar 17, 2004 03:42 PM

I remember when I was really young, about 6 years old, we had a black lab. She used to get out and she would be gone for an hour to two hours then she would come back. Of course she wasn't trained either, she would pull on the leash and she could drag you if she wanted, lol I wasnt allowed to walk her because I would have been sliding across the concrete while she ran.
-----
Heather, Dodger, Jager, and Madi

AmberMom Apr 02, 2004 02:28 PM

I have 3 Labs and none of them are runners. They won't leave the room without us let alone the yard! They have been offleash since they were puppies. They rarely leave the yard without us. (if they do, they go nextdoor to Grandma's) Our neighor had a black Lab that used to get loose and run wild through the neighborhood. She was always tied in the back yard and never socialized much. I think tied dogs, when they finally get the chance to, run when they get loose. Going in the front yard or over to visit a neighbor's yard is no big deal to my dogs, they do it all the time with us. They are all great at coming when called. How they are raised and socialized is a big factor on what kind of adult they turn into (kinda like kids.) I have to say as far as ease of training, my Black female was the BEST! (I have a Yellow, Male and a Chocolate Female too) She gets the paper at the end of the driveway, the remote for me, the phone, my slippers, basically anthing that is not metal she will get.
Good luck with your new puppy!

Site Tools