There are a few ways to help prevent this. I didn't really have the problem of my dogs running off on me, but sometimes when Tommy used to find something inappropriate in the back yard to carry/eat (like a dead bird ), I'd yell "Tommy no!" and walk towards him. Big mistake! Of course he'd grab it and run around the yard keeping out of reach and stopping every so often to partake in his prize.

I've since completely turned around how I handle and train the dogs. As mentioned before, I think it's first of all very important that an owner work on the dog's recall. It's very important to HEAVILY reward recall. I use hotdog and cheese treats as well as throwing Tommy's tennis ball (one of his ultimate rewards as he loves to retrieve!), and work on it constantly. Even if he has it down, every time we are out I will at least once say in a confident but chipper voice, "Tommy come!" and he comes running because he knows something good is waiting! It becomes such a habit that even if he finds something fascinating, he is "programmed" to run to me when I call.

I have also worked on him with giving me something he has. I put my hand out and say "give it to me." I worked on this with his ball first for a long time, he knew it wouldn't be thrown again until he gave it to me, and I never chased him or pried it out of his mouth. He had to willingly give it up. When I first started doing that he got a treat when he gave me the ball. Now he knows it gets thrown again if he gives it to me and I phased treats out most the time.

Fast forward to the same situation now. Tommy found half a loaf of some old stale bread that we had put out for the birds, but the birds had knocked it onto the ground at some point. I said in my usual chipper voice, "Tommy come!" and then I put my hand out as if he had a ball and said "give it to me" and he carefully placed the bread in my hand. I didn't happen to have treats with me at the time but he of course got immense praise!

If a dog gets out unexpectedly and doesn't have a good recall, I would suggest of course to never scold and frantically call. Call in a normal chipper voice as if you were calling the dog to go for a walk. Go get a favorite toy or very tasty treat to make the temptation to come a bigger one versus the temptation to keep going. If all else fails try to turn and run away, most dogs will playfully chase then.

These methods are what I have found to be most successful.