Off leash Question!!!

[critter crazy]

okay so i have never had a bloodhound before and well I am having some probs!! Duke is a very good boy, and does great on a lead. But once i unhook the lead he is nuts!! he takes off, juststares at me as i call him, and runs off to the neibors yard to play with their dog! How can i get him to listen to me off leash as well as he does on???? I have taught him to sit, stay, laydown and he does these things all great inside or on a leash. but i want to be able to someday take him with me while on horseback, like i could my lat dog. But he is frustrating me. are their any special things i can do for a hound, to get his attention?? he is 1 year old now. He seems to just want to go play with the other dog. I know when my dog Zues past away around X-mas Duke was highly affected. Could it just be he wants companionship of another dog?? I have been thinking about getting another dog, would that help or make it worse??? please help me!!

[BC_MoM]

Bloodhounds are hunting dogs and will take off and will not come back. At least he's just running over to play with another dog and completely taking off yet!

Even through serious training, I don't think they can ever be 100% reliable offleash.. (I don't think any dog can, IMO).

How long have you had him? Have you enrolled in any obedience classes with him yet?

[critter crazy]

I have had him since last august! And no we have never been to obidience class, I have never been to one with any dog before. I know all dogs can only be trusted so far off lead, but i just want to be able to go my trail rides with him. he dosent seem to be interested in anything other than, lucky the dog next door. I was thinking that maybe that had something to do with his seperation anxiety that showed up after my other dog passed away! I guess i dont have to take him on rides with me but if for somereason he does get out of the house i would at least like him to come back when called!

[bckrazy]

Definitely go to Obedience classes, asap! Have you owned a Bloodhound before? They are not like most breeds of dog, they are bred to follow their nose and will. They're also very headstrong, willfull, stubborn (and lovable, of course) dogs, and you will absolutely need the guidance of a good trainer or behaviorist to learn how to be his leader and to get him to where he won't bolt when off-leash. Until you do go through training, he needs to be on-leash in an unfenced area. That's my opinion ... I have a Border Collie, not known to run off, but he would also run off to play with other dogs/people until we went through lots of obedience training and we work with him every day. Now, I can trust him to not bolt, not to say that I'd ever allow him off-leash in a high traffic area (anywhere with cars, people, and dogs is always on-leash!).

A tip just in case he does get away - call his name very excitedly and jump around and run the other way - chasing him will most likely only incite him into a game of chase and he'll keep running! If you attend Obedience and teach him very valuable commands like "stay" "leave it" "here" "wait" etc, in a supportive and gradually distracting environment, it will help you a lot with having more peace of mind and you'll be able to do fun things with him like trail riding.

[critter crazy]

Definitely go to Obedience classes, asap! Have you owned a Bloodhound before? They are not like most breeds of dog, they are bred to follow their nose and will. They're also very headstrong, willfull, stubborn (and lovable, of course) dogs, and you will absolutely need the guidance of a good trainer or behaviorist to learn how to be his leader and to get him to where he won't bolt when off-leash. Until you do go through training, he needs to be on-leash in an unfenced area. That's my opinion ... I have a Border Collie, not known to run off, but he would also run off to play with other dogs/people until we went through lots of obedience training and we work with him every day. Now, I can trust him to not bolt, not to say that I'd ever allow him off-leash in a high traffic area (anywhere with cars, people, and dogs is always on-leash!).

A tip just in case he does get away - call his name very excitedly and jump around and run the other way - chasing him will most likely only incite him into a game of chase and he'll keep running! If you attend Obedience and teach him very valuable commands like "stay" "leave it" "here" "wait" etc, in a supportive and gradually distracting environment, it will help you a lot with having more peace of mind and you'll be able to do fun things with him like trail riding.

That is exactly what i have to do!! I act like i am getting in the car or I show him his favorite toy!! He has only gotten out a couple of times, unfortunately by my 6 yr old son. but now my son knows the doggy cant go out. and has been very careful!! I will be caklling around tomarrow to see about obedience classes. I just dont want something stupid to happen, if he does get out again, like hit by a car or something. thanks for your help!!

[Karen]

He may someday be able to do trail rides with you IF you get a long, loose leash for him, but being a Bloodhound, his nose will likely ALWAYS rule the day when he gets a whiff of something worthy! But at least, if you're on horseback, you'll have the added ballast of several hundred pounds of horseflesh that he'd have to tow - less likely he'd be able to drag a whole horse AND human than a human alone!

Obedience classes will be great for both of you, even if he's sometimes the most stubborn student in class - he IS a hound, after all. Those soft ears and doleful eyes make up for a lot, don't they?

[critter crazy]

I just love my boy!! he is a doll!! and i just want the best for him, and to make life as safe as possible!! he is my baby!!

[VTJess03]

Maggie, my bluetick coonhound is the same way...if she thinks she's loose, she takes off. I think that's how she ended up at the shelter we adopted her from. I have had some success with putting her on a long line (I have a 100' clothesline that I put a snap on for her). She can get pretty far away, but when she gets close to the neighbor's yard, I can stop her. She is starting to respond to her name when I call her and she's farther away. It also helps to have some really good, stinky treats to give her when she gets back (I made a batch of the salmon treats that someone posted on the health page a month or so ago, and she loves them). She used to get loose and run and run and run...chasing her just meant that we were following closely enough to make her feel secure enough to go further