Lab runs around to escape situations she doesn't like

[Fran]

Good evening,

My 11 months old lab is coming on very nicely, but from time to time, when she disobeys, she likes to play chase to avoid getting corrected or put back in place. I fully understand that getting told off is not the most pleasant thing in the world, but this attitude is giving me some training issues. I'm trying to avoid such situations at all cost to avoid this problem getting worse, but I don't see how I can get out of this spiral. She seems to enjoy this "game" a lot, it seems self rewarding for her even though I'm not chasing after her (she sometimes even zooms by very close...).

On the leash / long line, or in confined spaces there is never a problem. It's only when she knows she can escape that there's a chance that she will do her own thing for a few seconds, and then try to avoid the consequences of her behavior. Luckily, it doesn't happen that often.

What are the best tricks to stop this "game"? How can I show her that I can get to her even on a distance (knowing that I've never tried to really get her, by fear of making it worse)?

Thanks in advance!

[Judy]

I have a Cocker that does this, seems like she has to relieve her stress by having a zoomy moment - running around like a headless chicken. The good news is it does lessen as they mature, we haven't had an "episode" for a couple of years.

I found I had to train everything step by step so that she had little pressure, she learned very quickly and would only go off in one in strange (to her) situations - new people, new dogs and on one memorable occasion in the middle of a shoot day when she had put her front feet up on the game cart only to be unceremoniously shoved off by the man in charge.

I think its probably best to just stand still and ignore her until she calms down then do something straightforward and simple to restore her confidence. Chasing, getting annoyed, being verbal makes it worse, in my experience - only had one like it, thankfully!

The opposite of this is shutting down in similar circumstances, not sure which is worse! I have seen dogs go very slow and aimless when they don't fully understand what's up.

[keirk]

When mind does a similar thing I tend to reach for a command that has been drilled in from an early age, thus is relatively easy for the little dog to understand, ie Sit.

Remember getting loud is the opposite of what you wanna do at this point. Just a quiet sit.

[kent]

Sounds like a sensitive dog, like already stated the run around is stress. If you give it a rollicking I bet it gets worse or the thing shuts off. To my mind a good prospect just always stay put, keep calm and make it complete the exercise but maybe in an easier format to guarantee success in a smaller way.

[Cass]

My cocker does this as well. When he does I know its time to end the training session. I let him run around and toss him a couple fun bumpers, head inside and send him to his crate to calm himself. Just let her run and don't show your frustration. She'll come back, then just call it a day.

[Fran]

I've forgotten to mention that there's no problem when we're already working. It mostly happens when she's allowed to play on her own a bit, then I issue a command (recall or sit). She seems to be more interested to continue her own thing, perfectly knowing that I won't be happy about it. She didn't do that a few weeks ago, so it's probably just a phase she goes through, but I need to get it right. Knowing her, I don't think repeating the command or letting her take her time to obey is going to solve this.

It's not a sensitive dog, rather the contrary. She has dealt with pressure really well in the past, and she can switch from "I know I've done something bad" to "what can I do for you?" in a split second. I've never seen her shut off or being confused. I've also never been unfair to her, which made training a breeze until now.

I'm thinking she's just going through adolescence, and wants to test my limits. But I don't know how to get her to stop this little game.

[Tungulria]

She knows what is coming. This isn't going to be the sort of dog you can overcorrect. I've got one here. I'd recommend a pro trainer session as he's helped me to read when she about to crumble or when she is just dicking around because she thinks she can get away with anything.
Its a case for me of ignore the bad / wrong behaviour and distract with a simple task as suggested above and then reward.

[Fran]

She knows what is coming. This isn't going to be the sort of dog you can overcorrect. I've got one here. I'd recommend a pro trainer session as he's helped me to read when she about to crumble or when she is just dicking around because she thinks she can get away with anything.
Its a case for me of ignore the bad / wrong behaviour and distract with a simple task as suggested above and then reward.

I think you've started writing your answer before I posted my last reply.

[Rascal]

What is it exactly you are trying to teach her where she disobeys....?There are more ways to skin a cat ......

And you must have chased after her previously for her to behave like this.

Rascal

[Rascal]

Right I've had another read and my thoughts are :- You're making a big deal of this and your frustration is very clear to the dog, consequently so is she..

It won't happen on a long line or in a confined space because she knows she has no alternative which is one of the reasons I don't like long lines, dogs aren't stoopid they know when they are on a line.. In a confined space have you been getting after her and giving her a telling off?

How much recalling and sitting are you doing with the dog? Rather than force compliance work on getting the dog want to comply and don't overdo it so as to bore the dog build on it gradually...

You say it happens in free time but not in training what are you doing differently in free time as opposed to training? Does free time come at the end of a training session or at the start?


Rascal