Road Safety
The cars that do come down our private road tend to travel slowly, thank God, and the occupants all know a Sully. As a result, Sully has learned to see cars as carriers of fun and cuddles, rather than potential killing machines. The other day she was socializing with a neighbor who is strong but in a wheelchair. He and I were both right with her but she took off after a car and the leash slipped from both our fingers. He and I are both pretty calm and soft-spoken but we both freaked, especially since she was in front of the car and we couldn't even see her. Certainly we will need to spend even more time working on recall. I'm Sully ignored both of us and I am sure she was also well out of sight of the driver who wasn't even someone we recognized. Worse, by the time we got to them Sully was getting lots of attention and patting from the driver who must have seen her, thank God!! On walks, I have always been making her stop at the edge of the road and not let her step off the grass onto the road without permission, but clearly that is not nearly enough, especially in a place where we don't have typical roads. Drivers on the main rural routes are certainly not expecting dog and pedistrian traffic and I don't have a way to get her to other areas for practice. I know my bsthope for good corgi advice is to ask you all. Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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It sounds like you have plenty of people to help you with your recall for Sully! Sage does have a perfect recall but it took a lot of time and work. It sounds like you have plenty of people who could help you with this. Pick a word you will only use when it is an emergency and have someone help by holding her leash, have treats ready and when you call using this word and she starts coming to you have lots of treats and praise ready the other person will have to drop the leash and she will need to come running straight to you and plop down her butt close enough for you to grab her collar so within about 6 inches of your legs. I use "come front" for Sage.
I taught Wynn as a pup to go to our deck and sit/wait till the car shuts off but now that we live in town it's a bit harder for him and we live on a busy with a 4way stop but luckily he does come when called and doesn't wander in the street.
Sounds great that you make her stop before entering the road. I always do too. All I can say is keep practicing I guess...good luck.
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Glad to help....
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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I have never taken chances with my dogs off leash on or near roads. When the dog is off leash, no matter how well trained, something may happen which is totally out of your control and which you could not foresee. I had a lady in one of my obedience classes with a lovely Golden Retriever. She told me her husband jogged with the dog and would not hear of doing it on leash because the dog never left his side anyway. About a year later I went to the Emergency Vet Clinic with one of my dogs that had tackled with a Porcupine on our property. When we got there they said we would have to wait because someone had just called in to say they were bringing in a dog who had been run over by a car and had a broken leg. Soon after the people and dog arrived. If you guessed it was that lovely Golden Retriever, you are right.
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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I agree, Anna. Sad to say Sully was on a leash when this happened but was resting her head on my neighbor's lap in the walkway. She was being patted and both of us had the leash lightly in hand but neither of us saw the car coming and noticed Sully's attention switched until she slipped from our grasp. Sadly, I was clearly the one responsible and the one at fault. I hope it never happens again, but with all of the people that come and go here and the number of workmen and town police and fire fighters with master keys I am afraid Sully may slip out or get locked out accidentally somehow when I am not home. Wish she were more aware of vehicle dangers, if indeed that can even be taught. I have seen city dogs look both ways and wait to cross so it seems teachable. Just curious.
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I wouldn't worry about others letting Sully out accidentally when you are not home. The chances would be minimal. As for city dogs who have learned to watch for cars, those are the ones that did not get run over yet.
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Good point Anna.
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Permalink Reply by Vicky Hay on
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Oh, my goodness what a scary incident!!! My worst fear is that Ruby will slip away accidentally and run out into a road. No matter how hard we try, dogs DO give us the slip every now and again. I think the only way a dog can be persuaded that a car is dangerous is get hurt by one...they have no clue.
In fact, Ruby did escape the other day. The front courtyard gate is starting to sag on its hinge, and it didn't latch when I pulled it closed. Out she went! Fortunately she hadn't gone far by the time I noticed, and she did come to call.
Maybe you could put her on a long lead, let her approach a friend's car, and have the friend lean on the horn when she gets too close. One or two scares like that could make her more cautious. Otherwise...shock collar??? I hate the idea and don't use them myself, but if it seems that risky...better a little jolt than dead in the street.
My last German shepherd seemed to understand that "HURT Anna" meant "this is something dangerous." But it's not at all clear that either Ruby or Cassie makes that connection. However, I have found that they do register an urgent tone when I call them in an emergency: "Come here NOW" with a real edge to the voice does bring them right over. This has only happened a couple of times -- a propane leak and the cops chasing down one of the local perps in a low-flying copter. But they're not trained to do that and I wouldn't rely on them to respond consistently.
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Another thing I would suggest to many people especially if they aren't sure how their dog will react to certain situations is to use a Martingale collar. I actually use this on Sage as she goes in many unfamiliar situations and they don't allow a dog to "back out" of the collar and get loose. I always sent these with my pups too since they can spook and run. These can't be left on the dog but are used for walking etc.
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Seconded! The corgi noggin, like the greyhound's, seems to lend itself to slipping a collar.
I use a harness for walking Ruby, because collars seem to choke her. Either way, it's a lot harder for them to get away. I also loop the leash around my wrist, which makes it harder for me to accidentally drop it.
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Permalink Reply by Carl Koch on
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This is very good advice. Betty and Adam NEVER go out of the house without their harness on. It gives better control without the danger of choking. Adam is an 80 pound AmStaff and controlling him with a collar is probably next to impossible. I back the harness up with a slack choke chain. If he breaks the harness latches the choker will stop him until I get control back.
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