Set up a daily training routine with him. At least 5-10 minutes a day will work WONDERS for his overall behavior.
The other person isn’t willing to work with him?
Making a big deal out of leaving is part of the issue. I have a shelter mutt who came to us with some separation anxiety (on top of everything else) and she absolutely door dashed when we first got her. We built a routine of giving a high value dental chew just before we leave, and we require her to go to place (go to her bed) before she gets it. Until he has a better grasp of not door dashing, use a barrier! Baby gates are relatively expensive and very, very useful. Crating is also a good skill every dog should have, and should be practiced regularly – don’t discount this as an option.
There’s a LOT of training you can do at home. I mentioned a local training club for the widest variety of training options available, but you don’t necessarily need to go someplace to get a trainer in your home. Additionally, you can investigate Denise Fenzi’s dog sports university online at https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/
How is the dog getting out? At what point of your departure is he leaving? I suspect this needs to involve a behavior change in the humans as well as the dog. Reevaluate HOW you leave, and what you focus on as you’re leaving. Make sure the door is closed securely when you leave. If the door doesn’t close securely, look into fixing that issue.
I would also make sure the dog understands that we don’t go outside without a person. Take the dog outside, spend time outside with him, and bring him back inside when you come back in. (Dogs shouldn’t be unattended outside anyway, so this is a safety thing beyond training.) Work on barrier training – train the dog not to cross exterior doors without being told to do so. Look for a training club to find a good trainer to help you work with this issue. (In the Baltimore area we have Oriole Dog Training, which offers a wide array of training classes. Most major cities have at least one training club.)
I can’t fathom what this might be, though a toxicity comes to mind. Definitely get her to the vet.
Here’s one way to find clinics: https://ofa.org/health-clinics/
If you’re in the Maryland area, there’s a Newark, DE clinic with Echos on the 24th but they may be full already. Reach out TODAY.
Hi Cathy – you can look for a clinic if this isn’t emergent. Usually they’re lower cost…BUT they’re only for dogs without a diagnosis of cardiac issues. If your dog has a suspected problem like dilated cardiomyopathy, you should go directly to a veterinary cardiologist…and yes, they’re expensive outside of cardiac clinic events. I would recommend reaching out to the nearest Doberman club or rescue to see if they know the next clinic event – that’s how I got my Dobe tested before she developed DCM.
I’m so sorry you have a need. I hope your dog isn’t symptomatic.
I would say get your vet involved, and/or a veterinary dietician if there’s one near you. There’s a lot more leeway with dogs than with cats, but I’d be very careful about making sure they get the right balance of nutrition without overdosing them on anything.
Oh, avoid legumes. There’s a link between heavy legume inclusion and dilated cardiomyopathy, which is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Lots of folks go with a raw diet. This seems to be somewhat controversial in vet circles (Dr. Magnifico will weigh in on this when she sees it), but it’s another feeding method that requires a lot of research first.
Additionally, Fenzi Dog Sports has classes you can do at home on this exact issue: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/10-course-descriptions/29471-ls140-stop-leash-pulling-multiple-methods-to-loose-leash-walking
Is it like a pet corrector?
What have you done to train a nice walk? I like Kikopup’s video here: https://youtu.be/sFgtqgiAKoQ?si=GSirkizFuc87tWQl
She’s a positive trainer who really explains things nicely. Work on a solid heel position first, THEN worry about loose leash walking your dog. And remember, dogs don’t generalize well, so you’ll have to work on this at home and out in public.
I have not encountered ultrasound training clickers. Can you share a link to what you’re talking about?
Regarding harnesses, my answer will depend on your expectations for a harness. I don’t like them for training purposes, as they can be used incorrectly. Corrective harnesses can and will change the gait of the dog, often permanently, especially if used when the dog is a young puppy…and without training the dog to walk nicely on a flat collar, a regular harness will encourage pulling.