One of the games that Penny, a one year old Yellow Lab, loves to play is “chase me.” Also known as “keepaway.” Outside in the yard, the kids run after Penny all around the fenced yard until everyone collapses into a tired but happy heap.
This game is not intrinsically wrong. All the family members, both 2 legged and 4 legged, think its the bomb to watch Penny tear across the expanse of lawn, so fast and sleek and determined. The problem with this scenario is that the dog has learned that running away from the family is a fine thing. In fact, it is encouraged and applauded.
I can think of two instances where a dog running from its owner is NOT the behavior we want:
1. The dog finds its way out the door or the gate or the car, and anticipates, no…expects to be chased. If there is a street nearby, no owner in his or her right mind will find this entertaining. The dog, however, is gleefully unaware of potential danger. She’s thinking “Wow! How fun is this! Lots of room to run and get chased!”
2. The dog finds something – as Penny is often compelled to do – a bottle cap, a sock, the TV remote, and the real chase begins. Now Penny is thrilled to steal any and all errant items. Once the object is in her mouth, she makes a mad dash past a family member – thereby ensuring that someone has noticed the theft – and then, of course, said family member tries to catch Penny to extract the item.
Inadvertently, we sometimes teach dogs to do behaviors we don’t really want. Chasing your dog for fun can sometimes result in a dog that runs away from you.
Another example: petting and talking to a dog when it jumps up on you, teaches the dog to jump on you and everyone else.
And, asking the dog “who’s here?” or “where’s daddy?” in a happy tone of voice teaches the dog to bark to express his or her excitement.
So before you get angry or frustrated with your dog’s unwanted behavior, back up and think about whether you or another family member might have unknowingly taught her do it.