[jmeeter]

I have an 8 month old Boxer that is incredibly timid due to being mistreated by her last owner. She will lay near me almost all day. The only physical activity she engages in is when I take her for a walk.

Anyway, a few moments ago she got this huge rush of energy where she was jumping around in circles and practically running on the walls. It literally felt like a tornado was in the room. I figured I would "embrace this moment" by taking her outside with the ball.

I tossed the ball to the back corner of the yard, and enthusiastically yelled "Go get it Bodhi!" to which he shot after it like a horse out of the gates. This is where the excitement turned into fear. She was running at me full speed and I could tell she was going not going to stop. I stuck out my leg to try to block her and she collided with it which knocked me over, and did nothing to her. She ran straight in to the road and then just stopped. I managed to resist using an aggressive tone when I called her, and she actually came back over to me and then flopped over on her side because I think she knew she was in trouble.

Round two, I tied a 30 foot long rope to her collar. This time, as she ran past me, I stepped on the rope and it made a "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" sound as it slide under my shoe. I put my other foot on it which made Bodhi screech to a halt and almost go ass-over-head. Needless to say, I think we are both done with the ball game for today!

So... Any tips? I have her signed up for obedience classes due to this very problem.

 

[hulkamaniac]

You've got to work on the recall and on teaching her to fetch. It sounds like she doesn't know either. The way she sees it, you're just opening the door and letting her out.

 

[TooneyDogs]

You have to teach all the 'rules' of fetch...they don't just happen all by themselves.
For example, what is she supposeed to do with the ball?....drop it at your feet? put it in your hand? come directly back to you (not run into the street)? Is she supposed to wait for your command to get it? Those all have to be taught.

 

[Marsh Muppet]

Anytime you are working with a check cord, you should be wearing leather work gloves. It's a lot easier to put the brakes on gradually than by stepping on the line.

 

[Xeph]

It is also NOT fair to let the dog go butt over tea kettle without warning. It's a good way to break her neck.

I teach my dogs "GO EASY!" early on while they're running, keeping light tension on the long line. As the dogs slow up, I give them more line to let them increase speed "GO EASY!" little tension, they slow up "Good dog! Go on!" and the moment I tell them to "Go on!" I drop the line, and let them run out.

I call them back and start over again. Eventually I tell them to "GO EASY!" on the long line, but do not apply pressure, and they slow on their own. It doesn't take long for them to learn that "Go easy!" means to slow down, and I progress to doing it off lead.

 

[hulkamaniac]

Another thing I would suggest is go to a tennis court. They tend to be completely fenced in and have a 10-15 ft high fence. Most have gates that can be closed on both sides. The dog can easily run around off leash without any real hazard to anyone and you can toss tennis balls or whatever all day long.