Karin TarQwyn

​​Dog Escapes While Being Walked on or off Leash

Plan Ahead - Basic Equipment & Techniques

Many times, when working a case, we have found that the missing dog crisis could have been averted by using the following basic equipment and trained attraction technique.

The Martingale Collar:

The safest and most effective collar to use when walking or moving a dog from place to place is the martingale collar. The collar can be made from a variety of materials. This collar is the least likely of all collars for a dog to slip out of. This collar is highly recommended for all dogs that are reactive, exuberant, or dogs that exhibit STARS behaviors. The second choice is a full body harness that a frightened dog cannot flip or wiggle out of.


Leashes: A six-foot leash is easier for most people to use than a four foot.

A six-foot leash allows the dog some freedom and is less likely to create a situation where the dog is struggling to keep from being dragged or overly restrained due to the length of the leash. The most common leash to create a disaster is the retractable leash. More dogs go missing due to the malfunction or an emergency created by this form of leash. I do not recommend the use of a retractable leash at any time or for any reason.

 
The Dinnertime Song: Enforcing your recall:

As explained earlier in the book, in the “Associative Conditioning Response” section, we condition our dogs to the dinnertime song. This conditioned recall is very simple and involves the words “Dinner Time” repeated five times in a high voice while we prepare the dog’s dinner. Sometimes we even dance and goof off, which excites the dogs and triggers a memory response more easily. In an emergency, should one of our dogs become separated from us, the dinnertime song is more likely to create a unique memory and thus the “call to action” than their basic obedience training. When an animal is panicked or injured or has been separated from the pack, it is more likely not to respond to basic training or commands. The positive feelings brought about by reinforcing and imprinting during feeding creates a more long-lasting and effective response.

Prevention Equipment & Techniques