running in circles

[imported_nea]

Lately Web's been really really good for his classes, and otherwise too. But there one thing he does every now and then that isn't so good and that I'd like to be able to stop him doing. When he gets let off-leash sometimes he starts running madly in circles looking joyful and playful. Like today, he did a perfect sit/stay, and then I called him. He came running towards me at full speed, then kept going, and romped about for a bit before he calmed down some and I could put him back on leash. Afterwards he was fine, and he was before running too. When he runs like that he does not listen to anything. I tried to get him to come, both by calling "come here" which he completely ignored, gave no sign of even hearing what I'd said. So I tried running in the opposite direction from him, and he followed, but kind of in an arc and didn't slow down.

Why does he do it? When I let the leash go, but its still attached to his collar and dragging on the ground he doesnt do it. Its only sometimes, and I don't see much in common with the times he does it. Today he'd had about 40 minutes of combined off-leash play, walk, and finding treats hidden in trees. I've also had alot of very short (maybe 2-3 minute) training sessions, mostly with the clicker but not all the times. He walked very well to the training place, not at all pulling as much as he has before and all and all was very well-behaved throughout the day and class. Except for this running.
Last time he did it I thought it was becaus he hadn't had enough exersice- I'd been sick the past two or so days so he hadn't had many walks or training. But today he had, and the past few days he's had normal ammounts of excersize, both physical and mental. Nothing in his routine has changed much. What can I do to prevent him from doing this?

[courtnek]

cats do that too...I call it "zoom moods"....

since he doesnt do it with the leash on, he feels more structured with a leash, more controlled...without it he appears to feel that he is free to run, and expend his energy. During training, I would lkeave the leash on him, and when good, reward him with 3 or 4 minutes of "zoom mood" to get it out of his system. Is he puppy? They often zoom like that....

[kendalyn]

He's young yet right? I think I remember that he's under a year or close to a year old? Correct me if I'm wrong!

He'll probably grow out of it. He's just a young thing feeling a little rowdy is all. :)

Rome wasn't built in a day... :wink:

[TDG]

i agree with courtnek - use the "zoomies" as a way to reward him for good behavior. rewards don't always have to be edible. :)

whenever he did something well, take a few minutes, let him off the leash and egg him on. i do this to my own dog by waving my arms and yelling "run run run" in a cheery, happy voice. he loves it and is so much more focused to continue training after getting the "goof" out of his system for a bit. :)

[StarFox]

Ahh yes the "zoomies"....maybe he is still energetic and wants to play. I know I can tire out much quicker then Zebra can...so I stand in the middle of the lawn holding his 30 ft leash and let him do his Zoomies...it makes him happy..and I'm happy because he is tired when we go inside :lol:

[imported_Kat]

Sounds like Web is entering adolescence rebelliousness! :wink: If he doesn't come the first time when you call, ignore him and walk away but don't plead with him. He will soon learn that he will only get praised and treated if he comes straight away to you with no deviations. :wink:

[dagwood_roxy]

My 8 year old lab still does it from time to time. I have noticed that in Dagwood's case it happens after he is restrained for a short period of time and it is his way to express how happy he is to be free at last. As an example, he always does it after taking a bath in the backyard. The second I tell him that he is free, he does these happy laps around the yard. When he was younger, he used to do it more often, now I only see him do it a few times a year, and just after bath time. When he was younger, I would never let him off leash in an area I did not deem safe. I see it as one of those happy and cute lab things ... and tough to stop ...

[imported_nea]

I'm glad theres nothing strange with it! :) He is still a "little" puppy, he'll be 9 months old in 5 days. :o :) I'll try to start using it as a reward, I do get sick of having my pockets stuffed with treats, tennis balls and squeaky toys. :-?

Sounds like Web is entering adolescence rebelliousness! If he doesn't come the first time when you call, ignore him and walk away but don't plead with him. He will soon learn that he will only get praised and treated if he comes straight away to you with no deviations.

He has been acting a bit pigheaded lately, like he sometimes blatantly ignores what I've said eventhough I know he's heard. Could that be because of his age? How should I handle it? I don't want to be too demanding since he really is just a puppy still, but at the same time I don't want to blame things on his age and have it turn out later that it was a flaw with his training and not just him being a brat.

[courtnek]

he's entering his teenage years, rebellion and all..I still sugggest rewarding him with a ZOOM mood..there is a log of energy to expend, and if you channel it correclty, he'll do fine...