Dog just runs off

Well just back from another eventful walk with Monty (a petit basset griffon vendeen) and I thought I would let him off the lead.........big mistake. I don't chase him when he doesn't come back when called but just keep walking my normal route, he eventually catches up with me (when he feels like it) and then just runs right past me. He then proceeds to cross all the roads, run into peoples gardens and if I get close to him he just runs off again. I eventually managed to catch him in someone's garden because he cornered himself. We have tried training Monty from the beginning the "come" command, using chicken as treats and he does it in the house and in the garden but as soon as he's let off the lead then he is off. I know I should just walk him on the lead but one he pulls the extendable one all the time, two I just don't feel like he burns off the same amount of energy.
Monty is the most stubborn dog I have ever owned, he's intelligent but just likes to think he's in charge. If you try to train him with word commands he goes to bite you - never would pierce the skin but it's a control thing. He doesn't like being brushed, wants to hold onto your hand whilst you're doing it, again not piercing the skin.
I'm at home all day with him but he still has managed to chew the skirting boards in 3 rooms.
Please help me with some training advice, he is 7 months old now and I'm really struggling with getting my dog to do as he's told.
Below is a photo of my beloved hound.
Carol x

hi Montys mum, I think you need to take a bit more of a dominant role with your pup, he is 7 months so he will be coming into the pushing it and testing boundaries stage, He wont do this if you are routine with him and enforce rules. You need to get the nipping thing under control now whilst he is young, it should not be acceptable. What have you tried so far to deter him from doing this?

Also I really would put him back on lead until he is responsible at being off-lead or until you get to a secure park/field. Our pup is also not great at recall so she is only off lead in secure fields I wouldn't dream of letting her run off over a road.

You could make lead walking more fun, firstly ditch the flexi lead, he needs to learn to walk by your side not miles in front of you, he will think he is in control of the walk then. Heel walking can be very difficult but with plenty of training you will get there. Try teaching him that as soon as you come to the edge of a curb to sit and wait (have lots of treats with you!) praise him whenever he sits nicely and cross the road on your say so, not his. Roxy will never go across the road now but we starting teaching her this from 8 weeks old!

Regarding the chewing around the house has he got plenty of chew toys and bones available to snack on rather than your skirting board? Have you actually caught him chewing the skirting boards? if so you need to tell him a firm 'no' and replace that with a bone/toy. If you cant/dont catch him in the act, you may need to close off some of your house and make sure he is within site at all times. I wouldn't give him free roam until you can fully trust him at this time. My dog Roxy is 11 months and its only now I will permit her to have full roam of the house (its not very big anyway ) but that's because I can trust she will not go off and chew something or wee somewhere. to be honest she doesn't stray far from us anyway.

He also needs to associate grooming with a good thing, grooming, I have been told, is also a dominance thing. I hold Roxy by the collar and stand above her whilst grooming her down, when she was younger I used to regularly feed her treats whilst doing this and now she really enjoys it.

do you do any other kind of training with monty? like obedience classes?

Your dog is a Hound, Im surprised the breeder didnt tell you all this before you bought him, this is typical behaviour. Perhaps look into a head collar to use with an extendable lead, that way he should be easily handlable when you take him out.
Dawn.

Hiya Natalie, thanks for your advice. I agree that I need to be more dominate with Monty, though my partner is more dominate and Monty still does exactly the same behaviour with him.
Monty has always been taught to sit at the road each time we cross one too, since we first started walking him but when he's free and being naughty he just totally ignores it.
If Monty nips we give him a firm no and sometimes send him to his bed (just a small mat in the living room) or he's put in the kitchen if he gets out of hand.
Unfortunately the field we walk Monty most of the time does have an exit which takes him into a housing estate, with a few roads (thankfully they are pretty quiet). I think we should keep walking him with the normal lead and then take the training lead out with us so at least then we can let him off but still have the end of the line to grab hold of.
Monty has lots of chews so there is no excuse for him chewing the skirting boards. He only has free access to the kitchen (where he sleeps), living room and the hall, that's the 3 areas that he's chewed.
That's a good idea re his grooming and I will try that tonight.
We did take him to obedience classes but they weren't very good, lots of waiting around and Monty got fed up and also was very randy with lots of the other dogs.

Ahh right ok, well I have to admit we went through a simular patch with Roxy and as much as it makes you want to pull your hair out it does calm down as they get older. When Roxy nipped us we also used to say 'no' and then stop playing and ignore her, unfortunately if we yelped she found this highly amusing and would just carry on. I would aviod the sending him to his bed bit though, as you dont want to assosiate his bed with being told off, he will start to resent the 'bed'.

Shame your field has an opening. Have you thought about a stake and a really really long bit of rope. We are using this to work on recall. Although, like your pup she is always good when on-lead

Do you carry treats & toys etc when you are out and about. We call Roxy back randomly at time and just give her a tasty treat or throw a ball for her.

It may be worth looking into some other training classes, Roxy goes to two, and even though one isn't very good it gets her well socialised with other dogs as they are allowed off lead play after each class.

Hi Montys mum,
I think we chatted on a simular thread about our hounds LOL !

My breeder gave me this sheet (CRITICAL PERIODS IN YOUR PUPPY'S PHYCHOLOGICAL GROWTH) when we got Alfie and it has been most helpful (if you pm me your email i will send you the whole thing or when i get a bit of time i'll write it all up in a pm to you)
Quote-

The 4 to 6 month period- 'Play and Flight instinct'

The puppy may wander and ignore you ! It is impotant that you keep the puppy on a leash at this time.The way that you handle the puppy at this time determines if the puppy will come to you when called.
At about 4 1/2 mnths the puppy loses its milk teeth and gets its adult teeth,thats when the puppy begins serious chewing.A dogs teeth don't set in its jaw until 6 to 10 months,During this time the puppy has a physical need to excersise its mouth by chewing.

Hope that helps somewhat.........We found it particually 'apt' with our Beagle Alfie,he was the perfect,non chewing,toilet trained,wonderful recall Hound puppy until he hit 7 months and EVERYTHING changed !!!
LOL ! We had to go back to basics with him and change our approach slightly,
My older Beagle Daisy whom we got at a later age had never been walked and i use a basketball court when no-ones around to let her off,its all enclosed and she is doing brilliant with recall in there and its pretty big,with Alfie i have to 'never forget hes a hound'... that meaning that there are really only certain places appropriate to let him off
,much as he loves his pack i know that if i'm not cautiuos one day the scent will be more important than us and that he will keep on following it.Its frustating at times,i love to see tham off lead together having fun and its a much more of a plesant walk,But i don't ever want to lose one of them.
Try and go out and find somewhere you can go with him a few times a week and train recall,
Good luck,Hope things improve,hes a little stunner bless him !

Have you tried giving him a cold or frozen carrot when you're busy around the house or a raw shin bone in the kitchen ,stuffed kong etc...that may keep him occupied,Keep on perservering with the grooming or try a different/brush to re-introduce it to him,it is a good way of bonding with your dog,mine love it,When i first introduced it i would give them a treat to chew out of my free hand and groom with the other,nowadays just getting the brush out the drawer sends them running around wagging their tails !!!