I have a new rescue dog. We think he is part Blue Lacy, Greyhound (though Blue Lacy originates from the Greyhound) and maybe Husky since he has blue eyes and a curly tail though he's sleek. Neutered. About a year-and-a-half old. He's perfect except I can't get him to stop running when I let him loose in the field and he won't listen to me. We have 11 acres. He won't come back to me until he's ready. He likes the horses but will chase them if they start running. I have been walking him endlessly on the leash, saying his name, and giving a little jerk when he doesn't respond. I have good timing. But no progress. I've let him off the leash when we were way out in the field thinking maybe he needs to run it off, but he runs and runs and runs and won't come back to me until he's ready. (It's actually a sight to be seen--if he was a barrel horse, we'd be in the 1D) He tried going through a gate today that was on the road. I had to pretend I was leaving him to get him to come back. Then he's like, hey! wait for me! I can't get my chores done because I can't let him loose. I'm afraid he's going to get kicked from one of the horses or his predator instinct will kick in and he'll try nipping them. Or he'll run out the driveways. Help! 

Maybe try a shock collar, but they do seem really cruel. So maybe not after I read up on them.  ButI think they do have settings so maybe a really low dose of zap. I have never use one but maybe when hes running the horses, maybe might work

When used properly,shock collars work great.Also,clicker training works as well.I would consider classes for him and you if you can manage the time?

    Good luck:)

We have adopted multiple dogs over the years and go through this same thing. Each are individuals and sometimes we need more help (shock collars) and sometimes its not an issue.  We use the rumble or vibration setting on our current dog, she hates the vibration.  In fact, I just put the collar on her now and leave the remote in the mud room. She listens to me better when that collar is on.  The collar will vibrate and get their attention.  So it depends on your dog...you MUST get their attention and get them under control for their saftey and the other animals safety.  So I am not opposed to using shock collars at all if they have the various settings. Use the minimal level that works, you may never need to use the shock setting.  Ours will beep, rumble and shock. 

I've got a couple greyhounds and whippets.  They are so prey driven they turn deaf once off lead.  One the best things that could happen to that dog is to get kicked.  Hopefully he doesn't break anything, and learns his leason.  I'd start with a shock collar and see how that goes.  He isn't going to hurt the horses, they can fend for themselves.  

Definitely a shock collar. The ones I have, you can make the collar beep, vibrate, or zap them (at different levels). I have one dog who I can just use the Beep sound and it's enough to get his attention. Then I have a terrier mix who has run through getting shocked several times...but it eventually gets through to her LOL. But the collars are a great tool!!!

I use a shock collar and teach voice commands in conjunction with the actions of the shock collar and it work wells.  At some point if I can I wean them off the shock collar.  I now have a horse that chases dogs so I just turn the horse chaser out with the dog chaser, problem solved...lol.

I like that these collars now adays have settings like the one you have, now I would use one like what you have that has the vibration setting. 

What brand is the one you have? I know someone that needs something like yours.

I don't fancy myself a dog trainer nor am I familiar with breed so take this for what it's worth.

I bred and trained my own cow dogs for work. The lines and breeds I used were notorious for being a bit hard headed and independent until they hit their 3 year old year then it was like a switch flipped and the training really set in. 

I really work on my commands AND the release commands before I put my dogs in a situation where he was a chance to run off then flip me the middle finger.

As they get better I can start putting them in a higher energy situation as they are also learning to control themselves. I've gone weeks or in certain situations with a pup on a leash tied to my belt so I can still get things done (like chores) while containing the pup. It's not very convenient but allowing him to run off and not listen is reinforcing the habit of him telling you to **** off and him becoming deaf to you calling him.

With my pups I might start working sheep or yearlings in a smaller setting where I can keep control of the situation. Their drive kicks in but I still have them on a really long light line/lead so when they start to ignore me as they get farther away and get excited I can still take of hold of them. I have had some pups out on 100ft of light weight line, them thinking they were loose and take off to gather cattle without a command but get ignored, then I'll put a big a big jerk on the line and then all off a sudden they can hear again..lol.

This eventually translates into the shock collar. I usually don't use the shock collars until a get a horseback and start using the dog outside but I start him with it a bit before so he understands what it means.

I tend teach "get out". Whatever the dog is doing, he needs to retreat. This works well with using a shock collar to keep them from chasing horses. Dog chases horses, "get out", dog doesn't retreat, fry him. 

Dog chases horses, "get out", dog retreats, no collar use, I call him to me and reward him. I don't like to use the collar with my recall command so I use the "get out" first to get the dogs attention, then I can use my recall, direction or down him.

I know you're not making a cow dog but you can see where I'm headed with teaching the dog to control himself before putting him in a situation where he can't.

Another way to use the shock collar in this situation is to put it on him. Let him chase the horses, don't call him back. Let him get close enough and fry him. Make him think the horse did it to him not you.

Before going to a shock collar, contact a trainer in your area. Obedience train your dog.  I use to tell my students that if your dog doesn't know how to come to you on a leash, they won't respond off a leash. Kinda like a young horse. You need to do do your ground work on the ground at first, not in the saddle. If you have no control of your horse on the ground, your sure not going to have control in the saddle. 

OKHorseLover, I would NEVER ride a horse with this dog loose. I can't even put a fly mask on a horse without holding him on the leash. I'm doing everything one-handed and I've been spending so much time with this dog, I don't have time to ride and I'm disappointed about that because I've just come back from a broken back and was finally planning to get back to it. And now I can't. I had no idea when I adopted him....

Well, you guys confirmed it. Someone I respect who knows horses and rescue dogs also suggested a shock collar. I've been working with him around the clock. I'm exhausted. I tried walking him on the leash and saying, "Deuce! Come!" and when he doesn't respond (he never does) give him a little jerk and then praise when he's facing me. My timing is good. I must have done this a hundred times. No progress. I tried putting him on a lunge line and letting him have space and then saying, "Deuce! Come!" and quickly and smoothly reeling him in and then praise. No progress. Today he saw a bunny and there was no controling him on the line--even though I had the collar tight, I had to grab it even tighter. If he would have gotten loose, he would have chased that bunny and gone through a fence and into a road. He would have chased the horses who were in the field. I let them in the field because I figured I had the dog on a line and it was safe. He wants to run. He wants to chase. And there is NO talking to him. Other than that, this dog is amazing. Obedient in every other way. I won't go through all this good points. 

Now I have to figure out exactly how to use the shock collar. I know I have to do this right. Glad to hear there are levels and vibrations I can try. 

I knew the horse girls were going to know what to do! Thank you!

Get a mule.  OK, just kidding.  My grandson's dog likes to chase the horses.  She ran out the other night, barking at the mule and yep, the mule tagged her. She came back squealing.  Now she only barks outside the pens.  

I'm sorry, I think I didn't post right. I didn't mean have your dog loose when you ride. I was just compairing training with both dog & horse. 

Ours is a Petrainer. We bought it off of Amazon years ago and it comes with 2 collars with 1 remote.  Never have used the 2nd collar so I guess we just have a spare. :)  Its been a really good collar.

Petrainer PET616A Waterproof

We use Sportdog brand.  There are different settings you can use.  I had a dog who was very hard headed and wanted to chase horses.  I set the collar on the highest setting.  He tried to chase a horse I told him "Leave it" gave him a second to respond then I lit him up.  Only took twice. You might put him on a long training lead the first few times you use the shock collar.

Positive reinforcement training is something you might want to look into. I don't train dogs, but am using it with my horses. Done correctly, it helps a multitude of problems, but you must understand it thoroughly. It is MUCH more than just giving your dog a treat. And it is not a quick fix, either. 

Maybe that’s the reason his original owner gave him up. Also he is sight hound husky bred, high energy and lots of run. I would chain the dog up while riding and doing chores. Only turn him loose if you can give 100% of your attention to him. Correct him for barking while chain, nothing wrong with a dog chained under a shade tree on a long chain with the owner close by. 

Hotpaints, I think that is EXACTLY why he was returned to the pound twice. Because other than that, omg, this dog is absolutely perfect. You should see him ride in my truck. You know how you stop the truck and open your door to get out and a lot of dogs will jump into the front seat to try to follow you? Not this guy. He waits patiently in the back seat for me to go around and open his door. And then he sits there waiting for me to say, "Okay, com'on," door wide opened. And only THEN he will jump down. 

I don't have a problem tying him when I have to. And he doesn't bark. In fact, he barks just right. When a stranger arrives, he'll go on the alert, do a deep "woof! woof!" and when I tell him it's okay, he'll be friendly. He's perfect. But I want my dog to be able to be off-leash and to come with me while I do my chores. A buddy. 

The only way he will come to you when called is for you to teach him to come when called. Please take him to obedience class's with a good trainer. You will be amazed how close the 2 of you will bond. I'm sorry but a shock collar is not going to teach him to come.