Lucca - Part 2

I went home on my lunch to pack for my trip to SLC. (I have to head to the airport straight from work to make my flight) Lucca and Eddie were both sleeping in the living room. Lucca in his favorite spot, on the tile by the front door. Eddie in one of his favorite spots, on the kitchen chair. Lucca moved to a spot in the middle of the living room so he could watch me walk around the apartment. It was really nice to FINALLY have him just lay there while I packed instead of following me around (I usually end up kicking him or tripping over him).

I took him out (Tara is coming to get him tonight) and then collected my stuff to leave. He was laying calmly by the sliding glass door. I want to encourage this behavior, so I have him a dog treat. He stayed laying down while he ate it. I thought it would be a good idea to give him another one as I left. This is where everything went wrong.

He became so excited about getting another treat that he started jumping around. I FINALLY got him to sit, and I gave him the treat. I then opened the door and turned to get my purse. The little shit BOLTED OUT THE DOOR. He has NEVER done this in my house. I ALWAYS claim the door as I am leaving. He isn't allowed to crowd me. He has to sit on the carpet while I leave. I'm honestly not sure what prompted the bolt, but there he went.

I took my stuff to the car, then went after him. For some reason he always goes the same way, to the same place. It just happens to be the place where he lost a rabbit he broke his leash to chase last month. I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but it makes it easy to find him.

I armed myself with more of the "exciting" dog treats and went after him. He was running around having a great time. I would call him and show him the treat. He would run towards me then scoot to the side just out of my reach every time. Little did he know that I know this game, and I wasn't even TRYING to reach him as he galloped past me. I continued to show him the treats and he began to circle closer and closer. I finally knelt down on the grass and showed him the treats again.

This time he approached me slowly. I took his collar and made him sit. I then attached the leash to him. After he was sitting down, I gave him the treat. He took it from me nicely, then BOLTED. All I could do was laugh at him, he only got about 2 feet before the leash stopped him. He came back and ate his treat.

This was NOT my first rodeo.

I'm not happy that he bolted. It took me several minutes to leave once I got him back inside. He kept trying to bolt and I refuse to live skirting out the door to keep him in. He WILL continue to sit calmly and watch me leave, the same way he has been for the last 2 months.