golden retriever taking off

Question
My almost two year old male golden retriever has been rushing out the front door any time he can get out of the house. He takes off on to the golf course and never looks back. I feel he should be neutered. My husband thinks its not his fault. Can you give me a good argument to help me change my husbands mind! Thanks

Answer
Neutering is not a cure all.  On the other hand, it may keep him from going berserk every time there is a female in season for miles upwind.  Obedience training will help too.  Goldens are such fantastic dogs, it would be a shame to lose him.  At least the golf course should be fairly safe.  Well, maybe not if he runs off with a ball.  

"Come" needs to be taught as part of proper pack status and obedience.  The
dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their
own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack
members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class.  Start at
http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/

Start with a good 6' leather leash and a sturdy slip collar, the metal chain
ones with the rings on each end. You want the shortest one that will go on
and off easily. If you walk with the dog on the left, pull the chain through
one loop forming a "P". Facing it, slip it over its head. The free end
should come over the neck to the leash, and the other end should drop slack
when there is no pull on the leash.  

With the dog at the end of the leash, call its name and "Come" in a firm
voice. If it comes, praise it lavishly and pet it. If it doesn't come, repeat
the
command and give the leash a light snap. Keep it up with firmer leash snaps
until the dog does come. Do not forget the praise.  Then switch to a longer
leash or rope, about 25'.  When it comes well on the longer leash, you should
be
able to go to
off leash in a fenced area, etc. Once the dog is doing well, introduce come,
treat. This is for emergencies only when the dog has gotten loose accidentally.
Use it routinely and you will have nothing to fall back on when your dog is
headed for a busy street. "Name, come treat!" is little different from the
regular "Name, come!", except the dog gets a great treat when it comes. We are talking
a hot dog, cheese, etc. much better than any treat you use routinely.

Relying on come to control most dogs loose outside is risky, and I do not
recommend it.  Dogs are individuals.  Some can be trained to come when you have
no way to enforce it, but some will never be completely reliable even for the
most experienced trainers.