Run away Lhasa

Question
A family member recently gave me a Lhasa Apso male, he is 4 years old (she purchased him at 6 weeks old), not neutered, behavior is good, this past Monday I took him to the Vet for a checkup and he is in good health.  The problem is if given the chance he will run from you.  My cousin said that he has always been like that, she did not try to correct it, but just yesterday I took him for a walk then I went to close the gate behind me and before I knew it he ran out the gate and ran a block up the road.  He does not come back when you call him.  He did stop to sniff around my neighbors yard and that is when I caught up to him.  All the dogs I had growing up, I never had a Dog run from me and not respond when you call their name.

What can I do to stop him from wanting to dart out if he finds the opportunity.

Answer
Many dogs are that way.  It is quite common for unneutered males.  Start by teaching come.  "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/

If you dog is at least 4 - 5 months old, 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.  Before 4 months use a conventional flat
collar to protect the tender young neck.

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.  You need to become proficient at
blocking the gate or
doorway with your legs.