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My two-timing dog, fluffy cheater revealed

2139 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  pkelley
After building my straying dog a much larger pen, almost a half acre, he has escaped two mornings in a row! Yesterday (sunday) there was a light coating of snow that revealed his push out spot, but unfortunately was spotty so we couldn't follow a trail. We walked up the road calling for him but couldn't find anything but some paw prints that may have been his, or may have been any other medium sized dog. This morning he was only out for 10 minutes before we went to let him back in and discovered an empty yard. The hunt for my precious mini aussie was on! We drove up the road, with the intent on pulling down any un-gated driveways and knocking on doors. the first two driveways have gates, so our first stop was three houses down and not to far from the suspicious paw prints. My husband is the one to knock on the door, and from inside he hears "It's those people looking for their dog". A man comes to the door and instructs his wife to let the dogs out the back. Now understandably my husband finds this a bit suspicious as we have never met these people. My husband shows him a picture of ralph and says that he is wearing a collar with tags. The man says "ya, its a black collar?". My dog has long hair, and the only way you can really see his collar is by moving his fur out of the way. The man denies ever seeing my dog, but as we are pulling out we see though the trees our little dog trotting across the neighbors yard. So here are the facts: my dog escapes in the morning (only the a.m), he "possibly" goes to this house, the man was very shady, and knew the color of his collar but denies contact with him. What I would like to know is if any of ya'll have ever heard of anything like this and have suggestions on how to make it stop.
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Don't let your dog out unsupervised. Walk him on a leash or put him on a tie out and watch him if you know he can escape the fence.
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The only way this will stop is if you completely prevent your dog from leaving your yard.

Figure out how he's getting out of the yard / pen and fix those areas to make them inescapable. Until you do that, go outside with him to supervise. You may need to leash or tether him to keep him from leaving. Don't allow him unsupervised access to your yard.
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The man may have felt he was doing your dog a favor by denying he had him. Loose dogs that roam are at risk from cars and other dogs and being stolen whether the person is well meaning or not. Keep your dog contained and the problem is solved. It's not clear from your post if you have recovered your dog. If not call the local law enforcement and animal control.
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It honestly doesn't matter what this guy was doing. Keep your dog from getting out. And aren't the temps (depending on where you live) way too cold for a dog to be left outside for any amount of time? The guy probably thought the dog was cold and left to fend for himself outside.

Walk him on a leash until you fix the fence. There are so many risks with him roaming. He could so easily be stolen or hit by a car/hurt by a wild animal or another dog.
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hmmm...sounds like your dog might need a doggy friend to play with (as well as being contained completely) GET ANOTHER AUSSIE OR A COMPANION DOG.

We did that for our dog Chloe...and rescued another catahoula....Chloe and Addison are inseparable and it completely decreased any separation anxiety, helps with their exercising...and is double the joy!!!!! Some may not agree with me to get another dog...but there are a lot of dogs needing homes!!!
Personally, until they can manage to keep their one dog home, the last thing I'd recommend is getting a second dog. Why risk two lives? If their dog is bored or stressed, there are lots of ways that they can address it--better supervision, training, engaged activity/games, exercise, puzzle toys/chews, etc.
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the best advice would be to make the enclosure more secure... it sounds like you found the spot he is getting out from, now fix it so he can't ;) if you can't fix it, then he shouldn't be out unsupervised. i hope that your feelings about your neighbor being "shady" will motivate you to do this ASAP.

hmmm...sounds like your dog might need a doggy friend to play with (as well as being contained completely) GET ANOTHER AUSSIE OR A COMPANION DOG.

We did that for our dog Chloe...and rescued another catahoula....Chloe and Addison are inseparable and it completely decreased any separation anxiety, helps with their exercising...and is double the joy!!!!! Some may not agree with me to get another dog...but there are a lot of dogs needing homes!!!
getting a second dog, when you are having trouble keeping the first dog properly and safely confined would be incredibly irresponsible. additionally IF the dog's issue is separation anxiety, getting another dog is NOT a good fix for most dogs.



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What I was trying to say in the post is that we have patched every hole we have found. If we are outside with him he will not do anything. He walks to the center of the yard and sits down and stares at us, he wont go to the bathroom, he wont play he just stares at us. As far as walking on a leash, we live in the county, in a very wooded area, so the leash means "go". We are also teaching that the leash is the only way out of the yard. My concern is weather the strangers are baiting the dog. Being from the boonies, where you may know your i mediate neighbors cars, you don't really know anybody else. somebody from the main road, three driveways down was able to recognize our vehicle and my dog (who is only outside due to being a high energy breed that doesn't take well to being locked inside 9 hours +) He only tries to get out (paces like a madman) between 7:30 and 10:00. I was wondering if anybody had heard of any operation like this, and if there is a way to break the "habit".
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Okay. So the last few times he escaped, you found no holes? Are you sure he can't climb? I've seen a cocker scale a 6' fence. Is your gate locked? If you suspect your neighbors are baiting him, why continue to risk leaving him out? Many of us have high energy herding and hunting breeds yet keep them indoors during our absence--they do fine--most dogs sleep during most of their days anyways.

What do you give him to do when he is outside? Do you leave him outside like this when you are gone? Just because he's outside, doesn't mean he will be any less bored than being inside. (Few dogs actually exercise or play on their own in a yard--that takes human engagement.) Meanwhile, inside is safer in that he can't escape or be stolen. I think he would benefit tremendously if he had more activities in his life. (Feel free to elaborate what you do--we can give you some more ideas. :) )

The pacing is often a sign of stress or boredom. What occurs at your home during that time? How do you react to his pacing?

Also, when you are outside with him, do you try to engage him? (You mentioned he won't do anything out there.) Do you encourage him to go to the bathroom and reward him when he does? Will he walk around with you if you use a happy voice and toss food around?

Lastly, how are you trying to train him that the leash is the only way out? We may be able to offer more ideas....
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I dog sit a foxhound - she is capable of scaling 10 foot fences in a flash and I have to keep her on a leash for walks...or she's gone... Her owners have a fenced in back yard but she is on a pully cable so she can get some exercise but can't get near the fence to climb it...can you rig a pully system and use it when you are home. I would keep him inside too for safety...the neighbors could have a dog in heat also! Just a note, I caught my across the street neighbor's dog twice, asked them to INSURE the dog wouldn't get out of their yard....two days later the dog got hit by a car and died...
Please use a cable/pully for him...or a tie out if you have to have him out without supervision....he sounds so bored.
What about doing agility training for him????
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