Your right Joan, we can't be to careful...but those accidents can happen and when they do, (like what happened to you) it's enough to give a person a heart attack. But honestly, given the amount of constant missing dogs, I wonder if the majority of pet owners are just plain dumb, ignorant, careless stupid or what? I have never seen so many so called missing dogs, as I have this year. Makes me wonder just what is going on with people and their pets.
I had to train both my girls to sit/stay whenever I open my door. Both tried to run out countless times when I first rescued them. I think that a lot of re-homed dogs try to run away in the beginning because they think that they can find their way back to their original owner. Princess portrayed that for months, by crying at the window and constantly going to the door saying that she wanted to go out. Princess would also constantly smell the ground like a beagle that was tracking something when I walked her. I think she was trying to pick up a scent as to where she was and how she could get back to her original home. Gigi tried to run out the door to follow me constantly, because she was so afraid of loosing another owner, due to her being shuffled around so much. Not only did I immediately on the same day that I got them, put an ID tag on them, but also had them microchipped. Princess learned the sit/stay very well, she now goes to her bed whenever I leave. Gigi would sit by the door and watch me leave, so I had to be extra careful with watching her as she tried to run between my legs just as I was closing the door. She was very quick a couple of times and I was just as afraid of slamming the door on her as I was of her running out door. So it took a little longer to train Gigi. Now she watches Princess and copies from her by going to her bed as well, when she sees me at the door. Gigi has now built up enough self-security and confidence that this is her forever home and that I am always coming back for her. Once I am inside the apartment complex I can even drop her lead to the ground and she will follow me to the door. I can't do that with Princess, as she has a high prey drive and as soon as she sees a squirrel or a cat she is in pursuit and doesn't think where she is going, she just runs for the prey. I have taught them both to 'stop' and 'come' and they do it very well, except that Princess's prey drive instinct is so high, I don't think that she is capable of it as long as she sees a cat or a squirrel. She knew the word 'cat' and 'squirrel' when I got her. So I think a big part of the problem is that she was trained as a puppy to chase them, which is now imprinted on her. It is so important for pet owners to put an ID tag and microchip, and train their dogs to sit and stay whenever the door is opened, as well as train your dog to 'stop' and 'come' on command. -------Original Message------- From: Joan Croft Date: 4/16/2011 3:35:15 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] NO LONGER MISSING: Fair Lakes, VIRGINIA (Fairfax County) - M... About a year ago, my exterminator came to spray my front and back yards. At that time, I had a puppy gate across the bottom of my side yard gate so that Dolly & Desi couldnt get out. Well, this one time, the exterminator didnt ring the bell to let me know that he was done, and I wasnt feeling good. The next day, I was sitting on the kitchen floor looking for something that was supposed to be in my purse, and Dolly was sitting right next to me watching. I thought it a bit odd, not that she would be sitting by me, but Desi had become such a little Mommys Boy about a month before when Dolly had her knee surgery. I ran outside and yelled and called for him. I came in the house and looked everywhere that he could be, then out to the front yard yelling and screaming his name. I came back in and checked the house again, and then ran out the back door again. I think that Dolly knew why I was upset and calling Desi, so she gave out three short barks and there comes Desi across someones front year and zooming back into the backyard under the gate, just like he had gotten out. I was sooooo upset. He was only missing maybe 5 minutes, but that five minutes seemed like 5 years. I (and Desi) are so lucky that he was not stolen, injured, or anything else. Shortly after that I got a new side yard gate that not only didnt need the puppy gate in front of it, but was also solid so that the dogs couldnt see everyone at the community mailbox across the street and bark at all of them. We can all be so careful, and then just one little thing that happens can change our lives forever. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2011 7:45 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] NO LONGER MISSING: Fair Lakes, VIRGINIA (Fairfax County) - M... My heart is just breaking for Bella's mom and dad. NEVER EVER let them out of your sight. After our back door, apparently not completely tightly latched blew open, I came downstairs and frantically located our dog and 2 kitties outside, happily sniffing everything, in our backyard. Mine were thankfully safe, but I vowed to tighten up security and never let them out of my sight ever again. Lynn In a message dated 4/15/2011 8:26:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Sadly, Bella's body was recovered late yesterday. :( Raven Lucy & Molly & Stella, the Girl Doggies Huginn, Riddari, & Dixie Chick, the Back Behind the Barn Ponies
