He got out!

My fear is that one day Ray will find a way out of our back garden.

Most of the fencing is 8 feet high which should be a good deterrent.  There is 4 feet high fencing where some gates are and, as long as we make sure that there is nothing that he could use as a launching pad close by, we are confident that he would only try and get out under really desperate circumstances.

Down the side of our house is different however as, although there are gates at the back and at the front, the front gate only partially blocks access because of a cedar hedge alongside it.  I have worked in that area numerous times, and forgotten to close the back gate on a few occasions, but Ray has always just wandered in and collapsed into his “supervising” position! He has shown no interest in trying to get to the front garden.

Today (Friday) was a new experience however. I was working down the side of the house, and Ray was chilling out in the back garden. He had come to check up on me a few times (the back gate was open), but always returned to the back garden.

Our neighbor was suddenly on the other side of the property line fencing and started talking to me about gardening as she slowly made her way to the front of her house.  Ray has always liked this lady and so it should not have been a surprise (although it certainly was)  to see him go flying past me as he headed for the front garden.

He went around the front gate; partially through the cedar edge, and was virtually in our front garden which has no fencing whatsoever!

Given his road sense (total lack of) and not knowing what his intentions were, I screamed at him! He stopped and looked at me. The neighbor, who had no idea of the drama in progress on our side, started talking again and hearing me shout Ray’s name started to call him.

Ray was clearly confused, and I suddenly realized that the neighbor was his goal, so I asked her to go back down the side of her house… and Ray dutifully matched her on our side. I then asked her to go into her back garden which she did, and Ray matched her position in our back garden at which point I quickly closed that gate! Sigh!

I must remember to either close that back gate when Ray is in the back garden, or make a barrier through the cedar hedge. I’ll just add it to the list of things to work on as a result of Ray moving in with us!

Being the “social butterfly” that he has become, is clearly giving us new challenges! 🙂

32 thoughts on “He got out!”

  2. It’s so scary when your dog gets out or is lost! I’m glad you found him so quickly, and got him back into your yard safely. As you say, at least he is now actively seeking out the company of others….although that is bringing a few challenges, it is good progress. My dog is almost deaf now, so it makes it even scarier to think of her getting out, because she can’t really hear us calling to her.

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  3. My heart was in my throat as I read. What a relief to learn that you were able to manipulate him to the gate. That was fast thinking. I’m sure there are few people who own a dog or a pack that have never had a dog escape from the house or the yard. Mine have gotten out a few times but I was able to get them in a hurry. For the past 6 years it hasn’t been a problem after my son built a driveway gate. When I leave I crate the labs and one other dog. The other ones won’t leave the yard. It’s very distressing to find out a dog is loose and possibly in the street.

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  4. Hi Ray. It’ ok, you’re a good dog like me. One fall day a few years ago when Mom went to work without me she forgot to lock the front door and it blew open. She came home to a house strewn with leaves because they stuck to my leg hair and fell off every time I came back in the house. I had a great day, visiting the neighborhood and still able to come in and rest and eat and drink as the mood hit. 🙂 Maybe that’s why she takes me almost everywhere she goes now….

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  6. This is a good news bad news situation. Good news Ray is very socialized due to all the great work you’ve done with him. Bad news Ray is very socialized and wants to socialize even under dangerous situations which of course he is not cognizant of. I think the good news out weighs the bad news and especially because you’re so diligent in his care and safety.

    Recently, before we moved, I left the front door ajar on the way out for a few hours. Holly and I left together with Kali and Smokey alone at home. A couple of hours later I received a call from my neighbor asking me if I was home. He was inquiring because Kali was lying down outside in front of the now open door. My neighbor new this was unusual which is why he was checking. Apparently Kali had nudged the door fully open and plopped herself down to wait for me. I was relieved and a little proud that she didn’t wonder off but if a cat or dog had walked by it could have been a whole different story. My neighbor walked over and Kali happily greeted him and followed him into the house and lied down as he left and closed the door behind him.

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  7. So he doesn’t dig under the fence? I hear some dogs do that. We installed a 6′ deer proof fence last fall and I had a crash course in fencing. There is something called puppy fence too. The bottom foot has an extra picket between the normal spaced ones so a puppy can’t wiggle out. (I found that fascinating because puppyhood is such a short period of time.) Sounds like he’s ok unless he sees one of his friends on the other side.

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    • Ray has never been a digger (Huskies are apparently amazing “escape artists”), and he seems very happy being spoiled here, so he has no incentive no escape as such. He has however become such a social guy that getting out and meeting people has become a potential problem (especially if they don’t have treats)!

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  9. Ray is definitely one for human company, and hopeffully he won’t roam. Maybe a self closing hinge on your gate would be an idea just in case?
    Dogs have to be on leads everywhere here except the dog walk (usually ignored before 8am and after 5pm when the office staff aren’t hete!). We like to air the boat as often and for as long as possible, so the bow and helm doors are open. Maggie went looking for Hubby one day and I didn’t notice. She walked along the pontoon and finding one boat open, went in. The owner was quite happily stroking her as she sat beside him, and then realised he didn’t have a dog!

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  10. There is nothing worse that the sinking feeling in your chest when you realize one of your dog’s has gotten out. Oreo has no interest in leaving, but Breck loves taking adventures when the opportunity presents. He is road wise and has always stayed away from the 55 mph nearby road, he generally likes to visit his doggy friends. We find him by searching those houses.
    Glad Ray was only interested in visiting the neighbor!

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    • Hi Ilex: The major concern is that he loves visiting his friends at the Humane Society. We joke that if we ever lost him, we would know exactly where he was heading. They in turn know him very well and would know exactly who to call if he showed up. The reality is that he would have to cross a number of busy roads, which I doubt he would survive. That’s just Ray!

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  11. I am sure your heart was beating maybe a tad faster when Ray was out! I was reading thinking this post better end well and not have Ray gone!!
    Smart thinking about him following the neighbor!

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    • Two golden rules when a dog runs away. 1/. Run in the opposite direction and the dog will invariably follow you. Run after him and he may well see it as a fun game of chase! 2/. Shout “TREAT PARTY!” Ray knows exactly what treats are, and “TREAT PARTY!” means a ton of treats all at the same time! Ray has been taught all about “TREAT PARTY”!
      Great theory, and both very valid, but you have to squash all your instincts to actually apply them. In my panic I just screamed out “Ray!” I need more training! 🙂

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