Has your Bichon ever gotten away from you? ran off, wandered?

[Rawfed (Ella)]

I had a big scare yesterday!  I live beside a forest and there are a lot of bunnies. I was taking Sky for a walk and as I walked out the door, he saw a couple bunnies and ran!  Ran like mad!  The leash slipped out of my hands. I screamed at him to stop. He ignored me. Thankfully the bunnies stopped because they got behind a fence. I saw Sky standing at the fence and waiting, watching them for them to come run out. Thankfully they didn't. Smart bunnies!     I ran and grabbed his leash and he got in big trouble! Lol. I picked him up and sternly told him that it was very bad that he didn't listen. Lol. He knew what I was saying too. For sure!  He didn't pull, the whole walk... and normally he does.

He usually is so scared that I will leave him and he stays close but when he sees a bunny, his mind goes nuts and he just chases. I don't think he wants to eat them, he wants to play with them. Anyway, thankfully I was able to catch him, thanks to the bunnies sticking near the otherside of the fence.  I felt like crying when he ran off. I thought he might get hit by a car or something! What a big scare!

I met a lady at the park who told me her Bichon ran off chasing something into a forest.  She and her husband went looking for the dog for a few hours and finally found her when it got dark. They were so happy they found her, it was Winter and she was very very cold.

Has your Bichon ever gotten away?  Did it take long to find him/her?

[Alison]

Very soon after we had Abby someone ( a delivery man I think ) left our back gate open and she ran out onto the pavement.I didn't know whether to run after her an dhave her think we were playing chase or stop and call.I was panic struck and could hear a car coming.Luckily she saw a neighbour outside and went to them for a tummy rub.
About 2 years ago a builder left the front door open and she ran out.He chased after her and caught her straight away.I keep her on a lead or behind a baby gate when work men are here now and always check the gate.
I'm glad he's back ok.Alison

[Rawfed (Ella)]

I'm glad she is safe too!  Glad she didn't get far. Same feeling I got: "Do I run after him or call him?" So scary! One lady pulled up to me while I was walking Sky about a month ago and she was crying. She just wanted to see Sky. She said her Bichon looked just like Sky (except hers was skinnier, she said...lol)  and hers was 12 years old. She said she let him out in the yard and then when she looked again he was gone. She said maybe he went into the woods and a "predator got him".  The thought of what she said! It was awful. I made sure to keep my eyes open for her baby. I never saw her again, but one other day about a week later, there was a couple walking their dog and they told me that their friend had a Bichon just like mine and that he went missing and they didn't find him. So sad. I never let Sky off the leash because I know he will think it's funny to run and have me chase him... but the leash was pulled out of my hands unexpectedly because of him taking off so fast after the bunnies. I hold on tighter now.

[Andrea]

Glad that Skye was safe and you could get her quickly and unharmed.            are such a temptation and Skye could not resist. Noah has not run off but I am always scared that some how he could get out .  We live on a cul d sac so not a lot of cars, but his recall is not the best  We work on it almost every day, and he is doing much better, but not sure it is good enough if he found something more interesting.

[Princess Lucy Loulou (Tina)]

Lucy or Boo have never ran away from me,  If were on a walk and they get too far in front I just say, see ya and there both there by my side 

[Annie36]

Jake has gotten away from me several times.....I was able to get him back quickly, but that doesn't stop the rush of emotions or the horrible thoughts Jake's recall is questionable at best. I always have his leash on him when we go out. The only time he darts out of the house is when I am leaving. He will beat me to the car Jake has a severe case of tunnel vision when he takes off. He hears nothing and sees nothing but his target....his target is usually the Weenie dog up the street But in the spring it will be the new baby birds running around the yard. He loves to flush the nesting birds out too The worlds fluffiest bird dog Last spring he actually caught one Gary was able to get it away from him before any real harm came to either of them Strange to see the hunting instinct at work in a fluffybutt

I am so glad Sky is with you and fine.....and Abby is home safe and sound

[Lizzie]

I am so lucky - if any one or all of this crew escapes - they go down to my friend Tina who lives 2 doors down and bang on the door to get in.  The same thing if her girls escape - they come up here to me.  It still doesn't stop the rush of emotions.  Just before winter set in the gardener was here and the boys escaped.  Poor soul he was in an awful state.  When I asked him what direction they had gone in I just    He came with me to collect the little  s.

[Terri]

I've been lucky with Belle too, she never leaves me.
There have been times that we left her on the deck, and didn't notice she was out there.
But she just sits in her corner watching the world. (She's afraid of critters) She gets that from me.

Yesterday, when I was going to get Belle from the groomer, there was a little brown dog wandering around (Rosie, a Dachsaund/doberman mix)
she had escaped the day before, and the owners are old and couldn't catch her.

I saw her but she wouldn't come to me and ran down the road. Mrs. Miller caught her by offering her pretzels.
The man owner (I don't know his name) said they were getting a shock collar for her. (that'll fix her)

Funny how I know the dogs name and breed, but not the owners names. (typical) dogs are way more interesting that some people.

[Rawfed (Ella)]

@Andrea, Lol.. yes the cute bunnies are such a temptation! I know! With some of our dogs it's a forver thing to teach them recall. Sky is so stubborn, he rarely comes when I call him and everyday we do our session of tricks and he comes when I call him then but outside, forget it! He's a real silly boy!

@Jake, yes exactly! The "rush of emotions or horrible thoughts".. when they get loose. That's exactly what happens! Lol! Yes! Tunnel vision. Hahaha. I'm glad Gary got the bird away... poor birds that get eaten by cats and dogs. Lol.

@Lizzie, you are fortunate they have somewhere where you know they are going!

@Tina and Terri: I'm glad you and Terri's dogs stay close to you.

@Terri, haha yes, sometimes dogs are more interesting AND better than some people too.

[Rawfed (Ella)]

@Jake, yes exactly! The "rush of emotions ...... cats and dogs. Lol.

Oops, sorry, I meant @Annie (Jake's Mom)

[Annie36]

It's ok....I am used to being someone's mom instead of Annie I have been Gary's wife for 22 years and Jesse and Dillan's mom for 21 and 18 years and Jake's mom for 2 years.....I knew who you meant

[MattiesMom (MaryEllen)]

I'm lucky that the bunnies come into my fenced backyard because both of mine ignore me to chase them.  While walking my girls, I have dropped a leash and both of them turn and come back (but it hasn't happened with a bunny in sight, cuz I'm sure they would chase it).  My sister takes her bichon to a wooded park where her dogs can run unleashed along trails, through fields, and in woods.  Her labs are not a worry, but Lucy has been naughty and disappeared a few times.  Luckily the labs usually locate her pretty quickly.  My sister is whistle training Lucy now.  She has a whistle and treats Lucy for coming to the whistle.  She never uses it to leash Lucy or take her indoors.  She always allows Lucy to go again after the whistle and treat.  So Lucy does not see the whistle as the end of her fun.  It seems to be working, as Lucy responds to it immediately.  I don't know what happens if she sees a rabbit though.  I don't think bichons can resist 'em!  MaryEllen

[Freedom (Sandie)]

Oh gosh, it is a horrible feeling, isn't it?  I am glad everyone in this thread got their pups back.  I've had my scares as well.

Sugar arrived here blind with cataracts, and had less than 3 months before she had been attacked by a bull mastiff.  Sugar was terrified of all dogs.  We'd walk the neighborhood and if a dog barked, in its yard, 2 streets over, she would be in a mad panic.  One day, Sugar had been here about 3 weeks,  we were on the walk and a chihuahua INSIDE his own home barked at us.  Sugar took of, I lost hold of the leash.  Fortunately we had done the route enough that she knew it, and she ran straight home.  Dad happened to be looking out the front windows, saw her coming and opened the door.  He said she ran right in.  I was worried as she ran down the middle of the street, through a stop sign to the next intersection and turned up our street, still in the middle of the road.  That is when I lost sight of her.  By the time I got to our house, she was safe inside but I didn't know that!  When I couldn't see her, I started crying and continued running into the house calling for Dad to come help me search.  He met me in the kitchen to say she was alright.  Sugar was snuggled up on the sofa, not a care in the world.   

Lacey had been here less than 2 weeks when she got out under the chain link fence behind the vegetable garden.  This was in June, so the garden was coming up and I didn't realize she was one right away.  I got in the car and started driving around, the route we walk, calling for her. I also walked in to the school yard, where I met a woman playing with her dog in the field.  I told her about my missing do, and pointed to my house.   Round and round in the car, back an forth to the school yard.   Meanwhile Dad was walking up and down the street calling.  We both covered the same territory a million times.   Nothing for an hour and a half.  One time when I drove home and Dad came out waving to me, all smiles.  He had Lacey!  That woman had ound her, on the far side of the school, a place I had never walked the dogs at that point.  Lacey wouldn't come to her, but the woman allowed her dog to entice Lacey.  Then she picked Lacey up (no harness, collar or leash, because she had been in the back yard with us!) and carried her home to Dad.  She came to the back fence first, and hollered, got Dad's attention, and he walked around and met her.  I've never seen that woman and her dog, before or since!  We have since learned that Lacey has NO sense of direction -- NONE.  And since then, I've been able to take Lacey with me anywhere, no leash, and she stays right with me.  No idea o her former life,but she knew right away she had "lost" a good thing.  She was still shaking when I got back in the house to hug her.

RB Ozzy would often get lost, as he had a bit of dementia, bad eyesight, bad hearing and a very curious nose.  He was ever lost FROM ME, but he would often realize he had no clue where he was, or where we were, and he would get nervous, start barking.  As soon as I got close enough and / or touched him, he would calm down again.  Poor guy, I'd always feel badly that he got that fearful feeling, knowing it so well from the above 2 experiences.

Marlin doesn't get lost; he always knows where  is!   

Tasha has slipped out of her harness on walks 3 or 4 times, all at the beginning, but not when she was chasing anything.  She would be afraid, if I was trying to reach her to untangle her, or she was being stubborn, going to sniff this smell and who cares if the rest of us are walking!  I've been pleasantly surprised that she stays with us for the rest of the walk home.  But I kept searching to get a harness she can't slip out of, as you never know!  The one I have now, Rope N Go, seems Tasha proof!

[nzbyrd]

I am so lucky - if any one or all of this crew escapes - they go down to my friend Tina who lives 2 doors down ...

I had to laugh, cos this reminded me of Buddy (our Border Collie). We had a friend who lived around the corner from us, and every now and then we would pop into see her while we were out walking. One day the gate got left open while we were out (the fluffs are always inside the house when we are not home). So when we came home, Buddy was gone, which was quite unusual, he would usually just hang around and wait.

Anyway, we started walking the streets, calling and looking for him. When I got around the corner, I went to our friends house to see if she had seen him, and there he was snoozing on her couch! Seems he thought he'd go for a visit and she just just found him there. on her couch It happened again a few times, but we always knew where he would be.

Maddy is an escape artist, I dare not let her out the gate without a lead, she is off like a little rocket and nothing will induce her to come home until she is ready, which is really scarey.We are working on her recall, but I dont think I will ever trust her.

[Cheryl]

Maddy is an escape artist, I dare not let her out the gate without a lead, she is off like a little rocket

  I could substitute Lacey in that sentence.   She too can be a little rocket.  She always makes a beeline for the neighbors house where they have two or three dogs, and lots of wonderful smells in their yard.  When she was younger, I chased after her several times and wound up in tears, sometimes barefoot and cold or wet and scared out of my mind.
She thought it was great fun, she ran, I chased and called and cried,  one time,  when I realized I could not catch her, and was sure I was going to chase her straight on to a main highway, I turned around and started for home convinced I'd never see the love of my life again.   When I arrived at my back door, she was sitting there waiting for me.   
I found by trial and error, that it works much better to stay put, call her,  jumping up and down, clapping and acting like something really exciting is happening, she usually comes home right away. 
Calli,  being the little mama' s girl that she is,  doesn't like me to be out of her sight,  and will follow Lacey, but comes back as soon as I call her
.
When off leash, at a dog park, neither one will leave my side, and if I do entice them to run and play with other dogs or each other, they constantly check to see where I am and never are farther than 10-12 feet away.

[darwinsmom (Chris)]

You know, I actually started a different thread a few weeks ago wherein I got great advice about teaching Darwin recall because he will do this. I have a daughter that will do it, too, and I have to say that emotion is about 100 worse, but it's still pretty bad w/ Darwin. I keep him pretty controlled at home, but when we go visiting, he is so interested in everything new that he just takes off. A bit of advice I was given here is to actually not chase him- to stay still and turn my back (still keeping him in site, of course) and that he would come to me. It was a true leap of faith to try it, but it works. I still don't rely on that- prevention is key, but It's good to have some idea what to do when it happens.

For my daughter, we considered getting a Brinks GPS locator. Honestly, I might consider the same for my bichon if it kept being an issue.

Hugs to you!
Chris

[Katrinka]

This was several years ago now, but I had to constantly remind my grandchildren to close the backyard gate. So I didn't even know that Buddy had gotten out. I thought he was still in the backyard, wandering and sniffing.

Then I got a knock on my front door.

I go to the door, wondering who it is? I cannot see anyone thru the window.

I opened the door to find Buddy standing there, alone. He had only went as far as the tree out the front, to pee on it, and then he came right back home! LOL

[Alison]

Thats so cute he knocked to get back in.Alison

[IServePrincess]

We live in a little neighborhood with lots of nice families and one family that is rather vile (Door slamming, yelling, etc.).  So of course when Princess has run off you know where she goes....I guess she wants more action? 

[Rawfed (Ella)]

  It was very entertaining reading your stories. I am glad that none of your fluffs got away for good.
I really have to keep a tight grip on Sky's leash for sure. He has tried taking off chasing after a bunny again but he didn't get away because I was holding on tight.

[MamaMia]

oooh yes.. our Hero is a wannabe hunter and we have cats and chickens in our neighbourhood. One cat he chased stopped and turned around to face Hero, and then he became a wimp and just stood there.. So im glad he doesnt go for the kill, at least.. lol.. My dad had chickens too and Hero chased the rooster, the rooster also stopped and stood his ground and Hero didnt know what to do. He could get himself into trouble, easy!

[Rawfed (Ella)]

Haha!  That's so cute about Hero!

[Little Bella (Kathy)]

How it is to read all the " get-away" stories!  Chloe (who we lost in Oct. 2009) was usually very good about taking off...but when we moved to the new house, my little old :fluff:walked out the door at night while the moving men were going in and out. I'd had her on a leash but let it go to do something.  When I couldn't find the little one of the movers said, "If your dog is white, there's one two doors down the street doing a in your neighbors front yard!"  It was Chloe allright doing her thing!  Good thing she didn't wander very far!

[kjb131313]

I actually bought Toby a cloth leash this week. I get a little scared with the flexi leashes......there is such little material. I was a fan of the flexi until this week. We have rabbits that like to hop around at night and Toby tries to go after them. I feel better with a sturdier leash. He has never gotten away. For that I am so grateful as I live near a busy intersection. I love my Toby-Wan-Kenobi.