Learn From My Off Leash Mistake!!!!!

[Gunsey'sMom]

I am posting this so maybe some of you guys new or old wont make the same mistake I did. Fortunately no one, animals or people got hurt, but like I said I was fortunate.

A week or so ago, I was bringing Gunner up to the house from his dog run outside. I usually make sure he is on leash, but sometimes in the past have let him go off leash because he goes right to the house. However, my BF has recently put his cat out (she still has her claws, and is spayed) He saw the cat and took off after her, and kept on going!!!!!!! I was beside myself. It was after dark, so I went in to get a flashlight, and was still in shock. I had no idea what to do, Gunner has never "run off" before. A million things went through my head: what if he runs in the road-he could get hurt-or someone could have an accident, what if someone tries to "catch him" and he hurts them in some way, what if he wonders into the wrong yard and gets in a dog fight or worse????? All of these things and more went through my head.

I began to call him franticly, and was so upset that I had to sit down for a couple minute-he was already long gone, I was thinking how stupid I was, Why didn't I just put him on his leash??????

Just when I was just about to break down and cry, I heard a jingle, jingle, jingle, of a doggy collar. MY BABY!!!!!! ANd happily ever after. So I have learned my lesson, and have been blessed to have been able to learn in without having to go through a tragedy. I sounds like a menial thing, but I my pet and others in danger by not doing it.

Just wanted to share.

[moondog]

My brother made the same mistake when he was a teen and let our family dog (Weimaraner) off his lead 3 houses away from ours.....it did NOT end "happily ever after".....it put a very nice man in the hospital with serious injuries from his chest being ripped open. I saw it happen and I'll never forget it.

My brother knew Toby had a thing for small animals, but let him off lead anyway, thinking "what could happen, we're almost home". Wrong. Our dog went after the neighbor's little dog, who was on his front lawn with him, and when the man saw Toby coming, he grabbed his little dog up to try and protect him. Toby launched for the little dog and got the man instead.

It only takes one moment of thoughtlessness and a split second for serious things to occur that are 100% avoidable.

[twomanydogs]

Why is he not minding? Is he young, or in training? Or both?

[jakesfostermom]

glad to hear all was well with Gunner.....and thanks for sharing your experience - many of us have likely done what you did - and think nothing of it.....and like Moondog said - so much can happen so quickly. I have to watch my SO that he doesn't unleash the dogs too soon when we get in from our evening walk - my rule is, all leashes and collars stay on until we are inside the house and the door is closed. I tend to turn into a raging lunatic when one of my dogs get out and I can't find them.......that feeling of helplessness and worry is hard to put into words........

[KatMc]

Originally Posted by twomanydogs

Why is he not minding? Is he young, or in training? Or both?

Unfortunately sometimes even trained dogs don't mind - a new cat to chase is an awful lot of temptation.

So glad nothing happened!

Kathy

[twomanydogs]

Got it! I have a dane puppy that I would not yet trust off leash. Guess I have been lucky with my Rotties minding. I can see myself chasing the Dane in a panic.
Very glad evrything turned out OK and yes it made me check myself with trusting my one. Will not do it again..
Thanks

[Sharon Marples]

Thank you for posting this as a reminder to everyone who has dogs that are not to be trusted off leash.

It IS a lesson well-learned and I'm so glad that Gunner was not hurt, lost or worse.

Seems like Gunner needs a LOT of long-line training with LOTS of kitty (and other) distractions! Read Gretchen's post in Chit Chat about distractions, there are lots of things you can do to "proof" Gunner once you think he is really trained.

[targonrotts]

good to hear gunner is ok.
yes, i agree we all need to train with distractions, proofing and all, but all it takes is a moment of disobeying, running after something so tempting, and getting hit by a car that happens to pass at that same moment.
i saw that happen with a neighbors dog.
he ran to greet us and instantly got hit. no one had chance to stop him or a split second to think.he was on a leash,but owner was not holding it correctly, got loose and ran. he died a few minutes later...the vehicle never stopped.
better to be safe than sorry, leash walk, no matter how short the distance.

[Rubyhead]

It's not just the visual distractions. My dogs are very scent oriented. So if my neighbor turns or adds to their compost pile, my guys are off. Hunting season is especially tough on the dogs because there is alot of 'blood' in the air and there is nothing better to them than a yummy deer leg. Even out here in the woods leashes and long lines are the order of the day.

[StephanieandToby]

It's frightening how quickly things can happen.

I had JUST moved into this apartment with Toby....my landlady had some friends who HATED HATED HATED dogs...both had been attacked before.They both steadfastly refused to meet Toby.

Well, I pulled up in front of the house and my landlady was talking to these two people on the boulevard. Even though Toby was on a leash, he jumped over my arm when I opened the back door of the car and went racing up to these poor people, making an "errr-errr-errr" sound...

My landlady yelled "Toby, sit!!" and he screeched to a halt and sat down...then he was all wigglebums....looking at me like, "What do I get for my reward??"

My landlady's friends had jumped into their car and locked the doors!You should see the look they gave us!!Pure venom!!

It was just about the worst impression I could have given my new landlady after she was kind enough to rent an apartment to me and my Rottweiler.
After that, I made darn sure I only opened the car door a crack and grabbed the leash first.

It was an odd thing...he'd never chased a human before and never did it after that....What do dogs know that we don't???

[Gunsey'sMom]

Yes I agree, he needs ALOT more training with longline and many types of distractions,

I was pleased when recent trip home on crutches (another story entirely) didn't have any effect on Gunner! He sniffed and went about his business. But yes, he does need conditioning and lots more training towards distractions.

Things can happen so fast, which is why we need to think ahead. And we don't always know what our dogs will do, even if they do the same thing everyday. (like run up to the house)

So thanks for letting me share my dumbness with you all! I hope it helps someone!!!

[Luvs]

Something else that is REALLY useful in these kind of situations is a good Platz/Down from a distance. I teach my dogs to down away from me as soon as possible. I think it is one of the most important commands they can learn, it could possibly save their life one day.

Yesterday as I was walking out the door to take Karisma outside, Kaleb (the 9 month old) went racing out the door ahead of me (his newest bad habit ). He had just been in the house watching the neighbors play ball with their dogs and he wanted to go join them He made a beeline straight for the neighbors house. I called him one time, he totally ignored me, so I yelled PLATZ!!!!!!! He dropped like a brick and waited for me to come get him I was soooooooo PROUD of him. We went inside and he got a whole hot dog

With the recent addition of Karisma, Kaleb has decided he can act like a little puppy again and he seems to have forgotten some of his training. Thank goodness he remembered his platz.
We are currently in the process of reminding Kaleb that he does indeed have some training

[twomanydogs]

I teach my dogs STOP before they even learn come. They freeze when I say it. Even my young boy who DOES Not always come to me when called. Stops when I say stop.(then I grab him) This is a a life saver. And for me at least much easier than come when they are young. It is kind of funny when you say come and they take off the other way..then you say stop...and they do.
Works for me. And very easy to teach on leash. The rest for me has come in time.
Sarah

[SABELLESMOM]

I'm glad Gunner is safe and nothing bad happened.

[05EVOMR]

im sorry what happened but its not the dogs fault that he does not obey, its the owners fault for not training the dog to obey and stop when ordered, never ever take the dog off leash when you know that the dog was never trained for that situation.