Well, it happened. ABBY finally escaped to find her freedom. I knew she had been secretively plotting this for quite some time, and yesterday she saw the right opportunity and took it. Now, before I continue, I must explain a few things. I've been having this problem with my front aluminim screen door. For about a month now, it's gotten to where it doesn't close all the way shut and will stand open 4 to 5 inches if I don't pull or push it until it will latch closed. ABBY has taken notice of this. But she knows that she's not supposed to go out in the front yard without having either her leash or harness on. My front yard is not fenced in and the street runs right next to it. I had been to the store and was carrying what few sacks I had into the house. About that time it dawned on me that I had forgotten to pull the door closed, and in that instant it was already too late. ABBY took notice of the set of events and was out the door in a flash. I, on the other hand, was still standing there holding a bag of groceries and probably looking like I'd just been shot. Tossing the groceries aside and uttering a few expletives that aren't allowed for me to repeat, I tore out door after her. With my gimpy leg and knowing how fast she is, I really doubted on being able to catch her. (I think I should add, even though she knows what "Come Here" means, she's got very selective hearing.) I could just imagine her running throughout the neighborhood, shouting, in dog language of course, "Free at Last!, Free at Last!, Hallelujah! I'm Free at Last!". But to my pleasant surprise, she had decided not to run too far. She had made it just around where I park my pick-up and stopped. I guess she must have realized that she wasn't supposed to be where she was. Anyway, it was one anxious moment that I don't want to be repeated.
Free at Last!
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ROROSHELTON
Super Boxer
Wow, you're very lucky! Brutus did the same thing a few weeks ago. He normally doesn't wear a collar unless we go somewhere. He was in the back yard (fenced in) watching me cut grass. I opened the gate to bring the mower into the backyard and normally he stays put and watches. Not this time........he headed for freedom w/o his collar. He obviously doesn't listen well, so I ran inside the house and grabbed his collar and leash and found him 4 houses down. Taught me a lesson! And took about 10 years off my life..........LOL!
sargboxerluv
Completely Boxer Crazy
This happened to us a few months ago. Harley does not go outside unless she is on a leash because I live in an apartment. And she never has her collar on in the house. I always told my kids they can not open the door unless I have Harley. She does not try to escape, but she always wants to follow them outside. I knew this would be a problem with 8 and 9 year old boys.
So one dreaded day Kevin opens the door to go out to play with out telling me, and of course she took off out the door with him. If you could have heard the heartbreak and fear in Kevin's voice as he yelled, Harley come back, you would have cried. He was absolutley devastated. But being a child, he did a no-no and started to chase her and scream her name. So of course she ran faster and farther. I screamed to him to run back to the house - he looked so confused as to why I would say this instead of letting him run after her. Tears had started to stream down his face but he listened and ran back toward the house. As I had hoped, Harley chased him back right into the house!
It's a good thing I am a calm person and didn't flip out. Otherwise he would have chased her right into a busy street! He has not forgotten since to tell me before he opens the door. And I had her mircochipped shortly after just in case!
So one dreaded day Kevin opens the door to go out to play with out telling me, and of course she took off out the door with him. If you could have heard the heartbreak and fear in Kevin's voice as he yelled, Harley come back, you would have cried. He was absolutley devastated. But being a child, he did a no-no and started to chase her and scream her name. So of course she ran faster and farther. I screamed to him to run back to the house - he looked so confused as to why I would say this instead of letting him run after her. Tears had started to stream down his face but he listened and ran back toward the house. As I had hoped, Harley chased him back right into the house!
It's a good thing I am a calm person and didn't flip out. Otherwise he would have chased her right into a busy street! He has not forgotten since to tell me before he opens the door. And I had her mircochipped shortly after just in case!
boxermomATL
Super Boxer
Our girl think it's a funny game to escape out the front door and do burns in our un-fenced front yard. She runs around and around in a circle, completely ignoring the "come" command, until she gets bored with my forced lack of attention. She has never run far, but lately has been getting a little too brave and running out into the street in front of our house. I'm terrified a car is going to come whipping around the corner and hurt her, or worse.
This has also motivated me to microchip. I'm taking her to get it done tomorrow.
This has also motivated me to microchip. I'm taking her to get it done tomorrow.
johann
Boxer Insane
I'm glad she didn't go far. Amazing how little it takes to give us heart attacks and gray hairs.
Johann got out the other day (the one time he jumps willingly out of the car). We live on a busy road with lots of tractor trailers and other traffic, speed limit 50 mph.
He got loose and was standing at the end of our driveway staring across the street at the neighbors. Wouldn't come back when I called, but thankfully hubby was able to open our front door (which we never use, so he's always super excited about it) and surprise him into running inside. I was shaky for the rest of the day. Now his seatbelt harness gets unbuckled once his leash is hooked and in my hand.
Johann got out the other day (the one time he jumps willingly out of the car). We live on a busy road with lots of tractor trailers and other traffic, speed limit 50 mph.
He got loose and was standing at the end of our driveway staring across the street at the neighbors. Wouldn't come back when I called, but thankfully hubby was able to open our front door (which we never use, so he's always super excited about it) and surprise him into running inside. I was shaky for the rest of the day. Now his seatbelt harness gets unbuckled once his leash is hooked and in my hand.
topherlove
Boxer Pal
This is what Lucy and Brody do. And of course when they get going together its impossible to get them back right away. We live in townhome too so its funny that they don't go over onto the neighbor's grass. It's like they know where our grass ends and their's starts.
LILYLARUE
Boxer Insane
Lily ran twice in the past month. I'm gonna need heart meds soon! The first time, a girl was walking by the house with two choc labs. Lily of course was very vocal in telling them that this was her property. I immediately took her to the front door. I have a bad habit of trusting them too much and when I bent down to unleash her, she took off out the door right before it shut! I was calling her to come back and then used the "stop" command we've been working on and she kept right on her war path. Growling, barking, hackles up and charging right for them! I can't run with my back problems, but I sure walked faster than ever and caught up to them, grabbed Lily's collar and pulled her away. Man was I crappin' my pants! I thought she tore their throats out they way she was sounding. I finally got her back in the house and ignored her the rest of the day. I was soooo mad at her! I was also awaiting the cops to show up. One thing I must say, as crazy and aggressive as she was, those two dogs didn't react at all! She handled them beautifully. I should talk to her and get some training help! No calls, no cops and now that I look back, she was just a whole lot of bark and no bite. Total fear aggression on her part.
The second time was last weekend. I always walked the dogs from the fenced in area to the basement with no problems. This time, Lily saw and opportunity and took it! She took a left and ran as fast as I ever saw her, never looking back. I tried to stay calm. I took the other two in and grabbed a leash. I then headed to the neighbors 4 houses down who has 3 little ones who like to poop in our yard and bark at the windows hoping to see my guys. I knew where she was headed.....she wanted to finally meet the other dogs that are always barking at her. I was afraid she would hurt them. So I called for her in a safe and happy voice and then noticed her trotting back to me. I got to the 2nd house down when I heard a bark. Oh CRAP! There was another boxer tied out beside the house. Lily must have ran past her without noticing, but she definitely noticed when the other barked at me. Lily then spun around and went right for her. There was a lot of loud noise and the owner flew out and grabbed his girl. I grabbed Lily by the back legs and leashed her. Lily actually calmed in a second and turned her back to the other girl who was still pretty upset. After a brief intro to the new neighbors, we discovered we both had fear aggressive girls. Both very dominant and both reactive. So we decided we would try again later to see if they can get to like each other. She's a rescue who was abused. So she has some issues to work out as well. I can help him with some of those and he can help me get Lily more socialized with his girl Bayliegh.
I look at both these incidences for learning. Definitely learn NOT to trust Lily or any of my dogs. They DO have a mind of their own. I have learned not to panic so quickly, as it doesn't help get them to come back to me any quicker. Gotta stay calm. Learn to ALWAYS be alert to my surroundings. Keep the dogs on leashes at ALL TIMES. I am sure there are more lessons to be learned here, but the important ones were absorbed. LOL
These dogs will live forever while they kill me in a slow, painful, panicky death!!!
The second time was last weekend. I always walked the dogs from the fenced in area to the basement with no problems. This time, Lily saw and opportunity and took it! She took a left and ran as fast as I ever saw her, never looking back. I tried to stay calm. I took the other two in and grabbed a leash. I then headed to the neighbors 4 houses down who has 3 little ones who like to poop in our yard and bark at the windows hoping to see my guys. I knew where she was headed.....she wanted to finally meet the other dogs that are always barking at her. I was afraid she would hurt them. So I called for her in a safe and happy voice and then noticed her trotting back to me. I got to the 2nd house down when I heard a bark. Oh CRAP! There was another boxer tied out beside the house. Lily must have ran past her without noticing, but she definitely noticed when the other barked at me. Lily then spun around and went right for her. There was a lot of loud noise and the owner flew out and grabbed his girl. I grabbed Lily by the back legs and leashed her. Lily actually calmed in a second and turned her back to the other girl who was still pretty upset. After a brief intro to the new neighbors, we discovered we both had fear aggressive girls. Both very dominant and both reactive. So we decided we would try again later to see if they can get to like each other. She's a rescue who was abused. So she has some issues to work out as well. I can help him with some of those and he can help me get Lily more socialized with his girl Bayliegh.
I look at both these incidences for learning. Definitely learn NOT to trust Lily or any of my dogs. They DO have a mind of their own. I have learned not to panic so quickly, as it doesn't help get them to come back to me any quicker. Gotta stay calm. Learn to ALWAYS be alert to my surroundings. Keep the dogs on leashes at ALL TIMES. I am sure there are more lessons to be learned here, but the important ones were absorbed. LOL
These dogs will live forever while they kill me in a slow, painful, panicky death!!!
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