Help, My Boxers Keep Getting Out and Running Away!!!!!

[Taliesyn88]

Hi,

I have 5 boxers, 2 older ones, 2 younger adopted ones, and a 3 month old puppy. I also have a chihuahua. I am really getting frustrated, and very worried. I live out in the country on 2 acres, half of which is fenced in. Over the period of about 4 years, my boxers keep getting out of the fence, or devising ways to escape. Usually this happens when I am not at home, and then I come home to find all of them gone.

Luckily, for about the 10 times they have escaped, my neighbors have been nice enough to call me. Well, this time I am not so lucky. All of my boxers escaped, by rooting thru a gate, and I was lucky that one stayed home, and my neighbor found my white boxer Jasper and my chihuahua. But Saddam and Koady are nowhere to be found. I know that one cannot be lucky all of the time, and I am so afraid that one day I will receive bad news.

The dogs are all males, and all neutered. When I had my older boxer Rusty, he never wanted to leave the house. But these guys, although they have a huge fenced in yard, are not happy. Today is a beautiful day, and I decided to leave them outside. What I want to know is why they are not satisfied, and why do they want to run???? These animals travel several miles, and just keep going. Saddam does know his way home, but I fear that with Koady along they may just run. I am so afraid of them being hit by a car or getting stolen. as they are fools.

I have patched up places in the fence, but they will even now dig under it. The fence is 5 feet high, so they cannot jump it. Is there anything that I am doing wrong to cause this type of behavior???? Like I said, they are all neutered, but that does not seem to matter. I do not want to tie them up, as that is cruel. I cannot keep them all in my house, because then they go stir crazy, and start tearing things up.

Any help is appreciated, and please pray for Saddam and Koady for a safe return home!!!!!!!

 

[kathysboxer]

I don't have an answer for you. I just wanted to say I hope your babies are ok and back home soon. Keep us informed. Keeping you and them in my prayers and thoughts.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Have you thought about crating them in your home while you are gone? IMO that's MUCH less cruel than them getting ou and possibly either not being found or getting hit by cars.

Also I have heard and seen Boxers jump over 6 ft high fences/walls so don't be so sure that they aren't jumping the 5 ft fence.

Also do you exercise them at all? Sounds like they have A LOT of pent up energy that needs to be released. Do you bike with them, run with them, take them on long walks before you go places? 5 Boxer is a lot of energy for them to feed off of and once one goes you can bet the others will follow with a bunch of pent up energy.

I'd work on either exercising them more and see if that helps any or crating them when you are not home so that they are safe. Also if they are not microchipped I HIGHLY recommend that you microchip them ASAP.

 

[BetsyB]

Dogs tend to run, escape, jump fences, dig, etc... out of boredom. You can't assume that because they have others to keep them company that they are getting enough physical and mental stimulation and exercise! They need to be exercised, for at least 90 minutes everyday. It should be hard, fast running/playing, not just a walk here and there. They also need mental stimulation, i.e. training. Give them something to focus on and work their brains. I'm also concerned with the fact that your 5 dogs are left outside continously without supervision. Yes, they could get hurt, killed, stolen, or lost. You can't just think it will happen, but hope that it doesn't. Be proactive to prevent any accidents, escapes, or injuries. If your dogs receive enough training and exercise, there will be no reason to leave them outside, as they should no longer be "stir crazy" and tear things up...
And yes, most boxers ARE capable of jumping over a 5ft fence. Mine can jump over 6ft, as can most others I know...

 

[HurricaneBox]

I have even personally seen a boxer clear an 8 ft privacy fence... without scrambling or climbing! A straight jump up. It was like watching a cat jump!

 

[Topman]

Considering how long you've had [most of] them, I imagine they'll wise up and come back sooner or later, but with all that space they're probably going to do quite a bit of investigating first. Best of wishes to you.
About the clearing of an 8 ft privacy fence... wow. I've heard stories but usually it's just after the fact, they've come home and he's out, but you actually saw him do it, that's incredible.

 

[EAO76]

Have Saddam and Koady returned?

 

[laurelheebsh]

Misplaced post

I found this in another thread--must have been posted to the wrong place accidentally. I am happy to hear that the dogs got home safely.

"Hi,
Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions. The garbage man, a friend, told me that he saw a small fawn boxer at a residence, and I prompty went down there, and found Saddam and Koady. They were tired, and ready to come home. I agree that my boxers do need more exercise, as myself, but I work such a strenuous job that many nights I am exhausted. They all compete to play with me, and I make sure I have time for each one. Koady, Jasper, King, and Buddy all play together, while Saddam and Rocky, the older two, only prefer to play with me alone. I found out that they pushed a gate over, creating a gap with which to escape. Since they were split up, I believe that Saddam and Koady crawled under the fence, while Jasper and King went out the hole by the gate. Rocky was out but stayed at home. Buddy was inside creating his own mess.

I know what it is like to train a puppy that will not bark to go paty. Buddy was really good when he was younger, but now he will have accidents. He is quiet, and you have to pick up ques that he has to go outside. Many times he will do his thing by the door. He is improving now, basically because I recognize his behavior. This puppy is a genious, he can sit, shake, fetch, speak and also open gates and doors. He is only 3 months old, but yesterday, when the others got out, I had left Buddy in the sunroom with a gate across. I come home to a huge mess, there were feces by the door, and the garbage was everywhere. When I looked around, Buddy was in the sunroom, behind the gate, wanting out. No other animals were in the house at this time.

The gate was intact, but I noticed that a small bottle of perfume had been knocked over. I then come to the realization that Buddy had climbed or jumped over the fence, did his dirty deeds, and then climbed back into the sunroom, so it appeared that he had never escaped at all!!!! I have had several boxers, but not one this smart!!!! Most boxers I have ever had will be running thru the house, but none has ever made the effort to climb back into the room they were supposed to be in. The perfume bottle was the only evidence I had as to the gate being tampered with!!!!

I have never had a boxer jump a 5 foot fence!!!! Although, when Buddy grows up, I may have one!!!! Nobody I talked to can believe Buddy actually made his mess, and then climbed over the fence to return to where he was supposed to be. Smart dog, I think so!!!!!

Wendy, Rusty12 yrs(RIP 4/29/07)Casey8yrs(RIP 10/19/06)Saddam, Rocky 6yrs old, Jasper 2 yrs, Koady 1yr, King 1 yr "

 

[Murp.mm]

So happy to hear your babies are all home safe and sound.

 

[Taliesyn88]

Thanks So Much for Your Thoughts!!!!

Hi,

Laurel, thanks so much for posting my thread where it was supposed to be. I do not know what happened, I must have hit something else when I replied.

Koady and Saddam are fine. I have been very lucky, thanks to prayers and great neighbors. I figured they must have escaped separately, 2 going one way and 2 the other. They were only a mile or so from my house, and I was so thankful to have them back.

I have now placed Koady in a crate when I am not at home. He is my smallest boxer, and, according to the garbage man 2 weeks earlier, the 2 older dogs were fighting him against the fence. The garbage man took action, and the dogs stopped. Koady is tiny, but with a huge attitude, so he will be kept in a nice crate inside until I get home. Buddy, the puppy, and Koady's friend, is confined to half of the house.

Today I came home and no dogs had escaped. Koady also managed to stay in his crate(he usually disassembles them) and Buddy was fine. They are now outside, by themselves, enjoying the beautiful fall evening.

I know I have a pack of male dogs and know what can happen. I also think that goes the opposite way, when one dog gets out they all want out. Hopefully things will quiet down, Rocky is too arthritic to leave the yard, and Saddam and Jasper are not that close. With Koady in the crate, the escapades should stop.

I need to get in shape myself, and this is a way to do it. I just wish I knew how to occupy 4 large boxers, 1 puppy and 1 chihuahua with the exercise they need. When I am inside, they all crash on the floor, and are very good at night, they all rest and are very well behaved. It seems like when I am gone is when they get into trouble. We will see what happens!!!!

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!