I think 50 years were added to my life this morning!...

[Mary Plummer]

Good morning all,

Yesterday my husband's son mowed our front lawn, and left the gate to our yard open. We didn't realize it last night; in fact, I didn't realize it until this morning. I took Mr. Blue out into the yard early to do some business and then called him, thinking he was around the back of the house, and he didn't come, so I went looking. I saw the gate open and no dog, and went running out to the front of the house. I was looking both ways and calling for him. I saw him, on our side of the street, 3 houses down. When he heard me calling him, he turned and came running back to me full speed I gave him all kinds of praise and cuddles for being such a good boy listening to me, and took him inside and gave him a treat. I'm definitely going to talk to my husband's son about how important it is to always keep that gate closed. I'm just so glad it all turned out OK!

[Marty]

those houndie noses can get the better of them! I know I send threats to everyone about gates and open doors... my Bassets can suddenly be very deaf in that situation!

[ShelbysMom]

Phew! What a scare! Thank goodness he didn't get too far.

That has happened to me twice, with each of my Dobermans. Years ago, the male Dobie we had was gone for several hours, collecting friends along the way. I drove around the neighborhood, finally found him around the block from our house on a construction site with several other dogs--covered in flies. He was totally annoyed that I found him and cut his adventure short.

When our neighbor's child retrieved a ball from our yard and left the gate open, Shelby got out. I kept hearing barking on the front lawn and when I finally went to the front door, she was standing on the front steps barking and then proceeded to show me that the gate was wide open!

[Mary Plummer]

...breakfast, and when he heard me calling him, he knew he'd get a treat from me for coming back home. I was an easier "food target" for him, I guess! That's fine with me; I'm just so glad he didn't go "selectively deaf" on me this morning! He does do that when his nose is working. What a sight I must have been! I'd just gotten out of my morning shower and dressed, but my hair was uncombed and dripping wet. He came up into the bathroom, and was definitely telling me he had to go. So after he did his business, he went hunting, and I went running down the street in my slippers after him. I wouldn't wish that sight on anyone on a pre-work Monday morning

[momPaws]

Mary- so glad he came right back! I had a scare like that with Honey - a few yrs. ago... she took off chasing another dog and they were both heading for the main road. I yelled to her and she kinda stopped, but the trick was yelling "HAMBURGER!!"....she turned around and came home. You have to know that the only thing better than chasing another dog is a hamburger. So I took my good girl out for a burger.

So glad Mr. Blue if fine.

[k9Karen]

I know what a scare it can be. Angel has gotten out twice, but didn't come back on her own. Both times someone looked at her tag and called us. The first time, she had gotten about 2 miles down the road and found a motel with lots of kids. When we picked her up in the registration area of the motel she had about 5 kids loving on her and didn't want to leave. The second time, one of our neighbors thought she belonged to someone else and took her to them. Fortunately, that family knew she was mine and walked her home. She's quite the adventurer and even though we were calling for her, she kept going the other way. I suspect that's how she ended up in rescue - she simply wandered too far from home and never went back! Mickey and Leah would get out on occassion, but never left the yard. I'd hear them barking to come in the front door. They knew they'd get in trouble if they left the yard!

Glad the Blue-boy came home unharmed!

[Mary Plummer]

...for this happening. Hearing from all of you, who I KNOW aren't at all irresponsible, helps me feel a bit better! I am really pleased that he came right away when I called him. I'm kind of surprised, if he was on the trail of something, that he was even listening to anyone. I'm definitely going to make checking the gate a part of our normal routine of going out in the yard!

[BoxerTom]

Mary I think you mean 50 years taken away - what a scare! Scrib's bolted once last fall and it was pretty cold out, we spent a couple of hours driving around trying to find her to no avail. Another hour later, she came trotting up to the back door like she was only gone for a few minutes - who knows what she was up to!

[Mary Plummer]

...there for a minute It really is frightening; thank God in all the stories here, we got our dogs back safe!

[jason]

88 huh? sounds like you met the qualifications for a certain band .