David is working at home today so he took Charlie out for a longer walk. 2 hours had gone by and I was worried as we have gale force winds here today and it is absolutely chucking it down so I knew something was wrong. Couldn't contact him as his phone was flat. David came back without Charlie to see if he had made it home as he couldn't find him and to explain that they had a good walk he just about to clip Charlie's lead on when he quickly turned and headed back towards the woods on a scent so David just waited for a while but no Charlie. He scoured the woods for him but nothing couldn't even hear his bell David got a quick change of clothes, fresh waterproofs, I was waterproofed up and going to drive to the top of the hill and head into the woods from one end David from the other. Opened the back door and who was coming in the gate he had made his way home but worse of all he had to cross an 'A' road in order to get home which is on a blind bend, if that had been peak time He was soaked but not out of breath so I think once he had given up on the scent he must have waited for sometime frightened in the wind for David who must have just not been in the same part of the woods then he decided to come home. He is in his basket looking very subdued That is the longest he has ever, ever been gone for even in his early absconding days I thought we had seen the last of this behaviour which we haven't had for a few years now, hopefully it's just a one off. What really worries me is now that he has made his way home will he continue this behaviour? He is going to be kept on lead and away from the woods for a few weeks. Dusting off Total Recall. Just when you think training is going well after such a lot of very hard work along comes a great big kick in the guts. We are both feeling very down and worried Any help, advice would be very much appreciated. Sorry just needed to get this out xxxx Thanks x
Oh that is a blow, but you have to remember (I know you do anyway) that Charlie is a dog not a machine, and he will make mistakes from time to time just like humans do. Don't feel down; it sounds as though Charlie didn't enjoy his time away particularly and I doubt very much that this will lead to more of this behaviour. Big hugs.
Oh no, I'm so glad that ended well. Is your heart back where it's supposed to be? You couldn't help that. You'll probably never know what prompted it so all you can do is be extra careful. Dogs are not machines, they have whims, their training can be overcome in an unusual situation. When they get old they can do some really strange things, wander off in a daze. So, so glad he's back.
Oh Helen, how awful. David must have been frantic to come home without Charlie. So pleased to hear that all ended well and it does sound as if Charlie really didn't enjoy the experience once he couldn't find David. I think I would treat walks tomorrow the same as normal and put my trust in Charlie and his training xx
@Karen I really hope you're right and he has been good for Charlie @Snowshoe NO my heart is still in my boots!! @MaccieD David had already searched for 2 hours for Charlie so decided to check if he had come home which is a 10 minute walk from the woods, but he was frantic that's for sure It just makes you feel like rubbish xxx
@charlie I just can't imagine how awful you and David must still be feeling. My blood runs cold at just the thought of Juno not coming when I call let alone the reality of an event like that. Big hugs from me to you and David xx
I feel for you! Last year Pongo was gone for two hours, but at least we were reasonably sure he had headed off AWAY from the main roads. It was a very, very long two hours. But there is no doubt in my mind that he scared himself, the next day he stuck to us like glue on his walk and - until last week - never roamed again. I hope you find the same with Charlie. Big hugs. Horrid feeling. But he is safe home now.
What a fright for you both Helen, but as has been said, don't despair please . Sam is good as gold , most of the time , but thankfully, just occasionally he will go off after deer , I just make a massive fuss when he does come back . Keep repeating , Its a blip and nothing more , big hugs and keep the faith xx
We will 'try' and keep the faith plus a squeazy tube of blitzed Pilchards for tomorrows walk! Do you think we should let him off lead and trust him? x
Yes I do Helen , because if you don't, his desire will be greater . Please try not to worry , not easy I know , try and keep relaxed , equally not as easy , take your pilchards and have a nice walk x
Yes let him off, let him know you've got a tube of squished pilchards, work on recall, keep calling him back, make it fun, you know the drill. It must have been absolutely awful for you both but Charlie came home. Even though it might be dangerous you now know he knows how to get home if he's ever lost. Hopefully not being able to find David was enough of a shock to put him off but tomorrow is a new day and charlie will have forgotten about his expedition I doubt he's secreatly planning another so deep breath and carry on as usual.
Oh Helen I feel for you. It's so very very hard! I had a blip with Simba a couple weeks ago too - he was only gone about 15-20 minutes, not 2 hours though. I can't imagine how scared poor David was! It really does set you back and make you despair. But try to focus on the positive that he did come back safely. You have made so many strides with Charlie, try not to despair. I would go back to a few recall training sessions just to remind Charlie and then do your walks as you have been. One thing I have discovered when Simba runs off is that he seems to come back to the same place he left me. So while my instinct is to think that he's taken off to the wild blue yonder and is wandering around "out there" maybe heading home, maybe going into town, maybe going who-knows-where....(which is all possibly true) and so I start taking off to go to where I think he might be. But I'm developing the theory that it seems to be a better strategy to stay in the place I was when he disappeared. So this last time, although I was mighty tempted to go around the trails and back to the car etc etc I decided to just keep walking back and forth on the short stretch where he disappeared. It was hard! And I was mighty tempted to "go looking". But after 15-20 minutes behold, he came out of the woods. I did this because the last time this happened I went searching over all the trails but I ended up finding him in the same section I left him. He was running hard, I think he had been tracking me all over too! Anyhow, just a suggestion, not sure it's a valid one but I throw it out there just in case it helps.
So glad Charlie is safe - that's a big relief! I think this is a good idea. Time to time I'll hide from Charlie if he gets too far away, and I try to see what he does through a bush etc. He will immediately run to where he last saw me, and then he will run back from where we have come from, stop, and return back to where he last saw me.
How terrifying for you all, Helen. I don't have any helpful advice, I'm just glad that Charlie is safely back at home.
Yes, if a dog is lost then always wait at the place you last saw them. If this is impossible because it is nighttime and they still haven't appeared, put an article of your clothing down in that spot and the dog will come back to find your scent. Charlie may have rushed off after the scent of a deer as it is very blowy today. I have been told never to train a dog in a high wind!
I so agree , so many scents wafting in the wind , and yes Stacia , Sam always comes back to where he last saw me too .
Oh, goodness Helen, what an awful experience for you and David. I'm so glad Charlie made it home safely x
