Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

[Auntpiggylpn]

To where?? To chase our 90# Shepherd/ Akita mix BG for almost 3 miles in 26* weather. At about 6:30 this evening, I let 3 of our dogs out into our 6ft chain link fenced in yard. Our Schnoodle Louie barked at the door first and I let him in. A few minutes later, our Shepherd/Malinois Cooper was standing at the door. I let him in and called for BG. I did a quick scan of the backyard and she was NOWHERE to be seen! I ran into the backyard and it was obvious she wasn't inside the fence. I frantically called her name and then she appeared outside of the fence. She started running towards the woods when I called her name. I yelled upstairs to my other half who was in bed because works 3rd shift. She took off thru the woods with us following behind her. We were both only wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants (and me without a brassiere on!!!). Luckily our winter boots were just inside the door and we were able to slip them on but not tied as we flew outside the house to follow here. The Paw Paw River runs at the back of our property but luckily it is only 6-8 ft wide right there. BG crossed the river and went deeper into the woods. She didn't slow down for anything. We were able to keep sight of her but she was so far ahead of us. She had to cross a smaller stream and went directly towards M 40, which is a heavily traveled 2 lane highway. My other half was ahead of me and saw her run across the highway. Cars were blaring their horns and she just kept going. We could only imagine the worst. She made it across the highway and ran into a cornfield which was bordered on both sides by more woods and another stream. She just kept going. She would stop and turn around to see if we were still following her. Suddenly, we spotted a guy in the woods. He had seen BG cross the highway and us chasing her thru the cornfield. BG is very timid and skittish around strangers and we yelled to tell him that. He did a wide circle and started approaching her and BG turned and starting running towards us. She ran straight to me and I was able to get a hold of her collar. We got her leashed and met up with the guy in the woods. We couldn't stop thanking him for helping us. He loaded us all up, including the very dirty and smelly BG into his pickup truck and drove us to our house. That is when I realized that our Schnoodle, Louie had gotten back outside when we tore out of the house to get BG. The poor thing had icicles on his chin as he drools a lot due to a misaligned jaw. He had been outside for 1 1/2 hours!!! BG got a much needed bath and will now go outside on a lead until we figure out how she got out of the fence. Louie got lots of hugs and kisses and a special treat and only after everyone was safe and sound that Mom had her emotional breakdown!!!! We were so fortunate that it didn't get completely dark until after we got home. And we were so fortunate for our neighbor Joe who came to our rescue. I am mentally physically and emotionally exhausted!

[K. McEuen]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

Ugh, I had a dog that was an escape artist and a runner. I was chasing her in the dark one night and was clothes lined, by a clothesline in someone's back yard! No one except us had fences. I'm not sure who I was madder at that night, the dog or my hubby for stupidly opening the front door wide open when he heard a cat fight.

Glad you got everyone back home safe and sound.

[Genny]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

This dog looks like she can really run...and apparently she can! I'm so glad you got her home safe and sound.

[Kgrammiecaz]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

Oh my. I am happy to,hear you are all home and safe. Get a good sleep tonight

[Mpyles]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

Goodness! Gotta love our fur balls!

[bubba]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

We had a cairn that would run like that. I chased her one night at 11pm for an hour! I fell to the ground so he would think I was hurt and come to me, but that trick did not work....he was too interested in the squirrel he was hot on the trail of. After almost an hour of this foolishness, I told him I was done, I was going inside and if he was still around in the morning, he might get back in the house! All of a sudden, I see a blur run past me up the hill, into the gate and he was sitting on the porch waiting for me when I got there!

I'm glad you got your dog back unharmed!

[SandyWhite]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

Oh geez. My dobie/shep was a runner too. I also had the fortune to live with a Great Dane who learned how to unlock the gate. I'm happy it all turned out fine. They run with such joy and abandon and have no idea of the danger.

[MayinJerset]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

What a wild trip BG took you and DH on and thank goodness for the neighbor. Sounds as if you are near my SIL in Paw Paw,, WV they have the river going through the back of their property.

[Auntpiggylpn]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

What a wild trip BG took you and DH on and thank goodness for the neighbor. Sounds as if you are near my SIL in Paw Paw,, WV they have the river going through the back of their property.

We are in Paw Paw Michigan. We just moved here at the end of January and we are in a pretty rural area. I figured I could chase BG until it got too dark or she was no longer in sight. What knotted my stomach was hearing the car horns blasting and knowing she was running across the busy highway but not being able to see her.

[MayinJerset]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

We are in Paw Paw Michigan. We just moved here at the end of January and we are in a pretty rural area. I figured I could chase BG until it got too dark or she was no longer in sight. What knotted my stomach was hearing the car horns blasting and knowing she was running across the busy highway but not being able to see her.

OH, Wrong state, LOL! In WV they are also very rural, lots of property between the mountains. To visit them first we drive to the country, then get on a gravel road for quite a bit before coming to the entrance to their area. Neighbors are few and far between and now that they are older and SIL's SO isn't doing too well health wise they may be moving to a more populated area.

[Miss Sheri]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

I don't know which emotion would win over for you, relief, that BG was finally safe and sound, or MAD as a Hornet, that she led you on such a riotous run in the first place!

[Hulamoon]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

That was a fun story (well not for you hee hee) . My dd's dog is like that. I love and miss him but had to a babysit sit him a couple of times lately and I'm so scared of losing him. He's strong and won't listen for nothing. A poodle in the house and a greyhound out side. lol

[easyquilts]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

I can not imagine your panic! We had a big part shepherd many tears ago, who could .. and did....easily go over our fence.

Now that BG knows he can escape, he might do it again.... Good luck!

[dwil23]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

YIKES! That was terrifying, I know. It always seems to help if a stranger happens on the scene. Either the dog is scared and runs back to it's owner, or greets the stranger who can then grab their collar if they are wearing one.

We used to have a small terrier that was an escape artist. It was a game to him. He would run ahead of me, stand there bouncing back and forth from his front feet to this back feet, just waiting for me to get within arms length and off he would go again. Repeat. Over and over. I would get so mad at him - but he was so darn cute at the same time.

Glad everything ended well for you all - it could have had been a very different end to the story.

[Iris Girl]

Re: Over the river and thru the woods to. . .

ugh how I remember those days when we had dogs . It was always 5am when you needed to go to work and the world was quiet . We would be running through the neighbor calling the dog who was bent on chasing some imaginary critter. I do not miss those days. No more dogs now we just have kitties.