Crisis Averted and Lessons Learned

[SueinPgh]

I had a picnic yesterday and Pippin was in the house as I was getting things ready. There is a sliding screen door out to the deck, a gate at the top of the deck stairs and a fence gate out to the back alley. I was coming out the door and saw my neighbor holding Pippin and thought she came for a visit. (Pippin always has play dates with her Bilbo) But she said she found Pippin in front of her house when she happened to look out the window and saw her. Pippin got out of the door and both gates as people were coming in and out. My neighbor lives 1/2 block away and faces a busy street. Thank God she looked out her window. Pip has all her tags on a halter because she got her jaw stuck in a collar and I've had to cut it out a couple of times.

Lesson one - She is Getting Used to a Collar, no matter what. I'm going to take it off while I'm at work, but while I'm here - she is wearing it. It is pretty quiet with just the two of us, but if she ever gets out, I want people who find her to know how to get a hold of me. She has a Home Again Chip and tag as well as rabies and our local Allegheny County Tag.

Lesson Two-she gets put upstairs when there is company in and out of the house and I'm busy with other guests. Or she gets put on a leash with someone in charge of her.

Also my neighbor gets a big huge bouquet of flowers for looking up just at the right time (or a generous donation to the local animal shelter in her name)

I am so thankful Pip is here laying at my feet today because of her. And I have definitely learned my lessons.

[Maximo]

Oh no! I'm relieved to hear Pippin is safe and sound. Very scary!

We have baby gates to keep the boys away from the doors, and xpens lining the deck. I'm still nervous when we have visitors. Can never be too careful with these little, sneaky Yorkies! Max got past me and onto the deck one night. I had no idea he was outside. Thank goodness for the xpens!

[Lovetodream88]

Yikes, scary! Glad she was ok.

[SueinPgh]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Oh no! I'm relieved to hear Pippin is safe and sound. Very scary!

We have baby gates to keep the boys away from the doors, and xpens lining the deck. I'm still nervous when we have visitors. Can never be too careful with these little, sneaky Yorkies! Max got past me and onto the deck one night. I had no idea he was outside. Thank goodness for the xpens!

Yes I'm always looking around for Pip...especially at night. She is a shadow that I have to look hard for...

[matese]

That was a close call, glad everything turned out well and Pippin is fine, these lil rascals are so darn fast. She's a lil cutie.

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh my gosh - SCARY!! So happy it all worked out !

Yes - get a collar again. The reason she has gotten her jaw stuck before is due to improper fitting. With small dogs, you only want to be able to just get a finger btwn the collar and neck (vs. 2 fingers w/ large dogs).

[yavenay]

That has definitely happened to me once.....had some work being done all the house and the workers left the garage door open. The door to the garage was left cracked open as well and out Miss Thing went. Fortunately she didn't go to far and I was able to get her.

I don't know how much this helps, but I think because I walk my little one everyday in all different directions she is able to find her way home. She knows our immediate neighborhood very well not to mention all of my neighbors know who she is and who she belongs too. I also taught her not to cross the street unless I give her the command. I'm not sure if any of these things help but I do take some comfort in knowing that if she gets out accidentally, she can find her way back home hopefully.


Whenever I have a house full of people, she stays in her expen in my bedroom with the bedroom door closed. I'm so glad everything turned out okay.....it is definitely scary. I went into panic mode when I realized my little one was not in the house.

[canana]

Wow that's SO scary! Really glad to hear that she was safe and that your neighbor found her!!

[Yorkiemom1]

I love it when a potentially disasterous story, turns into a very helpful, lesson learned event! This is the kind of situation that has turned out wonderfully for all of you! .....and you have learned and will benefit from very important facts!

As far as collars go, I use break away cat collars on my yorkies.....I have had a yorkie almost hang himself wearing a collar, so from then on, I took all collars off! If and when I put a collar on my babies, I use cat collars, so if they do get hung on something, they will break open before the struggling dog hangs itself or chokes to death.

My home is fenced and crossed fenced....all doors are blocked by at least two sets of baby gates that must be accessed....I do not have alot of company because of the dogs.....family get togethers are at other family members homes, so we do not spend all our time herding kids away from my dogs! There are no "kid friendly" activities in my yard, young loud children running wildly throughout my home make me a nervous wreck and drive my dogs nuts, so family get togethers are held elsewhere! On the few occasions when groups of people were here at my home, dogs were secluded in my bedroom.....

Prior to letting my babies out every morning or anytime at all actually, I round the entire yard to be absolutely certain nothing has dug under the fence...that makes a great tunnel for yorkies to escape from the yard...been there, done that!

I am thrilled it all worked out so well for you and your baby! Great ending to a scary story, with tons of beneficial lessons learned/realized!

[Jkpal]

I totally understand about lessons learned and truly believe (from my own experience) that God does provide miracles. When you think of everything that could have gone wrong during Pippin's escapade--from being hit by car to being taken by someone....Phew, so sincerely happy for you and your social little girl and thank God in Heaven above for your observant neighbor---A HUGE BOUQUET, for sure!

[Shicks]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

I love it when a potentially disasterous story, turns into a very helpful, lesson learned event! This is the kind of situation that has turned out wonderfully for all of you! .....and you have learned and will benefit from very important facts!

As far as collars go, I use break away cat collars on my yorkies.....I have had a yorkie almost hang himself wearing a collar, so from then on, I took all collars off! If and when I put a collar on my babies, I use cat collars, so if they do get hung on something, they will break open before the struggling dog hangs itself or chokes to death.

My home is fenced and crossed fenced....all doors are blocked by at least two sets of baby gates that must be accessed....I do not have alot of company because of the dogs.....family get togethers are at other family members homes, so we do not spend all our time herding kids away from my dogs! There are no "kid friendly" activities in my yard, young loud children running wildly throughout my home make me a nervous wreck and drive my dogs nuts, so family get togethers are held elsewhere! On the few occasions when groups of people were here at my home, dogs were secluded in my bedroom.....

Prior to letting my babies out every morning or anytime at all actually, I round the entire yard to be absolutely certain nothing has dug under the fence...that makes a great tunnel for yorkies to escape from the yard...been there, done that!

I am thrilled it all worked out so well for you and your baby! Great ending to a scary story, with tons of beneficial lessons learned/realized!

Yorkiemom's, you & I are on the same page when it comes to company & kids. Makes me a nervous wreck also. Ha! Would rather not go there.

[Bamboo15]

So scary! Glad she is ok! Things like this always worry me, especially since one of mine would run out the door given the chance. My other one, who generally doesn't run out the door and stays at my feet, almost went right through the bars of the deck the other day when he was growling at the guys who came to mow the lawn. I didn't even think he could fit through there! He was half way through. I screamed and he backed right up. Fortunately he listens. My other one would keep running if he got out.

[Jkpal]

Originally Posted by Bamboo15

So scary! Glad she is ok! Things like this always worry me, especially since one of mine would run out the door given the chance. My other one, who generally doesn't run out the door and stays at my feet, almost went right through the bars of the deck the other day when he was growling at the guys who came to mow the lawn. I didn't even think he could fit through there! He was half way through. I screamed and he backed right up. Fortunately he listens. My other one would keep running if he got out.

These little ones sometimes remind me of cats insofar as their ability to wiggle through spaces one wouldn't think possible. Combine that with the Yorkie determination and yeeha...Piper pushed her way through a small, narrow "soft spot" in the front screen door (who da thunk?!), but thank goodness she came trotting over to me instead of bee-lining toward the street as she has done in the past. Ever vigilant takes on a whole new significance for me since my Piper arrived---and I don't mind a bit! She keeps me sharp, my girl does....!

[chestermama]

glad she is safe and sound

[SueinPgh]

Originally Posted by yavenay

That has definitely happened to me once.....had some work being done all the house and the workers left the garage door open. The door to the garage was left cracked open as well and out Miss Thing went. Fortunately she didn't go to far and I was able to get her.

I don't know how much this helps, but I think because I walk my little one everyday in all different directions she is able to find her way home. She knows our immediate neighborhood very well not to mention all of my neighbors know who she is and who she belongs too. I also taught her not to cross the street unless I give her the command. I'm not sure if any of these things help but I do take some comfort in knowing that if she gets out accidentally, she can find her way back home hopefully.


Whenever I have a house full of people, she stays in her expen in my bedroom with the bedroom door closed. I'm so glad everything turned out okay.....it is definitely scary. I went into panic mode when I realized my little one was not in the house.

Yes from now on she goes upstairs in my room. Completely my fault for just assuming she would be fine. When I go out the gate, she runs back away from it and she saw a great opportunity with an open gate standing open for a long period of time.