Just went through a terrifying ordeal

[YorkieLove77]

Forgive me if this seems long-winded...I'm still shaking from what happened and still can't stop crying...

For the past 2 weeks there's been a cat that comes by and stalks my doorway crying every night, all night. I think my neighbor who moved abandoned it because I remember seeing an almost identical cat in their window sill. I contacted the humane society but they told me I'd need to catch it myself and bring it in, which is a problem in itself since whenever I open the door it runs off, but still within sight. Also, it dawned on me that if I do take it in, and it doesn't get adopted that it would be euthanized and I can't let that happen. I then contacted the no-kill shelters in my area and they all told me they're full. Well, I feel sorry for the cat so I figured I'd at least feed the poor thing as it's probably starving, so I've been feeding it tuna and giving it water daily now.

Well now I've opened up a whole new can of worms by feeding it as it's started scratching my door and JoJo has started to go crazy knowing there's a cat out there. So earlier tonight I scooped JoJo up in my arms and opened the door to shoo the cat away and somehow JoJo wriggled his way out of my grasp and ran after the cat!! OMG, the sheer terror I was in. They ran into this wooded area behind my building and he was gone. OMG I still can't stop crying. I walked around calling his name for over an hour. I even stopped and sat on the ground hoping he'd find me himself. I was beside myself thinking I'll never see him again.

An hour later I was mourning him terribly and I didn't know what else to do. Then I saw a black shadow and my heart lept in my throat thinking it was him, but it was the cat! Yet my beloved JoJo was still gone. I walked back to my front steps and sat there crying. I sat there for over half an hour because I refused to go inside knowing he was still out there!! Not to mention it was dark now and the thoughts in my head were tearing me apart. Then about 10 minutes later (almost 2 hours since he ran off)...I saw him walking around sniffing the ground about 100 feet away! I was still panicking because I know if I try to chase him he'll run, as he thinks it's a game. So, through my tears, panic, and prior agony, I playfully called his name as I ran in the opposite direction towards my front door and thank GOD he followed me!!!

He is now safe and sound again, but I am still a wreck. I can't stop shaking or crying. The thought of losing him wasn't what terrified me the most. It was the thought of what could happen to him out there...all alone. The most terrible thoughts entered my mind during those 2 hours.

He never ran off when he was younger, but the past couple months it seems like he wants to run out the door every chance he gets. I know tonight was a special circumstance since there was a cat right there, but he tries to run off all the time. He ran out once before but he was always within sight and only a few steps ahead of me, since his desire was to get to a piece of chicken outside my neighbor's door (slobs), and another time my mom let herself in and he bolted out but thankfully he loves to see my mom so he ran back inside after her. But nothing as terrifying as tonight. Please tell me someone...anyone...what can I do to stop him from running off? I've decided that rather than holding on to him (which apparently doesn't work!), I'm going to start putting him in another room when I need to open the door, but I also need to know what I can do to change this behavior. I'm a flight attendant and soon he'll be staying with a close friend of mine while I'm flying, but there's always people coming and going there. So now I'm petrified at the thought of leaving him there, or anywhere else for that matter.

[KimberlySRN]

I'm so glad he is okay. I would train him to sit nicely at the door until you tell him to go through. My BF had a cocker spaniel and we trained him to sit at the door before going through and he would only after we were through and we called him to come out.

[erickajm]

How scary! I am happy it all worked out to the positive. You will have to watch him now that he knows what freedom feels like. Glad to hear he is back home safely.

[flipflopsusie]

Happy to hear everything turned out ok, and your baby is back home safe and sound. I just think that some dogs try and run out the door every chance they get and some dont. Our last furbaby tried to bolt out everytime the door opened, and our two now don't. Sorry I dont have a solution for you, but glad your baby is safe.

[Zanders' mom]

Oooh my gosh girl! What a frightening ordeal. I would of done exactly what you did, cry my eyes out and pray for him to come.... It is always a good idea to lure the puppy with a squeeky toy, keep a small one in a pocket just in case. I would try a gate by the door if possible. I saw something like this on Cesars dog whisperer - have someone knock at the door, stay with the dog in an area not too far from the door, keep him engaged in playing, getting him to ignore the door. I have been trying this with Lexie and it has worked, now if the other 2 would also participate it would be nice . Cesar has had episodes that tackle this subject so perhaps there are copies of it on you tube or you can purchase his dvd.
One day Jazzie got away from me, my heart was in a panic, I tried to sound calm and told her, good girl come, sounded excited, good girl come, she came to me, oooh my gosh, was I shaking, she is a scary cat and anything noisy would have made her bolt. phew.

Good luck with your training.

[AddieLove]

I'm so glad you had a happy ending! I would have been just as frantic and devastated. I'm so so so thrilled that your pup came back.

Good luck with the training!

[YorkieLove77]

I think I've seen that episode on Cesar Millan. I love that show! I recently bought one of his books, so I'm going to be reading that very soon. The only thing is that JoJo is very hyper by nature, and still being a puppy it's hard to get him to calm down when his brain is focused on doing/getting something. I didn't want to put him in obedience classes since I thought I could train him myself, but I think I'm going to admit defeat and enroll him after all. He's my first yorkie, and I'm realizing that when they say yorkies are stubborn, boy are they right!

[YorkieOwned5]

I also have two that love to run out the door to greet company or strangers, if the door gets open out they go. Thank goodness we have screened in porches front and back. The are still puppies so we are still in the training mode. Just a thought, if you don't have time to get him trained before you fly out maybe you can use a narrow gate just inside the door, between the screen and main door. At least there would be a boundry to stop your baby. I know it would be inconvinent but safe.
God Bless...

[AbbysMom08]

OMG!!!!
How frightening is that. I think I would have reacted the same way.
I am so very happy that your little one is back home safe and sound.

[mimimomo]

How frightened you must've been! I would've been a train wreck! We have an ex-pen blocking the living room which leads to the front door. It's folded up & standing in three sections, it swings open so we can pass easily. This prevents Mimi & Momo from running out the front door.
I've had a scare once when Momo managed to wiggle through the ex-pen & when I opened the front door, he darted out! I ran out after him (which I shouldn't have done) & he kept running! I didn't know what to do. Luckily, my dad ran out & squatted down & called him (clapping his hands at the same time)...Momo came running to him!
After that, I double check every time I open the door, any door.

[mscat]

So glad that your baby came back! the cat may have led him directly back home!
One thing you may want to start doing is to harness him with a leash whenever you need to open your door, and then continue to train him to sit and stay when the door opens.
I am waiting for a screen door to be placed on my front door in my apartment building. We are living upstairs , and have a balcony. Suzi comes outside with me supervised , and does not ever go down the stairs. Thankfully, she is scared to.

[Tinksmum]

I'm so glad you got him back. In the last couple of years of her life, Tinkerbelle was prone to wandering off. Luckily I live in a village of about 20 houses and the neighbours brought her back when I was at my wits end...I think she was a bit senile! But your heart feels like it will not beat properly the whole time, doesn't it?!

I think you really have to work on training, you might need some help with this as there has to be a safety net should he run again. But he must learn that he can't go through the door without you, no matter what is goiong on....he should always follow you. It's very hard for them, I know as Belle is 16 weeks and she is just desperate to meet anyone and anything out the front. She is one of the most silent yorkies I know, but she cries to get out there when the door is open. Still, we make her wait and give copious treats when she does good.
I feel bad that I don't have a magic answer, I wish there were one! These critters take some braking to our whim!

[manolos mom]

Im so glad your baby is back. I make sure all of mine are behind the baby gate before I open the door. Good Luck to you

[roxies_mom]

I found this link and it looks to be very helpful. I also have trained Roxie that when I use the stay command she cannot come outside with me. I make sure she's back away from the door and understands that she can't come out with unless I say come on. You have to use a firm voice and let it be known you mean business.

Dog Tip: Teaching Dogs Not to Run Out the Door

[yorkiepaws]

It may not be the most attractive thing, but you could install a swing thru baby gate outside the front door. That way he can't just bolt. It gives you time to contain him before he can run off.