A very narrow escape tonight!
 

Tonight we went on our usual beach walk about 2 miles return, most of it on the sands as the sun sets and it's quiet. After we drop down to the sea shore, I release Crystal from her extending lead and she runs to her hearts content, while Dad rides 'shotgun' for aggressive larger mutts etc. We had our usual trip and were approaching the steps up from the beach, about 400 yards before home. She normally strides up them two at a time and waits for me to put her lead back on again. Tonight she just flew off and I gave chase, terrified she'd run all the way home, across a busy road! Fortunately someone saw her bolt and me hobbling as best I could to get her, shouting for her to come back!

This 'Samaritan' came down a flight of steps from the upper sea front parade and bent down calling her. She slowed and I went to sit on a bench slightly out of vision, but calling her. She eventually came to me thank God and I connected her lead. Our new friend has two Yorkies himself and knew just what to do, how lucky was that, as she was no further than 100 yards from the road and out of sight and sound when he intervened? We both thought a 'Garbage truck, with flashing lights and noisily collecting from the beach bins may have freaked her? It was right at the top of the steps as she ran up from the beach and was cranking up a trolley-bin into it's retaining basket at the time? It's now three hours on and my system is still elevated from the stress of the incident and my imagination racing at what might have been?

She has always obeyed the call 'come here' - the first thing I taught her as it saved my other dog's life once.

Sadly I feel now too worried to let her off again, until she's a bit older maybe (8 months presently)?

Thank goodness for the other Yorkie owner!! What a scare!!!!

Oh my goodness, I'm glad the other person was able to catch her! I would continue to work on the 'come' command before letting her back off again.

Yikes...sadly, this happens more often than you think....everyday someone's dog who once obeyed runs off and disregards the command come...sadly everyday someone loses a pet this way. I'm very happy you were able to get your baby back, I would get a longer lead for now....Thank goodness and I hope you soon are able to relax.

e.t.a. Yeah your baby is still a wee one, give it time just keep working on it....I'm so sorry this happened, I can't imagine the fear....

So glad you're both okay! This is exactly why mine are only off leash in the yard. My heart can't take that kind of stress.

Whew! Scarey!

We took Huey to a dog friendly beach last year. So I was laying out at waters edge and Huey finds a place in the gate of this dog friendly house we are in and comes flying down the beach to greet me. All is good...until he decides to run down the beach away from me to explore. He has now forgotten his name and I don't have the ol standby of a treat bag to shake to get him back. Dh has gone to the store. I am panicking as he runs faster. I see 2 women way down the beach and he is headed right for them, so I hollered "catch him!!!!!". TG, they did and carried him back to me. That was when they told me about birds of prey and why he should never be off leash since he was little enough to be carried off. :eek: Whew...
I will never let him off leash in public again.
I certainly understand your fear as Crystal ran off. Thank goodness you got her back safe and sound. :D

I will never let my Yorkie or any small dog off leash in an unsecured area. To many bigger animals can hurt them or they could just get stolen. Moki will come 99% on the time called. The 1% he didn't could be deadly. A larger dog would be a different story JMO

Thanks Joyce,

At least Dogs do get humans interacting, it's another 'face' I now know as Tom, who lives just around the corner from me.;)

Absolutely, I have probably assumed too much too soon. My wife was quite upset to see my state, when we got back.

"I vood have chase-sed her, but for you my darlingar it was weddy difficult yes!" (she's russian).

Being an Ex Olympic silver medallist, in the Womans 4 x 100 meter relay, she'd probably have caught her too, despite being in her mid fifties! :D

Thanks for the reply. I do have a much longer spool lead, and I'll use it for the beach. Other times the 3 meter ones adequate just in case the new breed of macho cyclists come flying past deliberately trying to scare all dog owners by passing within inches of the poor creatures.:mad:

Thanks so much. I'm probably too sensitive, but my heart rate shot up and at 67, the last thing I want is a coronary or a stroke, better safe than sorry?;)

Yes and I'm still uneasy five hours on.:eek:

the most important thing is you are both ok.. and a lesson learned.

I have had a yorkie pup slip out of a harness (it was my grand dog) and totally paniced-- so I understand some of what you were going through

I love the typed accent:D It made me smile. I can hear it exactly!

Thanks Marilyn,

I can imagine now, your predicament too. When 'Crystal' returned home and was interrogated by the 'KGB' (Mrs Doc), she looked as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth! No point shouting, she just didn't realize the possible repercussions. It's really taught me a lesson, neither of us could imagine our lives now without her and from now on security (which I'm quite good at) is going to be firmly applied. Trouble is we both love the look of happiness on her little face as she runs and jumps like a spring lamb. Perhaps a large open field, strange to her may be safer, but only when she comes first time every time, A friend of mine has a Border Collie 'Robby' who stays with us sometimes, when his Masters away. This dog has a Ph.D, I'm sure, he's so smart. He also has a 'Dog Whistle' and one brief toot (which I can hardly discern) brings him straight back, from great distances. He also has 8 other command signals too! Perhaps I'll try one for our little girl, just for reveille! I honoured apparently as he won't stay with any other human, without his master. A very good way for sleeping beside me at nights I think!:)

Two very good points, I'm always on the look out for big dogs, even when she's on the leash, as so many owners today cannot control their pets. The stealing thing I'd not thought about - until now!:lightbulb scary - but thanks...

Also perhaps a case for a Microchip - do they represent a risk to the dog having them inserted?

Im gald she is ok

Alot of big dog owners always think there dogs don't "bite". But a nip to a little one can kill. Microchip is okay and if you dog ever get pick up they will call you if you keep it updated = vet or pound. If stolen its proof of owner.

I also love the look of joy when Huey can run free, but so far that only place that is allowed is my parents fenced in yard (1 1/2 hr from where I live) because although he could escape from their wrought iron fence, he won't because of their 2 cavaliers that he likes to play with. I let him out in the street with their dogs once (deserted area, only house, dead end road, no tradfic) and when their dogs came back, mine went searching for more excitement towards a more populated area. He is a brat that can't be trusted, so he has NO off-leash privileges. Good luck with your training! It may very well help having another dog to assist. ;)

I'm so glad you little girl is safe. There are just too many occasions that can arise unexpectedly to let a little one off lead. Even people who have very well trained obedience dogs will not let their dogs off lead unless in a controlled area. A small animal like a squirrel is enough to tempt any dog and strange, unexpected noises can spook them.

As the young ones get older they become more inclined to investigate thingsl. As they get braver they are more inclined to unexpected behaviors. Maybe your little girl is not ready for off lead privileges.

Gracie is not 3 years old and is well trained on leash and off but I would never take the risk of letting her off lead outside our home. There are just too many things that can distract or even frighten her.

I am so glad she is safe. It is tough. Some of the most well trainer dogs can get spooked.

You could perhaps use a long training line, they can be 50 feet long, or any length you want, strong, but light depending what you use. Then Crystal could still enjoy a run on the beach, but you'd have control.
Caleb has a line, that's thinner than a pencil but strong, he looks at it sometimes, but it's not stopped him running.

Glad your little one is safe, hope you feel better soon.

Again thanks, I'd only thought of her being found if lost? One day they'll create a misco-tracker too, perhaps?

Thank you, we'll give her a run with Robby, my friends Border Collie, next time he visits, they get on really well together and he 'rounds her up' when they're playin as well!:)

Done, but it's a phone app and the dog wears a collar...

Thanks,

She's a high spirited little creature, 'hyper active' for spells, then very happy to crash out and sleep for an hour or so. She only runs more than 20 yards away from me when we're on the way home. Seems to get doubly excited at going back (she loves her home), but I'm afraid I won't be taking any chances again, at least for a long time. Its the 8 yard lead on the beach from now on.:(

I haven't mentioned this as I thought it might sound over the top, When we left yesterday, we have to cross the road and then immediately descend some 20 steps down to the lower parade by the beach. She always insists on needing a little 'pull' to start her down this wide and quite shallow concrete stairway. About halfway down yesterday her little harness - which is an under body velcro lap over became detached. I got one that was too small anyway (XXS) and in the 3 months she's been with us she's put on about a lb anyway and her coat is now 3 months fuller. I have another harness, but it's difficult for me to put on her when I'm alone as my right arm and hand are paralysed. So she slipped off, but came straight to me and I re-velcroed the tab tightly. Perhaps a premonition for me that I failed to recognize brrrrrr?

The Harness has now had an extension sewn on to make sure it fits properly, but I'm going to use the securer 'clip together' alternate whenever my wife's around to fit it...

The smaller one is a good little harness, just a bit too small for a growing girl, (picture attached).

Amazing, but could well be worth it after last nights scare - thank you!:cool:

Thank you for this suggestion. I did try that quite early on in our relationship. Trouble is, being essentially 'one handed' due to my disability it was very difficult to handle. I'm going to try the 7 meter spool lead tonight as an experiment anyway.