Chloe is my little escape artist! I Need Help
 

I was just bragging a month ago about chloe never bolting out the front door :rolleyes: . Well now she does! SHe is so fast I dont even see her do it!
Even in the house when I open the bedroom door I will only open it just enough for me to slip through and then I will try to quickly and cautiously shut it to keep her from running in and then I will turn around and she will be right there inside the room looking at me with complete satisfaction because she made it into the room. And I think "how the heck did she get by me?" Its like she is magic or something. Well inside the house is fine but when she runs out the front door to greet people it scares the crap out of me. My husband came home one day and she ran out and he didnt even know it. I freaked out because I couldnt find her and after 15 minutes of searching all over the house it finally dawned on me she could have ran out (this was the first time it ever happened so it took me awhile to get to that conclusion) and sure enough I found her outside playing with some neighbors accross the street. Well I dont know these people very well and they could have very well stolen her. Im so lucky they didnt becuase I swear they were eyeing her like they wanted to keep her. Well needless to say we got a baby gate for our front entry way. It has been wonderful and seemed to work beautifully all week. However this morning I walked outside with my husband and when I came back in she was on the other side of the babygate right by the front door!! :eek: I DO NOT understand how she did it. The baby gate only has like 3 inch openings(criss cross pattern). So now Im worried shes gonna try it again and get stuck!

If I buy the little plastic mesh to cover the baby gate do you think this will be safe? Im so worried :(

LOL...at "its like she is Magic or something!".....That is a cute story....


Francie

Is she a climber? If she is the mesh won't work. We put in a half door when Princess was a baby, because I didn't know if she was a climber, and was afraid she would get hurt. My Husband owns a construction company so it was easy for him to do. If they want out they will find a way. Maybe your Husband can put a half door in for you, they can't climb up it. Good luck to you. :)

I know how scary it is to have one sprint out the front door! Sounds like covering it with mesh would solve the problem, if you're sure that she went through the bars, and didn't climb over it.

She may not be going through the holes. We had the same issue with Annie and her baby gate. We had construction workers doing stuff in the house and I didn't want her running around in the house yet I didn't want to lock her up in a room, so I though well maybe I can just put her in one room and put the gate on the door so she could see through. Well everyday she still would manage to get through. So one day I just waited long enough to see how the escape artist was doing her tricks. Well she definately wasn't jumping over the gate. She just worked really hard to the pull the gate back from one end so she could squeeze through. It wasn't big enough for me to tell, but I suppose it was big enough for her :rolleyes:

So I would suggest sit there for a little see what she does to get out. Entice her with a toy or a treat if she doesn't do it on her own. And see if you can't close off her "new exit" :D

And the second suggestion would be that you and your husband both teach her the stay command. Annie was a total door bolter. Still does it, but if we tell her to stay as we are opening the door, she does listen. It takes awhile, but hopefully she will catch on.... Everyday when I go to get the mail she doesn't even attempt to go out the door. :D Now that's progress :D

OK, that's not good.....but that story mademe laugh! lol The mesh is great for something like that. So long as she doesn't chew on it that would work great.

So far I dont think she is a climber as she wont even attempt to climb up on the bed. But I honesly have no idea how she got on the other side of the babygate. I assumed she somehow squeezed thru the little holes although I dont see how, but now Im afriad if she can, then she might get stuck and panic and really hurt herself. I guess I should take a picture of the gate and maybe that would help- the holes arent that big but chloe is small.

I was still half asleep when this happened this morning and now I almost wonder if I was carrying her and put her down on the other side. I 95% doubt that I did that but I really just dont see how else she got over there.

I was at my sister-in -laws and she has a baby gate and lottie just squeased her way through at the end next to the wall as it was slightly wider than he other bars, but looking at it you never think she could get her head through it but she did!

Very cute story.

I'd first try mesh minimum of 12 inches hight w/velcro. If that does not work you can always go with a babygate that is more dense.

Here is a link to same babgate I use for Rocky & Daisy:

http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com...rchedProduct=t

Cost is only $12.95 and they always seem to keep stock of these in the store.

I use these in the laundry room where they sleep. This way they never have to feel they are behind closed doors.

Hey Shana, When Vivi was a baby she kept getting out of her Xpen. It was 24 inches high and she was really tiny. She is not a climber either and to this day will not jump on the couch unless aided by a stepping stool. Anyway, I decided to hide and see how she was doing it and the little rat climbed to the top and then hurled herself to the floor. She sat there a second and then was so pleased with herself. I know you are dealing with a baby gate but maybe you can put another one above the one you have.Not exactly House Beautiful but at least Chloe will be safe. We ended up with a 36 inch xpen and she never attempted to climb that one. Hope you find a solution soon. :aimeeyork

Our Bandit was only 2 pounds and he could climb the gate like it was nothing! You would be surprised what they can do. I don't have any advise for you we are going through the same thing with Tucker. lately if I say "Don't you dare" and I open the door he'll sit back and watch me. But, I worry when someone else opens the door. (My sons friends always hold the screen door open and knock on the door, then when I go to open the door I have to yell at them to close the screen door!)

My Pom was a climber big time. She would get over the six foot fence with no problem. And the mesh or wired baby gates were a snap for her to get over. So when I got Gus I went and got 2 of the First Years all clear swing gates. The only problem is they are not like the other baby gates that you can move around where ever you need it. You have to drill it into the wall. I do alot of baby sitting and I have my niece here so it does come in handy to keep them from wandering around the house.

:D haaaa haaa chloe is a magician :) sorry she keeps baffling you.

Rosi done that to me a few times also ! Scared thee heck out of me !