Today, I lost Jessy while bringing her for a walk in the Dukes Meadow, a park in Kilkenny. She does this thing of walking about 50 yards in front of me and glancing back every-so-often. But it's a twisty turny path with other paths veering off at different points.
Anyways, she was gone. No sign of her. Did not come when whistled. Just gone.
At first I wasn't worried and kept walking on the notion she would find me rather than me finding her. But nope, no sign of her.
I decided to check if she was back at the car. A good mile from where she went missing. And there she was, I was so relieved.
Little brat. And a smart little brat at that.
Anyways, she was gone. No sign of her. Did not come when whistled. Just gone.
At first I wasn't worried and kept walking on the notion she would find me rather than me finding her. But nope, no sign of her.
I decided to check if she was back at the car. A good mile from where she went missing. And there she was, I was so relieved.
Little brat. And a smart little brat at that.
Oh my goodness! My stomach just sank, reading the title and the first sentence. I'm so glad she found herself! They are something. Smart for sure, and you wonder sometimes if it's on purpose.
ReplyDeleteNot ever having off leash dogs, I've never had the run ahead experience like a lot of dogs do - they're always right by my side on the lease. Koho, my dog before Rigby, sometimes liked to mosey out the gate or door and as soon as we'd notice it turned into a game. She'd let us get just close enough to almost grab her then she'd take off again, looking back like "ha ha ha!" I always got nervous as she got closer to the main roads. After awhile when she did that, I'd go get the car rather than chase, drive near her, open up the back and she'd jump right in because she loved the car more than the game. :). Rigby doesn't do that game, which is a good thing because she doesn't like he car either. So they definitely know what they're doing, at least to some extent.
What a relief!!
To be honest I don't know what caused her to go back to the car. But I've a few thoughts. There was guys running in a pack and perhaps she missed my scent. But followed it back to the car. But wasn't she the smart one to stay around the car knowing that was the fixed point. I know that she's in the darn thing at least twice a day and gets walks in many different places.
DeleteOf course it was utterly my fault. Usually when I go into that park there are very very few people, where yesterday the place was packed since I was later than usual and didn't' make proper allowances for her.
I'm amazed Rigby dislikes the car.
Yah, it could have been that extra activity made her lose her bearings a bit, or at least distracted her enough to lose sight of you. It's got to be relief to know that she can/will manage to return to you even if that happens. Aren't hounds known for their noses?!?! :)
DeleteRigby hasn't been a fan of the car since bringing her home that first day as a puppy. She even got sick her first two times. My theory is that she either gets car sick or had a bad experience being thrown out of/abandoned from a car when she was young as she and her brother were found on their own in the desert. She literally cowers when the door is lowered, closing her in. It's sad. She's gotten much better in that I don't have to lift her in anymore when I say, "ya wanna go for a ride?" She does get excited. The excitement wanes a bit once faced with jumping in, but she does relax some once the door is closed. It is a bummer though because I'd take Koho everywhere with me as long as it wasn't too hot. Rigby only goes if needed.
If I'm foostering about, but with my boots on, the easiest thing to do with Jessy is to open the boot of the car and let her in. It'll keep her quite for a good half hour. One thing about her though is she isn't fond of pavements/sidewalk 's in towns when there's lots about. So she ends up guarding the car while I'm away. And I've seen her let people know they're way too close by letting rip.
DeleteBut for your point of view doing that in your heat would be utterly impossible, and you'd have to bring her where ever you were going.
That is a gut-wrenching feeling of not knowing. Glad Jessy knew the way back home (via the car)
ReplyDeleteJeepers yes. It was a slower boil though than if it was ones kid. I'd say forgetting ones kid in the shop or anywhere would send stroke causing spikes in the terror levels.
DeleteIf I had a dollar for every minutes I spent looking for my dog over the years, I would be a darn sight richer. Sometimes I found him and other times he just made it home on his own. But I never stopped worrying until he made it back. Glad to hear Jessie made it back.
ReplyDeleteBeyond a few times, Jessy hasn't been bad overall. Of course I live in a country area and stray's running about wouldn't be tolerated at all.
DeleteOh, man... my heart dropped when I saw this in my reader. I was trying to work my way through posts in order, but had to click on this immediately. I'm SO glad she went back to the car! I don't even know the scamp in real life, but my heart was racing as I read your entry!
ReplyDeleteOne of those times you want to scold them and hug them all at the same time. ;)
The fear as a slow burn.
DeleteAnd yes, I was in two minds about scolding her, but I didn't, I made a big fuss over her. And then brought her back into the park to finish the walk. She was so hot she ran into a stream to cool herself after she settled.