Escaping? in Springer behaviour Forum

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Escaping?

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Wyrd

Escaping?

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Posts: 90

Mar 21 12 3:11 PM

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Last week Harry got out of the garden and I spent a couple of hours looking for him, and I have just had someone knock on the door to bring him back again!
He managed to break a hole in our screen fence behind the shed and push past the fencing behind it.

I am really perplexed to what he keeps escaping? He gets exercise, he gets food and he seems happy enough, he's a rescue and has been with us for about 18 months, he was found as a stray, why would he suddenly want to escape? :-(

We have just been making so much progress with him as well, his recall has got so much better, it was non existent when he came to us.

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Conkersmum

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Extreme Springaholic

Posts: 3121

Mar 21 12 5:09 PM

Bitch in season close by maybe? Onset of spring with lots of bunnies and phessies about?

Easier to dog proof the garden or not let him in there alone than figure out why

www.syessr.co.uk

SummerSue

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Extreme Springaholic

Posts: 1965

Mar 21 12 6:25 PM

my garden has 6ft fencing all the way round otherwise I think she would be off and come back at her own leisure. Garden proof is the answer and save on the stress.

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Summer born June 2010.
RIP Whisper 1993 - 2005
RIP Snoopy - 1992 - 2008
RIP Shandy 2005 - 2010
All at Rainbow Bridge.

Wyrd

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Posts: 90

Mar 21 12 7:43 PM

The garden has 6ft+ wooden and wall fencing all around apart from the small area behind the shed which has 6ft screen fencing, he made a hole halfway up through the fencing and then got past the fence behind it to get out. (I've been home checked by a rescue and they deemed the fencing suitable).

I was finishing my coffee in the house and it was only about 10 mins I hadn't looked out, I usually check every few mins and the door to the house was open.

Conkersmum

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Extreme Springaholic

Posts: 3121

Mar 21 12 9:28 PM

Sounds perfect - but he can obviously get out of the screen fence bit, so Id get that fixed like the rest. They can have tons of exercise but if there is something on the other side of the fence that they take a fancy to then there would be no stopping them.

www.syessr.co.uk

Heather P

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Extreme Springaholic

Posts: 4118

Mar 21 12 9:46 PM

As Jo said it could be a bitch in season (is he entire?) but could just be he's found out he can

Heather
& Jack & Bella (my supurb Springers)
& Ginger & Kitty (my perfect pussy cats)
& Andy (OH)

www.syessr.co.uk
South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue

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Wyrd

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Posts: 90

Mar 21 12 10:31 PM

He's neutered. No bunnies running free unless one of the neighbours has one in their garden?

The screen fencing has been patched but will be redone when I can.

I can understand why he might have been a stray now.

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fraggle

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Extreme Springaholic

Posts: 6490

Mar 21 12 10:59 PM

Techie Mod

Liam's escaped a few time after neighbours cats. We have 5 foot fencing all round with extra kick boards at the bottom, he dug under!

Now there's mesh underneath too, as well as trellising along the top near any object that might be jump-able off. Yes, its a lot like fort knox, but still he tries, I don't think he likes us!

SpringersRwonderful

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Springaholic

Posts: 642

Mar 22 12 12:32 AM

Hi
They are Springers they are bred to push in to cover and search the ground its in their blood. His instict is driving him and he is doing it because he can. Doesn't mean he likes you any less he is just being a Springer

Liz

toro

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Springaholic

Posts: 110

Mar 23 12 2:12 PM

One of my dogs is a rescue who was a stray and is also an escape artist. In our last house we had a 6 ft fence all the way round but he still kept escaping. It turns out he had found a way through the fence behind the compost bin. We would find him in next doors house eating her dogs food! Then another time he was in the garden awfully quiet and i went out to check and he was halfway under the fence having dug a hole - I just managed to grab him by the legs before he wriggles his way through! I dont think there is anything that triggers it - he just feels the need to break free.

It isnt only our garden though - any enclosed area where we take him he always does what I call "a security check" to see if there is anywhere he can escape from. I couldnt even attempt to second guess why he is like this - I accept his quirks and he does make us laugh but it also means that we are very wary of any so-called enclosed area. Our other springer has no interest in trying to leave the garden. We have moved house and our garden is secure enough now that I can happily leave him in the garden for periods of time unattended.

It is frustrating I know - but you learn to accept it and work with it.

caseysmum

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Posts: 74

Mar 23 12 3:52 PM

My lovely Casey,

now at the bridge, would escape from ANYWHERE. He once got out of a military dog kennel, which the USAF deemed totally secure, because he objected STRONGLY to being "trapped"

. He would use a dog cage but only if the door was open. If we dared to shut it he would wreck the cage.

But he was OK as long as we didnt try to keep him in

He was safe behind a 4ft fence in the garden which he could easily jump. In fact he had jumped it "to prove he could!" ( it only leads to the back bit of our garden so he would have been safe there - though I dont know how safe our chickens would have been long term!)

It was like a contract "I dont escape if you trust me to stay!!"

I dont half miss him!!

toro

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Springaholic

Posts: 110

Mar 23 12 3:57 PM

QUOTE (caseysmum @ March 23, 2012 03:52 pm)

He would use a dog cage but only if the door was open. If we dared to shut it he would wreck the cage.

Strangely - Ollie loves his crate and cant wait to run into it when we go out or at night. - go figure!

He would also jump the 4ft fence into the back half of our garden but never jump back. He only went one way and you had to open the gate to let him back in! Likewise - if he sees a wall or fence when we're on our walks he has to jump it or go through it but wont come back over it !

Auntie Katie

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Extreme Springaholic

Posts: 2022

Mar 23 12 7:27 PM

Timmy hasn't made any effort to get out of the back garden (but think he would if the opportunity arose.)

He has gone out of the front door (jumping over the gate) and shot off up the road several times.

He has a non negotiable no-stop policy down the park if he should ever not be on his lead! Although this is improving.

Despite all these attempts I don't feel that he is trying to run away - he almost seems suprised that I'm not running a long and crawling through the undergrowth with him - I'm normally collapsed on the floor after running about 3 steps or am crying my eyes out by the time somebody does catch up with him!

"We must face tomorrow, whatever it may hold, with determination, joy and bravery!"

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