Reformed Cairn Terrier?

[Brianne_Kathrine]

Benny will run away whenever the opportunity presents itself. He has bolted out the front door a few times and dug out of my fence once. Yesterday when I came home I let my dogs out as I normally do. For some reason I decided to follow them outside instead of watch from the window. Yesterday during the day the gas company came to read my meter and did not close the gate. So, Benny the escape artist quickly saw his opportunity for freedom and headed toward the open gate. I saw the open gate and screamed Benny's name so loud that he dropped to the snow and flipped on his back. I then very firmly instructed him to come. He was slow about coming, but he marched over to me. I then closed the gate.

This is a first for Benny. He knows come, but the command come is overshadowed by the idea of going on a little run through the neighborhood. He has NEVER come when making an escape. I guess Benny has become a reformed Cairn Terrier.

Interesting to note...Sally would never try to escape. She doesn't slip out the front door and when Benny dug out of the fence she was the one who came to get me.

[josie&holly]

Hope he got a treat for being a good boy?

[Brianne_Kathrine]

He got so many treats for being a good boy. Let's hope he is noticing a pattern: be a good boy, get a treat.

[Nena]

I to have an escape artist when she gets free she runs and runs and I panic and scream running after her. (I look like a nut) but her last chance to get free (by a door that was not closed good) she chose to bark let us know and come back inside! Maybe they are getting older (Nena is almost 3) and finally realize just how good they have it. Hope Benny keeps up the good work.

[rallycairn]

Congratulations! That was quite a temptation that Benny turned away from! GOOD BOY!

[JudyJ]

My Bobbi is an escape artist too. He will jump up and climb over a fence or just take off for new Country whenever the desire strikes him. Tody we went for a long walk on our property 100 acres and after we got away from the house I thought I would let him off his leash so he could run with our big dog Toby. Well he was such an angel, he stuck close to us all the time we were out, and came every time I called him. I'm hoping he is also turned over a new leaf, it would be so nice to be able to walk in the bush without having to have him on a leash. He sure can't get much exercise on a leash can he.

Me and Bobbi Magee

[Brianne_Kathrine]

It is certainly my hope that as Benny gets older he will decide that escaping is not worth the effort. He turned three last month. In the past year has has mellowed considerably, so lets hope that he is deciding that he has it too good at home to run away.

At the current time I would never dream of letting Benny off a leash for even a second. However, if he keeps up the good work, I might give it a test run in the future. How do you test this without risking that they just bolt off completely? I am thinking about taking him to the local dog park (its huge) and testing his obience with coming back when I call for him.

[carolinaila09]

paisley almost escaped today. i about had a heart attack because of it.

i had taken her outside because my fiance and i were going to a friends house to watch the daytona 500. i had left her on her leash when we got inside so i could take her to her crate without playing the chasing game. well my fiance didnt realize so he unhooked her leash while the door was still open. she bolted out the door but i screamed her name and she turned around and came back inside looking at us like "what did i do??" i was amazed! shes never out without a leash because i fear she would never come back! i was, like you were, very relieved!!

i think taking him to the dog park, where he cant really escape would be a good test. when ours opens up next spring, ill look forward to trying it out with paisley. she will be almost 2 at that point.

[Nena]

Even though mine did not escape when she could have to still would never trust her off leash. The first rabbit or squirrel I know she would bolt. When we are around the yard I keep her on a 30 foot leash so she does have some freedom but I know I can get to her if I need to.

[MacFluff]

What a good boy. Benny is a good dog and deserves extra belly rubs -- and treats.

That happened to me once only the gas man left it open while I was at work. Now, we keep a chain and lock around it.

Good boy, Benny.