Natural barriers?

[Dempsy's Mom]

It sprinkled out so Demps and I took a nice long nap on the couch together. Bad thing is that Demps got up before me and when he jumped off he must of sprained his leg. Just a slight limp, but that didn't stop us from taking a little walk outside.

He goes right through all the wet tall grass. Now this brings me to my question. If I go to the cities with Demps and we go to my daughters dog park - they have natural barriers, no fences - is that a worry with Cairns or are they to busy with the other dogs they don't explore in the grasses? I haven't taken Demps to a park without a fence.

Isn't he cute with his little wet hairs? Oh, those wet grass are fun!

[Lynn in TN]

He is very cute with his wet hair.

[pindrop]

If this was my dog there is no way I would let her/him loose with no boundaries - other dogs or no other dogs. You would only have to lose him once and you would be heartbroken along with the rest of us. Always better to be safe than sorry. Also because Demps is used to his own territory, you have no way of knowing how he would react in a different environment. I hope you will think twice about letting him free. I hope I don't sound too strong on this issue but knowing Layla and what she might do having freedom, I really don't trust her instincts to return home should she ever get loose.

He is always a cutie - wet face or not. You have a very handsome dog.

[kjwarnold]

No fence, no loose dog is our rule. I don't know what we'd do if we lost one of our boys and since neither is 100% reliable, it's a leash for them. Been thinking about that a lot lately because we're hearing terrible stories of people in Joplin who can't find their dogs after the tornado.

[finncaraid]

AWWWWWWW! Ain't he cute with his sweet little wet face! I, too, would be concerned with a loose Cairn. They're so curious & love to explore so much I'd be concerned he might take off for parts unknown. And being in a new place, he wouldn't know how to get back to where he needs to be. But you'd be better able to predict Dempsey's reaction best. How does he respond in new situations & how confident a boy is he?? Will he look to you as his safety net or is he an explorer? I know that even a fence won't stop a quick, determined Cairn but at least it slows them down. As far as natural barriers, that wouldn't deter our crazy little guy. And you know how quick a Cairn can be getting thru a small, tight space on their belly. Another question would be does he come to you immediately when called? Does he stop when you tell him to? And how familiar is he with streets & traffic? I know how tough it can be when you really want them to have fun but you're concerned 'cause they can sometimes get carried away with excitement!

[Dempsy's Mom]

I have only been to this dog park twice with my daughters dog. It is quite a ways in and over a little bridge. It's quite a nice natural area - tall grass all around with a wooded area and all the dogs run around like children at play. I was just curious what you all thought. All the parents watch their dogs really well. Dempsy is like all the rest of the Cairns. He stops when I tell him if he finds my voice serious enough and comes if there is nothing else better to do.

I just remembered, this is where I met my first Cairn. We were leaving the dog park and here came this adorable waddling little creature across the foot bridge. I immediately had to meet him. The lady told me all about him - Cairn - Toto - independent - high energy - no shedding and it was that fall I found Dempsy. Good memory.

[hheldorfer]

Tough decision. I've seen very few dogs at our dog park who seem to be trying to find a way out - they tend to play and socialize with little concern for anything happening outside the fence. On the other hand, it only takes one distraction to lure a Cairn away from the pack and into the tall grass. They don't seem to be daunted by barriers. If you choose to take him, I'd advise you stay close and carry a bag of his favorite treats.

[sanford]

Adorable wet face! As for being off-leash at the dog park...uh-uh!

[SARpartner]

I wouldn't trust a natural barrier as you described to deter a Cairn. I work my Cairn in areas that many would find impassable. A Cairn on a scent knows no boundaries. Just my observation of a working Cairn. Plus remember what these guys were bred for, hunting rodents. Not an easy job plus lots of natural barriers. Cairns are not quitters.

[Hawkeye]

Demps is even adorable sopping wet. I don't think I would risk letting mine go off leash either it only takes a split second.

[oscar's mom]

When I was able to go to dog parks, Oscar played with the dogs for a few minutes, but really wanted to check out the parimeter. He's not trusted unleasher.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Good advice. Thanks you guys.

[remltr]

I was going to start a thread - Let's see your dog park - but maybe it would be a better better here.

Every dog park is different and every dog is different. In the park that Sassy takes me too each weekend there are fenced barriers that surround the natural barriers of the whole park. But she has never approached them, I am not even sure if she is aware they exist. She has also never taken off on me or headed in a direction different from where I was heading, except to maybe sniff something she just missed.

The only areas that not fenced are the two entrances from either side of the parking lot and I don't let her off the leash until we are well committed to the inside of the park and put it back on well before we get to the entrances/exits. I have yet to see any dog take off in an escape attempt and there is no wildlife hanging around the park for them to chase. I think you just have to play it by ear. You know your Cairn. If you have any doubt, don't them off the leash.

This is an older satellite pic taken during the late summer of the park that Sassy goes to. The area to the right of the parking lot is about 100 ft lower in elevation and has two main areas, the agility (not built in this picture) and the ball chasing area (about two football fields worth. There is also a lot of grassy areas (brown in the picture) to the north of the lot and lots of walking paths.

http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=s&lat=47.398348&lon=-122.284354&zoom=19&q1=grandview%20park%20kent%20wa