Had me fooled

[tk223]

I was shoveling an area for the dogs to do their business in the backyard and decided to shovel my driveway since I was already covered in snow, so I opened the gate and had Bailey (Golden) come around front w/ me; of course Kooper is jealous and since he's been so good w/ coming when called I figured I'll just have him come around and let them both into the house through the garage...umm yeah, not so much!

Bailey is such a good girl, went right into the house, Kooper saw that garage door closing and as soon as there was just a foot of clearance shot off like a rocket into the street, almost gets hit by a passing car, runs llike a madman up & down the street until a nice boy walking home from school corrals him for me....I'm tired, wet and cold now, Kooper is sleeping like a baby on his cushion he pulled over onto the heat register....go figure.

[oscar's mom]

All in a good dog's work.

[sheila and Misty]

what a stinker! I wouldnt ever trst any dogs that far,,,your brave! glad your both ok

[tk223]

Bailey is so well trained she can probably drive a car..Koop, again had me fooled--definitely not brave, stupid on my part..won't trust Kooper again.

[pkcrossley]

classic coda to our discussion on whether cairns can be off leash or not. the same thing happened to me not long ago, i was packing up my car to leave for the holidays and let him scamper around for a time in my drive --high walls of pounded snow, nowhere to go but a narrow channel going way, way down to the road, and he has been almost all his life about never heading away from the house (and the road cannot be seen from the house). i picked up a bag to put in the car, looked around, no redmon. i called very angrily, and he finally came creeping back up the drive --from the road! god only knows what would have happened if i hadn't noticed and called immediately. the road was slippery that day, even if a driver had seen him it might not have been possible to control the car enough to avoid him.

and i already KNEW he couldn't be let off leash. but like anybody, i thought "it is only for a few seconds, and he can't really go anywhere, what can it hurt"?

there are terrifying episodes. i already knew the lesson, maybe one of these days i will finally get it. good outcome 99 out of a hundred times, still means: no exceptions.

[maggie]

Please be careful,a few years ago I was driving home from work in the snow, the roads were icy and had not been treated yet. A young boy was coming home from school and going into his home through the garage door. When he went in the house their little dog snuck past him and out the open garage door; the little dog ran right to the street and in front of my car just as I was turning onto that street. I did all I could to stop but with the slick conditions could not stop in time. It was a horrible experience for everyone concerned. Believe me when I say it only takes a split second.

[pkcrossley]

oh my goodness, maggie, what an experience, i really feel for you. it was not your fault, but you will never get over it anyway. i agree totally, there is no substitute for constant vigilance, and no matter how confident one feels in one's cairn's obedience, the outdoors just plays on these dogs instincts in too many unpredictable ways.

[rileyboy]

Early in the morning when I take Riley for walks there is no traffic and he will follow me all the way around the block or more with no lead but I can not get him to come to me in our own yard...or stay in our yard for that matter. They definately have minds of their own, don't they?