why and what to do when dogs “get loose”…
There are a number of reasons why dogs get loose....
- mis-attached walking and out-of-the-house apparatuses,
- improper walking and out-of-the-home apparatuses for that individual dog,
- human mishandling,
- people not sufficiently draining the dog's individual level of energy on a daily basis, frustration building, and the dog taking active measures to release it,
- people's faces in their phones, distracted, not paying attention to surroundings, unaware, and getting caught off guard by a circumstance resulting in the dog breaking free from their grip (a very, very common one),
- a child, family member, or lawn or home maintenance worker improperly latching or leaving the gate open,
- the dog slipping through the door when someone is walking in or out (read: zero training on thresholds),
- people leaving their dogs in the care of an internet stranger who "loves dogs" and is a dog boarder, caretaker or walker (I caution clients on this all. the. time. There is a HUGE difference between a "dog lover"...and a ***dog understander-er***. Most dog lovers, even if intentions are pure and good, are not fluent or skilled in: dog psychology, training, or behavior. Anyone who is working with, caring for, or handling dogs in any way should have some level of knowledge, education, and skill... that goes beyond "treats"),
- an intact male scenting a female in heat miles away (sex drive is
a powerful, primal drive in a dog),
- newly acquired and/or traumatized dogs who may be living in a constant state of flight (part of defense drive) and haven't had the appropriate amount of time to decompress or acclimate,
- people taking their dogs off-leash on a hike or in other unsecured areas without...
: sound relationship (and *healthy* attachments) being
developed and nurtured,
: a solid understanding of *who their dog is as the individual*
(low - medium - or high level of: pack drive, prey drive, and
defense drive? skittish? insecure? overly assertive? fearful?
happy-go-lucky-and-without-a-care-in-the-world? highly
sensitive? etc.),
: working on the development of a solid recall (i.e. the "come"
directive),
...and so on.
Every day I read stories of dogs "getting loose" or lost.
It's utterly heartbreaking.
One of the best things we can do to prevent more dogs from "getting loose" is to simply become more present and aware.
Make better choices.
This includes not leaving our dogs in the back yard for hours upon end, or tethered out in front of the house. Especially since there's been a huge spike in dogs being stolen out of yards and: being sold on Craigslist, used for bait dogs in dog fighting rings (these folks earn for doing this), etc.
Yes, accidents happen... but the great majority of them are 100% preventable.
Most of these mishaps are happening through poor decisions, while we're distracted and not paying attention, and through general carelessness.
Stay aware.
Pay attention.
Be mindful.
Be present with your dog while out with them.
We have a responsibility here.... to our dogs, our neighbors and those we share space with in our communities, and our families.
If we want to see a dent in the various "dog problems," we've got to be part of the solution. It starts with us.
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(#7... I'm not sure of what the legalities are, if any, surrounding this option; but I do know shelters are busting at the seams with dogs at the moment, and euthanasia rates have skyrocketed as a result in an effort to make space)
