Do sheepdogs run away?
thanks jenny |
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| I have an invisible fence and the instructions said not to start training until their 6 months old. Beau hasn't been trained on it, however, I got it when I had Mollie (a rescue) and she was a year and a half when I trained her and I never had a problem with her running threw it.
Personally, I don't think at 5 months old, that they still fully understand the flags and the beeping device. |
| I wouldn't trust any dog not to run away-- you never know what will spark their interest and cause them to go bounding into the street and into disaster. I'd never count on him coming back-- who knows where he might end up? I'd worry about someone finding the dog (if it were to run away) and just keeping it too. Many sheepdogs are such lovable clowns that it would be awfully easy for someone to just take them in!
I'd wait until the recommended time to train your dog on the invisibile fence and if the behavior continued, consider a real fence or just taking your dog out on a lead. I will say though, I highly recommend a fence. Combined with our dog door, they were the best purchases that I've ever made for the house. Nothing beats not having to go out in the cold anymore! |
| You do need to have something to entice them back if they get out. Rosco bolts every chance he gets, he thinks it's a fun game. We carry treats in our pockets and just yell "hey, Ra, I got a great treat...better come here and get it" and back he comes. DO NOT chase though, because that's an even better game and you'll lose. |
| My primary objection to the electric fence is that once they are trough it they cannot come back. The excitement that caused them to bolt through doesn't work in reverse and if you aren't right there to see that they have gone through the fence and turn it off the very fence that keeps them in winds up keeping them from coming home.
Any dog will wander away given something of interest to lure them away!!! Once away they can be struck by a car, STOLEN  , or get lost. Better to have a real fence or stay out with them when off lead.
I live in the country and even though we have only lived here for a little over a year Tasker knows his boundries and is never allowed past our property line when he is off lead. It's finny to watch him when he "walks the perimeter" you would almost think we had an invisable fence. But I would not leave him unattended outside or trust that he would not wander off insearch of a squirrel or another dog. |
| Remember with an invisible fence it does nothing to keep other dogs from entering your property. Your guy could be content in his yard only to have someone come in and attack.
Until your dog is 100% trustworthy to return on command (like that will ever happen) a dog in an unfenced area can bolt at any time. As for returning, my sheepdogs would probably return if they are smart enough to remember the way. The Great Pyrenees will not return. The few times they have bolted: 1. I drove up to one, opened the car door and showed them a dog cookie..it took awhile for them to make up their mind. 2. one fell in a neighbor's swimming pool (in December) and had to be pulled out. Don't trust your puppy until he is at least a year and maybe more........and neutered. s. |
| We had a "party crasher" stop by yesterday. It was a beautiful black lab who had on the collar for the electric fence. As far as we can tell, he just dashed on through the fence and stopped by to play with Baxter and Cassiopia.
Fortunately, the animal control officer figured out where he belonged (the dog did not have any tags on but one of the local police recognized him) and was able to return him to his family fairly quickly. This is the third time in the past year that a dog in our neighborhood has gone through an electric fence and needed assistance to get home. I don't know if it is because of poor training, the dog was trained when he was too young or something else. However, it is something to consider when you are debating between a regular fence and an "invisible fence". Jennifer, Baxter, Cassiopia and Sharkey |
| sounds like his "beeper" batteries are low. Friend's two Siberians executed the Great Escape because their collar batteries had run down. One killed on road, the other found 3 weeks later in shelter.
Sounds like that black lab is well known around town. Just a friendly guy, LOL. sheepieboss |
| My first OES used to take off all the time. I don't even remember how many times I had to go pick that dog up at the animal control office.
Usually if she bolted out the door and I was right there all I had to do was open the car door and yell "Car ride!" She was also able to get out of any crate, any locked or unlocked room, any dog run, climb, jump, or dig through any fence. Your best bet with any dog, is to provide constant supervision and get to know your individual dogs habits. |
| I don't trust any of my dogs not to run away if given the opportunity. My 4 sheepies are the most loving of the 6 and simply adore people so they would follow anyone that came along.
Quote: & if he does how long before he comes back
It depends on what has captured his interest and whether he is physically able to return. I prefer a sturdy physical barrier instead of electronic because I can visually check to be sure it's secure. But with physical fences you must always be certain it's securely locked. The neighbors boxer pup got out of their yard one evening while they were away but he wouldn't come to us. My husband and the neighbor found the babe under a bush the next day after he had been hit by a car 
The neighbors on the corner had an invisible fence for a few years before they moved and their dog was constantly getting through it. Our vet's cat also had the collar/invisible fence that was maintained by a local company. Last month they found he was getting through it... one client found him under their car (before they drove out thank goodness). He now lives at home with the receptionist who catnapped him shortly after 
I think you need to speak with the mfr. to determine why the invisible fence is not containing your dog... if you're not satisfied he will be safe, I'd go with a regular fence. |
| We have an invisible fence because Maggie was trained to one when we got her at 2-1/2 yrs of age. Nelson was a quick learner and got the hang of it easily before he was six months old. I still don't completely trust the invisible fence. We never let the dogs run free in the yard unless we're out with them or have a watchful eye on them from a window. (It will slow them down a bit). One of the biggest disadvantages of this system is that other animals can still come into your yard, possibly one carrying disease or intent on doing harm to your babies. A conventional fence is still the best method of containment.
As far as returning home, Maggie has come back through the "force field" a couple times. I think that would depend on the dog and how enticing the lure is to get in or out. Don't ever count on them "coming back by themselves". Ask a few owners that have had their dogs "disappear" and you won't be asking "if" a sheepdog will return on its own. You just won't allow it to happen. |
| Question: Do OES run away?
Answer: If they want to and if they can. Question: When will they come back? Answer: Whenever they want IF: they want to, if they can remember the way, if someone else doesn't lock them in a more secure area than the one they escaped, and if they aren't injured or killed before they return. My vote is for a 6 ft. chainlink fence, with the bottom securely attached to the ground and a padlocked gate. No openings a small pup can get through. No collars on the dog that can get caught on the fence. Nothing close enough to the fence for the dog to use as a ladder. And preferably, with a door leading into the house. Note: If door leads into garage, make sure no one uses the electric door opener at the wrong times. Also, lightning CAN open your garage door. You can never be too safe. Even when you think you've got every detail covered, you find something else.  |
| I think given the opportunity, all sheepies will "go exploring". I always have had a fence or temp solution until I got a fence and I also am the most paranoid of mommies!
I always watch them too!!!  |
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I think it really all depends on the dog. Every dog has a different personality. I have 2 OES and we live in town. We moved in to our house in June and they have been really good about not running off or leaving the yard. They have now just started to extend their boundaries into neighbor's yards so I have started putting one a retractable leash when it's potty time, then they don't play together and get distracted. They will however leave the yard if the see a person, they are really friendly so any chance they get, they go visit. If I wasn't outside with them, they could easily run quite aways to go mingle and then who knows if they'll come back, something else could distract them and they could go even further. I would love a fence (not electric for many reasons) but until I get one, I always keep a tight watch on my sheepies. I'd say anyone's best bet is to have a real fence, if possible. Hope that helps... (this is my first time on the forum, I'll work on getting some pictures of my babies up here.) |
Welcome to the forum Allison  |
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