July 8, 2014

Runaway Ruby

Spoiler Alert: Safe & Sound

If I hadn't waited a few days to make this post, it would have started out a lot differently, with dramatic self-deprecating statements such as "I don't deserve to have a dog" and "I have no business being a dog blogger" but time and reason have calmed me down enough to write about it from the standpoint of (more) lessons learned and the fact that mistakes and accidents happen in life and in dog life. One of the most valuable aspects of the dog blogging realm for me is feeling that I'm not alone, that others have shared an experience and that we can learn from one another. Rebekah from My Rotten Dogs recently posted about Faolan's Great Escape, not long after my own experience with Boca slipping her harness on a hike.

Having the statistics of pet loss on the Fourth on July drilled into my head for the past week, I was not so surprised to grab a runaway dog (on a Flexi-lead, with a collar so loose it came off in my hand when I reached for it) outside of the ball field early Friday morning, but I didn't expect to lose my own dog the very next day. It wasn't the first time Ruby has gotten away from me after a rabbit. Twice she has pulled the leash out of my hand and run off after a single rabbit in my townhome complex, and come back. Dragging the leash makes recovering her a bit easier. This time was different.

We were on our morning sniffabout, which is normally a fairly leisurely stroll around the complex lawn with lots of grazing and rabbit-spotting on the girls' part. I've always been hesitant to lump "rabbits" in to Ruby's reactivity triggers because, well...the list is so long already, and I chalk it up to prey drive rather than fear or anxiety. This year the rabbit population has exploded, and we see probably no less than twenty on any given walk. This morning they were out in full force. Ruby spun and lunged toward one and instead of feeling the leash go taut and snap back when she hit the end, she was gone. I was left holding the leash, snap intact. 

I started calling her immediately, trying to keep the panic out of my voice, and ran after her with Boca at my side attempting to keep Ruby in view as she raced after a seemingly endless succession of rabbits. Just as she would lose one into a shrub, she would see another. Twice I lost sight of her but due to her "hunting screech" - a high-pitched yelp she makes in pursuit - I was able to keep on her tail. At one point I thought I would just try running home to see if she'd follow, and she did start to, but then another damn rabbit would appear. I was finally able to gain on her and grab her harness as she backed out of some flowers. 

The whole episode lasted probably no more than two minutes but it seemed like an eternity. Ruby was thrilled and unaware of the many dangers she faced. Luckily, no other people were out - although her dog reactivity is frustration-based and what she wants most is to meet/jump on/play with other dogs, the feeling isn't always mutual. Luckily, she stayed within the perimeter of the complex - we are not far from several very busy streets. Luckily, I was able to snatch her up - and once I did, I did not let go. I carried her halfway home, then stopped to examine the leash before clipping it and knotting it to her harness. It seemed fine, the snap functional, and I still can't explain what happened, but I will not use that leash again. It was one of my favorites and the first one I bought for her - the lightweight snap was nice because it didn't bang against Ruby's chest on her front-clip harness - but I can't take any chances. 

I spent the rest of the morning near tears, hugging and kissing Ruby, shaking, and chastising myself for all the ways I'd failed as a dog owner. Later I shook it off, knowing it wasn't productive, and started focusing on the things I can change. First: equipment check and re-check, as well as utilizing gear with sturdy hardware, since I know Ruby is a puller and puts things to the test. Second: recall work. I know without a doubt that this is the single most important thing for a dog to know, and Ruby's 25+ tricks are useless when it comes to saving her life. It is also one of the most challenging things to teach to a dog with high prey drive, little focus, and limited access to safely-fenced areas to practice. I don't believe I can ever be more interesting than ten rabbits. One rabbit? Maybe. Third: Since I know the recall will always be a work in progress, I need to concentrate on at least redirecting Ruby's attention and lessening her reaction to the rabbits. I've tried using chasing them as a reward, and it works to some extent in that I can get her to lay down and wait when she spots one, but the chase itself is so exciting that she can't calm down after that. For now I am practicing asking for a sit or down when she alerts to one, and then we walk on. I'm keeping the leash shorter as we're going through the Rabbit Convention Zone, so she can't race to the end.

I love this little dog so much, and for every challenge she presents me with, I love her that much more. I'm charged with keeping her safe, even when that means saving her from her own rocket-speed, rabbit-crazed, terrier-brained self. 



19 comments:

  1. Always so scary when the dogs escape! My heart always stops. Both of our girls got out of the fence at my parents' house this weekend, and thankfully, they were both wandering around my parents' house and I saw them out the window. Not cool! Glad that you were able to catch her. I'm kind of astonished that you have that many rabbits! Squirrels are our thing here; I can't say I've ever seen more than one or two bunnies around here...

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    1. It's ridiculous - we need more predators! Every once in a while I see the fluffy evidence of a hawk's spoils, but they can't keep up. I used to see one or two on dog walks - now they are everywhere.

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  2. Awww, so scary! I'm glad you was able to get her back. Whew! Don't beat yourself up over it. It happens. It's good that you have a plan in place so that it doesn't happen again. That's great! I hope you're able to find a good leash and Ruby learns some more commands that are very useful in a time like this. So glad she's ok! :)

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  3. Terrifying!

    That's been, honestly, the hardest thing for me with Silas--the stakes are just so high. We had a few bad encounters when I was first realizing the depth of Silas's problems that still frighten me me, years later.

    So, I know it won't make you feel better, but I'll say it anyway: your equipment failed; not you.

    For the record, this is our very favorite Recallers game: http://youtu.be/3wfXpTbp4hQ
    (That youtuber is one of SG's frequent students; you might want to look around in her channel.)

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  4. Oh my goodness - that's always my biggest fear with Blueberry. We have a lot of rabbits here too and while she mostly stalks them or attentively stares them down - if one happens to run right in front of her, her instinct to chase immediately takes over and I can't tell you the number of times I've been grateful I have her leash clipped to my belt. Although I did also have a leash that did the thing yours did - just unhooked itself. I suspect it wasn't all the way hooked and I just didn't notice but after that (thankfully, B never noticed it wasn't hooked properly and so never ran off that time) I switched leashes too. If it can happen once, it can happen again.

    Don't beat yourself up over this. I once made the mistake of trying to force B to stand in the sprinklers at the park just to get her a little wet because it was so hot one summer and she flipped out and slipped out of her harness and RAN. I beat myself up because I knew she didn't like water - but I didn't think she'd mind because it was hot (what was I thinking???). In the end, I was just so thankful that my backing up in the opposite direction and reaching into my pocket for treats brought her barreling back towards me. Longest 3 minutes of my life. Hey, we live and learn.

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  5. So glad everything ended well. I could feel the internal panic building up in me as I read this, and totally sympathize with how you feel.

    I have a (mean) trick I use on my girl if she is way too focused on the chickens. I ask her if she wants to go bye bye. It works every time, and I almost always load her in the car for a five minute drive. I don't know if it would work in a "real life" situation, though.

    I think this has happened to all of us. I have experienced equipment malfunction. Your dogs are lucky to have you.

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  6. Very scary. Isis once enjoyed a heart-stopping romp around a ferry terminal parking lot. Some kind people finally helped me box her in and get her back to my car, and then a woman sneered at me, "You shouldn't have let her off leash." Yes, thank you for that sage advice.

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    1. I was so afraid that a neighbor was going to yell at me, adding to Ruby's reputation as the terrier-or of the neighborhood, but thankfully no one else was awake yet.

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  7. Sounds a lot like my GBGV behavior. Mom is working really hard with Bailie now to get her to settle down when she spots a wabbit or squirrel. Both of us have good recall UNLESS our hunting instinct kicks in. There is no stopping us after that happens. So glad things turned out okay. You can only do your best to keep your babies safe. We don't understand the dangers that are out there and only want to have fun. Accidents happen, and we are so happy your pup got back to you safely.

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  8. So frightening, isn't it. Want to hear what happened when Mort popped his leash out of my hand, while playing with a dog friend? They took off in chase, shot down a spot behind the complex, out into a road, and Mort smashed into the side of a moving car (the street is a 45 mph zone). He was about 5 inches from being squished under the front tire - I think that's where he hit. I hear the car screech, his scream as I'm rounding the corner, and I think I just about died inside. I flew into full panic mode that didn't end until we were in the vet's emergency room (the techs were actually worried about me passing out), but thank god he only lost two teeth as a result.

    All we can do is learn, and sometimes there's simply no avoiding what life can throw at us... (I won't get started with the perforated bowel thing or IMHA... sigh). But yeah... still have the guilt and the what-ifs and should-haves on all of the above.

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    1. Oh and I'd be happy to make you some kind of custom leash with some extra security if you'd like. You know where to find me :)

      I'm super paranoid about this kind of thing happening with something I make, so perhaps it'll end up being something really useful for the dog community! Let me know.

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    2. You just described my worst nightmare (or any dog lover's worst nightmare). I'm so glad he did not suffer greater injury. My mother's first dog ended up a tri-pod from a similar incident. You have had quite a year with Mort!

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    3. Oh my gosh, so sorry to hear that about your mother's first dog - yikes :( We are definitely counting our lucky stars, especially considering how many times we've been in that emergency room! Keep thinking I should try to dream up some bubble-wrap coat for dogs :)

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  9. Ok that was scary, my heart was pounding for you. Dottie has a thing for bunnies too and got away from my hubby and I once. I remember screaming myself hoarse, almost crying, shaking with fear and anger and then we caught her. Luckily it hasn't happened since!

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  10. Mom would have had an attack! My Flexi leash snapped once and I ran in a busy lot, ugh
    Lily & Edward

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  11. It could happen to any of us, don't you worry. I remember once, while working at the vet hospital, I took one of our patients out to go potty, we used slip leads and she was a tiny chihuahua, so I put it around her almost like a seatbelt, I carried her out to the grass, let her sniff around and all the sudden, she slipped out of the slip leash, which isn't supposed to happen and she took off through the parking lot. I began to chase her and both of us almost got hit by cars, I finally cornered her under a van and she bit me when I picked her up but I didn't even feel it since my adrenaline was rushing, and I walked back into the hospital shaking and crying and holding the poor little doggie. I was sure to tell her parents what happened just as full disclosure, and when I did, her dad said, oh it happens to me all the time! At that point, I told him anyone who handles your dog should know that. I have felt what you felt, and I completely understand how terrifying it is. Luckily, both of our stories have a happy ending! Please be sure to mention to anyone that may walk her, veterinarian, boarder, pet sitter, that she will jet after rabbits :)

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  12. Very scary, and yeah - it happens to most of us! Our beagle would also do that hunting scream thing. She used to bolt anytime she saw a squirrel or rabbit. Always so terrifying when your pup is loose! You are right - working on recall is so important. I need to work on it more with Rita!

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  13. I really feel for you! This has happened a couple of times with Vulpe. Once she slipped out of a house I was temporarily staying in when my partner and I split, and straight into traffic. She also barked and lunged at a poor, innocent passer-by and made her cry! I think I was at least twice as traumatised as Vulpe was by the whole incident and I HATED myself for letting it happen.

    We continue to work on all her problem behaviours and triggers, etc, but in the meantime I do everything I can to ensure she gets lots of energetic play with other people and dogs (through a walker and doggie daycare) and I have a 'walkies' lead that is bright red with 'CAUTION' written all over it! Once I started to accept her for the dog she was and work around that (whilst not giving up with the ongoing training) it became a lot less anxiety-inducing for me, and therefore probably for Vulpe too!

    Don't be too hard on yourself, though. These things happen and I guess we learn a lesson every time :)

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