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Old January 17th, 2008, 11:24 AM
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luckypenny luckypenny is offline
Doggie Wench
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Philippe-de-Laprairie, Qc
Posts: 11,812
Our Lucky was like that for the first couple of months. Always looking to wander. Whether it's because he's a Spitz-type cross or just wasn't bonded to us yet, I don't know. Maybe it was a combination of the two. He also wasn't neutered yet so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it as well.

Seeing that Sammy is a Beagle, I'm sure her breed may have something to do with it. Beagles are notorious for their scent tracking. Once my BIL's Beagle picks up on something, it's next to impossible to call him off.

I would suggest she gets lots of exercise. Especially if she's an energetic young dog. How often do you walk her? How often does she run in the yard playing? You can also teach her to play Hide and Seek using a toy that interests her or some yummy treats. I think she would especially love this game. A tired dog is a good dog. Taking a basic obedience class with her will also help with the bonding. Recall is probably the one command you would want her to learn 100% if she has a tendency to take off.

In the meantime, don't let her in your yard unsupervised. Every time she goes out, make sure someone accompanies her at all times. You've probably thought of this but, make sure there is no way possible that she can escape the yard. Get down to her level, literally crawl the perimeter of your property, and secure any areas that are large enough for her to squeeze by. You can use chicken wire along the bottom of your fence (dig it under the earth as well by a good 10-12 inches if possible to prevent her from digging out).

I'm so happy for you, and for her, that you've been reunited. With time, training, sufficient exercise, bonding, and supervision, she'll not be looking to wander elsewhere. It'll be too much fun at home!
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