Apparently, I need to step things up at the gym. When Hershey tugged the leash free from my grasp the other day and ran straight for the street, I couldn’t catch up with her; and my heart might have pounded its way right out of my chest. Of course I was scared silly, and running faster than, well, ever maybe. Of course my heart was hammering. I sprinted after her, hoping to step on her leash and stop her. But still, she dashed toward the road, perhaps even faster with me in pursuit. What fun! She was probably thinking.
Then she made a sharp left turn onto the sidewalk. My chest burned as I flew after her, still a few steps behind. She ducked into someone’s back yard, and I still couldn’t catch her. I think she thought it was a game as she ran from yard to yard. Finally, someone’s pool got in her way, slowing her down, and I was finally able to step on her leash and get her back in my control. I led her back home, my heart pounding from equal parts fear and exertion. She hadn’t done her business yet, so I walked her around the yard while I tried to catch my breath and calm my nerves.
And then she ran off again. Seriously. How did she do it? I swear I had a firm grip on that leash. So I was off again, too, and luckily I caught her more quickly this time. She seemed truly disappointed our game of chase was over, the furry little devil.
I wrapped the leash around my wrist a few times the next time I took her out, and didn’t let my son take her out. Who knew if she was going to try this again? We got a choke collar, which didn’t seem to stop her from pulling on the leash at all.
But after a few days without any more escape attempts, I relaxed a bit and let Jack start taking her out again. Everything was fine until a few days later, when I was gardening and Jack was out with the dog. I looked up and saw a jogger walking up to the house with Hershey. Yep. She got away from Jack and luckily this angel of a woman caught Hershey as she bolted for the street. (Clearly, she’s a much better sprinter than me.)
So what exactly are we supposed to do? We bought supplies to put up a run in the back yard. I guess we could hook her up when she has to go, so she can’t run away, but we’re still going to have to walk her out there to attach her to it. Our yard isn’t fenced in, and we hadn’t planned on putting in an electric fence. Is this something Hershey will grow out of? Will an extra walk each day burn up the energy she’d be using to race away from me? Or do we have no choice but to put in an electric fence?
Good golly, it’s like having another child to worry about. Only this one can’t be reasoned with. And this one’s a lot faster than the two-legged ones. And this one’s literally putting my heart through the ringer.
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Have you missed any of the articles in this series?
If so, you can find them at:
The Bringing Up Puppy Series page.
Related posts:
- Bringing Up Puppy Series – Holding Tight
- Bringing Up Puppy Series – Lost
- Bringing Up Puppy Series – Not Such a Notable Nose
- Bringing Up Puppy Series – There Until the End
- Bringing Up Puppy Series – Two Steps Back
