hi all,

well its with a really heavy heart i write this. i am just at my wits end with sam. i have just had a tel call from my housemate to say that sam has just jumped the garden fence into next doors garden and ran off up the road towards the golf course. when he's ran off before he goes missing for hours at a time. he used to jump the fence into next doors when i first got him 2 years ago and he's not done this for at least 18 months now, but yesterday he jumped it for the first time and came back to the garden gate with a live duck in his mouth. i know he has got a high hunting drive which is why he is kept on a line when out on walks, but to go back to how he was when i first got him is very disheartening. i thought we had moved on a bit at least. he is sooo intelligent and picks things up so quickly. yet i cannot seem to get him to stop this running off business. i have been back to basics so many times i've lost count. i dont want to give him back to the rescue, but i really dont know what else to do. it really bugs me though cos everything else i do with him he's fab at and gives me 200%. as some of you know i'm having an op on my leg soon which will stop me being able to walk the dogs like i do now. whats gonna happen then, is he gonna just keep jumping the fence all the time???? maybe i'm just not experienced enough for him and he needs someone who is??? when do you admit defeat though

Oh hun. Not what you need on top of everything else.

Hope this isn't stating the obvious, but how high's the fence? Can it be changed to make it higher?

Can you put an enclosed run in the garden, or put Sam on a tie out stake when he's allowed out for toilet breaks? I've got a 10m line I don't use for Daisy anymore (in fact only used it once and she nearly broke my fingers, but that's another story!) which I can send you, and you can get stakes from PAH.

I've just booked our Doggy Day care lady to walk Daisy after my knee op - can you sort out someone like that close to you, who can start walking Sam now, maybe just once a week or so to get Sam used to them, so you know there's someone there to help when you're resting up?

I really, really feel for you It's heartbreaking when you try & try and finally see some light, then everything goes pear shaped, and you're back at the beginning.

I try to look at it like this: Even though things are really bad now, try and imagine how you'll feel when he's gone Personally, I would find it hard to live with.

Can you make your fences higher? Friends who could help? A foster home while you're incapacitated?

I'm sure someone on here can help

i will definately make the fences higher, have been thinking it for a while now, but i suppose hindsight is a wonderful thing eh???

thanks for the offer of a line daisy_dawg, but i already have one.

my parents have volunteered to help out with dog walking duties. i'll be able to walk him on his gencon though cos he's fine with that on.

i suppose i just feel deflated cos i genuinely thought there was light at the end of the tunnel. what with all the agility and other stuff i do with him. i even do hunting with him so its not as if i'm stopping him doing it. i hide treats etc when we're out walking and also in the house and garden.

niknak, i would feel devastated if i had to let him go, but i have to think of his best interests and if that not with me then so be it.

i've just spoken to my housemate and sams still not home

Oh no Sue

Come home Sam

Hurry Home Sam!

Sue, have you tried doing training with him in the house? You could do some clicker training, teach him hide and seek - there's loads you can do to tire him out without walking him. Selina (I think) has a great list of different mind games they can play.

Oh, Sam, come on, enough now, time to come home - he's probably just hunting for a better prize for you than a duck!

Finger's crossed he's home soon, hun

Come home Sam

It is very disheartening, I know the feeling. I hope he comes home soon you must be very worried.

If he has a high hunting drive you could try gun dog training. Check out Lizzys thread on the Gun Dog section..its worth a go

trust me i've got a list as long as my arm of games we play in the house. i wouldnt mind its not as if he's hyper all the time cos he's not, he's really chilled most of the time, just when he gets his hunting head on. i do lots of clicker work with him, alot of shaping exercises. i've got a mini agility course in the garden, and we regularly practise HTM routines too, so its not as if he's not occupied cos he is. we play alot too, practise retieves, hide and seek etc. maybe he just doesnt love his mummy anymore

lol daisy_dawg, he probably is! i just worry so much cos i dont think he worries about himself, he's a real ruf n tumble lad with no concern for his own safety.

hi is he home yet
daft question but has he been done

Aww, now come on, hun, who does he bring his prizes to?????

I know it's a worry, hopefully he'll be back soon, and then maybe try the tie out until you can get those fences sorted?

so sorry you're feeling so stressed and upset. I do hope Sam comes home soon


springers can be such a handful can't they????

No advice really, except the fence height which has been said already....just sending hugs xxxx

Just to say second everything that's been said - specially the bit about who he brings his prizes back to........

Do you ever play chase and retreive games with him? Barney's favourites are two tennis balls and a chukkit - wears him out in no time.....