kajarrel Posted July 9, 2011 Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 We're experienced border collie owners but this has been a rough week. Last weekend, my husband and I came home to find two open doors. Nothing was missing so we thought one of us had been careless and gave it no more thought. On Monday night, we arrived home to open doors again and finally figured out that one of the border collies had learned how to open doors and was letting himself out through the basement and in through the front door. Next morning we also found a dead turkey (our's) that he'd apparently killed during his outing. Throughout the week we barracaded doors and had no further problems. On Friday,however, my husband received a call from the woman who cares for our animals during the day saying that she'd found a screen lying on the ground outside the house. Apparently said dog had jumped through the second floor window screen, dropped 20 feet to the ground and pulled all the feathers out of another turkey. This turkey is thankfully alive as is dog. Dog is, obviously, going back to being crated. And I'm trying to figure out how to stay ahead of this guy. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Cressa Posted July 9, 2011 Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 Don't really have any suggestions. Is he bored? If so can you give him bones or kongs with peanut butter or treats or hide treats round the house? Is he having seperation anxiety? My boy knocked out a screen and jump as a baby(3 months old) from our second story window and landed on the concrete patio. But he has seperation anxiety(I believe). He is fine and didn't grow up worst for wear other then some chipped adult teeth from the fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted July 9, 2011 Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hey Kim, I have one who just turned 5 years old and has always been trustworthy in the house, but she goes to a window and barks whenever I leave or return. The other day, she came to greet me as I pulled in the driveway (fortunately she's one who's useful for working poultry and she won't harm anything). I found a screen pushed out in the sunroom. I told her then that she had earned her way back into a crate whenever I leave.... (I feel bad for her, but a gaping screen is an invitation for every other loose dog in the house, not to mention the cats, whom I don't want outside.) J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajarrel Posted July 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 SS Cresna, He could be bored but I doubt it since he has bones/toys all over the house. I think he's just got a really high prey drive and we have a lot of "prey." Usually, when the dogs are working, like Roy is, they don't do this (getting after the poultry), but he is different. I feel bad, since he's "house trained" but since he's bound and determined to get out, and able to figure out ways to do it, he's going to be in a crate again when we're not home. Roy is 4 or 5, Julie, and he used to run away if you let your guard down at all. We "cured" that and now the escaping-but-sticking-around is occurring. We had been planning on completing a kennel in the basement for the dogs. This is going to push that project to the top of the list. Mike and I have often talked about whether we need to worry about the dogs jumping off our balconies (they're never left unattended out there, but we do allow them to wander out there when we're on the balcony) - and people have warned about this on the Boards - this has kind of answered THAT question. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 That's determination for you! So much for freedom, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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