I feel bad...Jake, my Dog ran away

brin · Feb 25, 2010

Jake came wandering up to our place about 4 months ago skinny with his ribs showing..He is a Brittany and we took him in and he was an inside dog..He had no tag and we called the vets and county pound and no one had reported him missing so the county pound said if you want him ..keep him. So 2 days ago he took off for the first time and was gone about 2 hours and came home. Last night he ran out and took off running and we have not seen him since then..He has been gone all night. We had a micro chip put in him so I have notified them and they have sent a flier to all the vets, animal shelters and volunteer pet rescuers within a 25 mile area.. We'll see if he comes back..We had an Irish Setter one time and she went missing for 3 days and finally came home with bloodied paws..I think someone had taken her , probably coaxed her into their truck and took her away and she escaped and came home but we had her for over 9 yrs. at that time. With Jake we have only had him 4 mos. and the micro chip company web site said Dogs are not like the Lassie movies where they come home..they actually get lost...especially in rural areas like where we live. I have driven the country roads and yelled for him to no avail so we will wait and see.

Does anyone have an experience with their Dog running off like this and finding it's way back home and how long ? Thanks

Thomas · Feb 25, 2010

We'll keep our fingers cross for Jakes return.

jinjimbob · Feb 25, 2010

Hope Jake gets home.

Always always have a tag on their collar, people can read that if they can get close enough to them.

Make sure your avid/microchip data is up to date.

kidr · Feb 25, 2010

I had a Brittany that did the same thing. Rain was the trigger. He would hang out with me all day, but if it rained he would take off and return a few hours later. I swear the rain short circuited something in his brain. Turned out he had epilepsey. Ran away one night and didn't come back. Found him a week later through lost and found. People said he would just lay down in the road for hours. He hardley knew me when I found him, and he was never the same, and I had to keep him confined. I finally had to put him down. A pro. dog man told me that certain strains of these dogs are prone to this kind of disorder. Hope you find your guy and he's OK. I know the things that go through your mind not knowing if he's OK or not.

jinman · Feb 25, 2010

Well, at least a Brittany is not a tiny little dog. He should be able to defend himself to a certain degree.

You didn't mention whether you had him neutered or not. I think that has a lot to do with a dog's inclination to wander. The Brittany was bred as a hunting dog and he has a naturally curious nature. Depending on how many interesting critters he can find and how hungry he gets, he may be gone for awhile. If he is a male lookin' for a female in heat, you may not see him for quite some time. As they say in Australia, he may have gone walkabout.

Tig · Feb 25, 2010

Ah spring is in the air. My dog ran off the first year we had her. She came back none the worse for wear. Just tired and pregnant.
Lesson learned.

brin · Feb 25, 2010

We'll keep our fingers cross for Jakes return.
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Thomas..NH > Thanks Thomas we are crossing our fingers too ! and toes..
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Hope Jake gets home.

Always always have a tag on their collar, people can read that if they can get close enough to them.

Make sure your avid/microchip data is up to date.> Thanks JinJimbob..We have tags on Jake & chip is up to date.
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I had a Brittany that did the same thing. Rain was the trigger. He would hang out with me all day, but if it rained he would take off and return a few hours later. I swear the rain short circuited something in his brain. Turned out he had epilepsey. Ran away one night and didn't come back. Found him a week later through lost and found. People said he would just lay down in the road for hours. He hardley knew me when I found him, and he was never the same, and I had to keep him confined. I finally had to put him down. A pro. dog man told me that certain strains of these dogs are prone to this kind of disorder. Hope you find your guy and he's OK. I know the things that go through your mind not knowing if he's OK or not.> Kidtr ,You're right ..we worry most wondering how Jake is doing..is he cold, hungry or being mistreated or worse...he does seem to have a wild streak in him..maybe it is in the breed..we have only had him 4 mos. and this just started ..that is why I wonder if it is a dog in heat..time will tell.
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Well, at least a Brittany is not a tiny little dog. He should be able to defend himself to a certain degree.

You didn't mention whether you had him neutered or not. I think that has a lot to do with a dog's inclination to wander. The Brittany was bred as a hunting dog and he has a naturally curious nature. Depending on how many interesting critters he can find and how hungry he gets, he may be gone for awhile. If he is a male lookin' for a female in heat, you may not see him for quite some time. As they say in Australia, he may have gone walkabout. > Jim - I think you are right ..he has gone on a run about..LOL .I saw him take off and would not listen to me - he is a hunting dog for sure and has a great nose..I hope he uses it to get home..Thanks.
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Ah spring is in the air. My dog ran off the first year we had her. She came back none the worse for wear. Just tired and pregnant.
Lesson learned.
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Steve, I hope Jake is like yours and comes home with a big smile on his face and then I will learn my lesson too and keep him contained...Thanks

Western · Feb 25, 2010

Remember the song "the wanderer" maybe he is just going 'around, around, around"?

His last owner may still be "wondering"
I hope "jake" finds whatever he is looking for. Like a teenager always wants to leave, not knowing how good they have it!

Sigarms · Feb 25, 2010

I sincerely hope Jake comes back. I sincerely know what it's like when a dog shows up and it becomes family, and you can't figure out how.

We've had our share of dogs who had made a "break for it" and have come back, but usually within a couple of hours.

However, after the first couple of "break aways" with certain dogs, we purchased this in a two dog model...

Dogtra 2300 NCP Advance

Worth every penny.