My dog ran onto busy road today, I'm still shaking.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

I walk her along an old railway line which is now a cycle path. There is one bit where a road crosses above the path and there is a track up the road. I always watch her to make sure she doesn't head for the track and she never does. She's so good and always stays on the path even though friends' dogs are bouncing about in the fields at teh side.

She walked under the bridge fine and I took my eyes off her for a minute and then she was gone. So I'm running up and down the path with my friends looking for her in the hedgerow and then one of my friends went up the track and yelled to me to come. It was cahos up there, its a very bad humpback bridge with a bend just before it and there were cars swerving about, a motorcyclist had stopped to try and catch her.

I had to sprint up the road and across the bridge dodging cars and caught her. Then when I got her back on the path her right leg was shaking funny and she kept swaying and sagging. So I went straight to the vet with her who said she was fine and it was stress. Think it'll be a while before I trust her off the lead again!

[cutekids]

awwww.....sit down,give her a big cuddle and thank god she's ok

[Bolshy]

Never, ever let your dog off the lead anywhere near a road. Ever. Even the best-trained dog can have a mad moment. Heard a sad story from a dog trainer about how she was walking along one side of a busy road and saw one of her trainees coming towards her on the other side of the road. The owner did not have it on a lead because the dog was "so obedient it didn't need one". Except for that day it saw its old trainer friend and took off across the road to say hello and was killed instantly by a car.

I know you weren't actually walking on the road, but still..

[preciouslillywhite]

Aaaaargh!Poor poor you!!

My dog did this a while ago when she was young and foolish..we were ages away from the road but she just legged it with me after her shrieking.

She actually went under a car just as I caught up with her. The poor driver was really shaken.

I found tho she (the dog)got over it really quickly- she was just shocked- but the Good Thing that came out of it was she's never ever run off since, and sticks very close to me whenever we cross the road or pass a moving car (on her lead, of course)

Whole thing took about 2 years off my life tho

[Bella21]

Poor you! Have a stiff drink!

It's awful, isn't it? My lab pup's lead broke (poxy PAH!!!!!) one one of his first ever outings next to a busy road, so I do know exactly how you feel.

I reckon you won't be letting her off lead there again

Take care x

[doggiesayswoof]

You poor thing. I dread this happening (mind you, mine is still a daft pup and I can't imagine EVER letting her off the lead)

I recommend chocolate - you've had a nasty shock...

[Bella21]

lol - I thought you meant chocolate for recall at first, doggie!

Yes, chocolate is excellent in these situations.

Nurse Bella prescribes it. 100g now, more later

[doggiesayswoof]

lol

god knows, I need something that works with my wilful young lady

I've heard you use hot dogs bella - is this true?

[Bella21]

Only good quality ones, mind. Smelly is good you see - ripe cheese, hot dogs, liver...

Some Blonde nanny-type personages swear by organic pork, but my budget doesn't stretch that far. Not unless I sell a kidney

[doggiesayswoof]

Cool, thanks for the ideas - my vegan DH will have to get a clothes peg for his nose

I was worried about upsetting her tummy when she was really small but I think we are ok to start using more of a variety of treats now.

[flowerybeanbag]

This happened to me a while ago.

Doggiebeanbag got freaked by something in the park and started trotting back towards the edge of the park to go home. He went down the path, got to the bridge over the river and an exciting looking woman on a bike came past him so he started trotting alongside her, over the bridge, into the car park, then realised he was almost home and I was chasing him, so he ran straight across the road. I launched myself into the road in front of cars who couldn't see him because he's only small, then chased him along the pavement, down a side road and into our garden where he was heading.

[Bella21]

Doggie - fine in teeny pieces

Yes, apologies here too for hijack

[Sherbert37]

Mine will do anything for tiny pieces of shredded chicken. She stays with us in the enclosed park where I let her off and is good at coming back when I call and hold out the chicken (for now anyway). I call her back every 5 mins or so and give her a treat. Some dogs do not tolerate chicken well though I have heard.

[daisydotandgertie]

Stripey - are you in Hampshire? This sounds like the exact same place I had a terrible scare with my dog.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

No, not Hampshire.

[daisydotandgertie]

Must be a common disused railway line thing then!