Dogs escaping

[Tiredmummaoftwo]

We have two cocker spaniels (both 5 years old). One is totally bonkers the other one (Ralph) is quite timid and is extremely scared of loud bangs.

We live on a main road next to some fields. Our garden is pretty big but is lined with huge conifers and a fence. Just recently if I let Ralph out for a wee the first thing he will do is find an escape hole (we keep blocking them up but he'll find another one) and out onto the main road in front of our house which is very busy with cars. He doesn't run away. Just out onto the front on the main road. I feel like it's a matter of time before he gets hit by a car.

I believe he's doing this because he's afraid of the pigeon scarers in the field next door which let off a loud bang three times an hour ALL day!

Now I'm really not sure what to do. They get walked once a day on a long walk. I'm at home most of the day (maternity leave). So I don't think he's doing it out of boredom. More that he's afraid

I'm after some advice. I just don't think it's a nice way for a dog to live it's life. I've spoken to my DH about rehoming him with a close family member (MIL) but he'd be absolutely gutted as he loves them so much, as do I.

What are the alternatives? Would you literally monitor every single wee time and let it only be a few minutes (this seems really unfair when he's got so much energy to burn). Would you let them in the garden but on one of those long leads so essentially always tied up (again seems a bit mean)?

Any other ideas would be helpful! Would love to find a solution. I do think Ralph is a very happy dog but he's almost becoming a house dog (doesn't want to go in the garden) and that's sad! X

Ah that is sad, poor Ralph.

How much more secure can you make your garden? I'd be focusing my attention on making it like Fort Knox if you want to avoid any of the alternatives.

@topofbighill we had some contractors to fence one side of the garden and the bottom. The other side is next to a flood ditch and where we park our cars (also tree lined) so we couldn't add a fence infront of the trees - we'd have to cut them all down which I think we're going to have to consider. Seems a shame as our garden is about an acre and the trees are huge and established.

He also escapes out by the gap next to the front gate which we've blocked up too. I feel like he's absolutely determined to find a way out which just makes me think he's not happy.

Some days he won't go outside all day for a wee unless it's on his walk / walks 😔

You could put in a smaller, properly fenced area for him.

if he is getting out under the fence by digging, you can do buried fencing.

Research ’click the trigger’ to desensitise him to the noise of the bangs, then he won’t want to run away. This will have to be done each and every time he’s in the garden.

Agree with pp if he is scared of the bangs work on that. Are they seasonal? We're in an arable area so we do hear crow bangers sometimes but not as much as that. It would be a shame to rehome if it's only a few weeks a year.

If you can't secure the whole garden, secure part of it. We have a fence across the garden because the top of the garden has a sheer drop. The dog has over half and life is fine.

Use a longline, clicker and treats to build up resilience to the noise as PP suggested.

Fence of a small part of garden close to your house with ornamental fencing or take him out on a lead .

Could let him out on a long line until you secure the garden or part of it? Might not be ideal long term but for now until its safe for him

In the short term, I would take him out on a lead for his toilet breaks so that he's safe.

Going forward, I would work on desensitisation and securing your garden so he absolutely cannot escape - look at the kind of fencing that they use for secure dog fields etc.

Thanks guys these are really helpful. I don't know why I didn't think of securing a piece of the garden before. And I'll try the desensitisation to bangs! Thank you x

Our cocker does this-digs under the fence; we fill it in, digs under the fence; we fill it in. Love her but she’s a disaster. I now have to watch her when she’s outside or in the summer she has a 20m lead on so she can mooch.
not sure what else you can do.