Complacency Kills - Page 1

...unless a miracle happens.

I realize that the following reflects less than favorably on me as a dog owner, but I am posting in hope that someone else may learn and avoid making the same mistakes.

My dog got hit by a car because I got complacent.  Every time he dismounts the car in the garage, he goes immediately to his kennel, which is adjacent to the garage (both in the back of the house).  He's been doing this for months... well, except for Saturday when he heard dogs bark accross the street and bolted around the house, across the street, and behind the neighbor's house.  I called him back, but nothing.  A few seconds later, I saw a car coming so I stopped calling, waiting for the car to pass and that's when it happened.  I saw him coming around the neighbor's house, straight toward me at full speed, and right into the car.  It was downright ugly. 

I did not think he would get up, but after I checked him he seemed fine with the exception of a slight-to-moderate limp on his right foreleg.  No exsanguination, eyes looked good, pupils normal, no limb deformities, no pain when I applied pressure, no blood in urine or stool, continues to eat and drink normally, etc.  Actually, about 15 minutes after the accident, I caught him steal a piece of bread with both forelegs on the kitchen counter.  I think he may even be ready for training this weekend.

He's always on a leash except for going to and from the kennel, at which he has never failed.  So moral of the story: Sh!t happens when you get complacent.

Thank you for posting your story as a reminder to all of us. I am as guilty as anyone of complacency. Although my house is 1,000' up a ssteep hill, out road is more traveled every day and it doesn't take a dog long to chase a rabbit that far. The rabbit always makes it across the road...

Thank goodness your dog is alright. Reading your message gave me chills, got me hunting for leashes and collars.

SS

At least your lesson didn't cost you your dog even though it was a close call, glad to hear he's okay.  My garage door is right outside of my fenced area and at times I will let Drake go from the garage to the fence but I always make sure there are no deer, bunnies, squirrels, etc. in the yard before I let him go.  I never thought about a noise that might make him take off.  He's getting older now and I would think even a bitch in heat within a square mile would have him thinking.  I will leash him always from now on and thank you for sharing!

I've tried to teach my dogs one command that MUST be obeyed, INSTANTLY, and that's "HALT!" It saved my first GSD's life one day, when she started to cross the road with a car bearing down on her. It also prevented my second GSD, Tasha, from tangling with a skunk one night, while I was walking her offleash. The urgency in my voice was so great that she not only froze in her tracks, but almost instantly dropped into a down! Needless to say, I lavished her with praise and pats and treats as I clipped the leash onto her collar....

I know, it may not always work, but it's worth trying to teach it, or a similar command. We're only human, and we do screw up sometimes. If your dog is trained to respond to such a command, it could save his life someday.

On the Martha Stewart show this morning ,she had a guest trainer, who showed Martha how to to the halt command and said the same thing,,,,she actually used the stay   ...she told Martha the same thing...I could save your dogs life....

I have never trusted even the best trained dog I own off leash in the  country...You cannot see or hear what they can...they use    5 senses , and we only use three.......site, hear and smell.....

A dog has one we dont use.......touch     their pads on the feet can feel vibrations of a tornado   a gas leak under ground or the hooves of deer moving on ground.....we cannot  

They use   site, hearing, smelling,  touch and taste.......our smell of another animal near by is never gonna surpass theirs...they know a squirrel is near , and their near is 100 yards away    .....

Excellent article  http://www.leespets.com/trust.html

good article tighe.   Glad to hear that your dog is allright.

 Topli,

Every day I remind myself and others that dogs are dogs. It is very easy to become complacent, even those of us with highly trained dogs. What I always try to remember and what I tell others is this: If I am too arrogant and believe that my dog will obey me instantly 100% of the time, I may end up with a dead dog. If I think the dog will not jump out of a car window, I may end up with a dead dog.

If you think a dog will not......(you can add your own sentence here), you may have a dead dog.

I also have rabbits here and I know for a fact that most of the dogs here would love to chase and if they did, they might end up in the next state before I could find them. So I don't give them the opportunity to do it.

I try really, really hard to anticipate what might happen. Fortunately I live on a large piece of property, but should a dog get loose here without supervision, the vehicles are driving 55mph and better and practically weekly I see dead animals along the roads here. So I am a fanatic about watching the dogs carefully if they are outside a fenced area, even though they would have to travel a half mile to get to a road.

I am sure all of us are very happy your dog lucked out this time and I am sure you will think about this event the rest of his days! Thanks for the reminder.

Yes, we all need a wake up call, sometimes....Glad your dog is tucked away in your home and he gets a big raw bone tonight..