We have a major problem. We live out in the country and just came home with a dog this past Sunday. She snuck out on my husband last night and now we can not catch her. She won't even come near us. She sees us and turns and flat RUNS in the opposite direction. She's a very sweet dog, except for this. There is no reason for her to run from us; however, we do not really know the circumstances for which she came to be at the organization where we got her from. Any ideas on how to catch her?????

My only suggestion would be to try and lure the dog in with food (meat or something they can't resist). Do you have a fenced yard or anything like that? I live in the country, and that's been critical for us to keep our dog at home and not running. Dogs that run eventually get into serious trouble.

It'd be a good idea, but we can't even get close enough for her to smell it. Plus she won't take food or anything from us; she'll only eat it from her dish and she won't even do that unless we're NOT watching her. Our next door neighbor (my husband's boss) has a fenced yard with 3 dogs and we figured our dog would maybe go in there to be with the other dogs, but she's not. We were up over half the night (starting at 9 last night) trying to find/catch her and she's still out there. I don't know what more to try/do and with all the livestock, we can't have her running around like this and/or "turning wild".

Boy, that's a tough one! The only other idea might be to call a vet or animal control for suggestions. He might get less nervous after a day or two, but you never know. We had a stray show up a number of years ago in our yard. He growled and wouldn't let us come close for several days; but eventually he warmed up and became the family dog for a number of years.

About the only other thing you could do would be to leave food outside for the dog and if it is gone in the morning you can be pretty sure they ate it. SHe will get used to coming to that spot to get her food and then maybe you can start putting it in a barn or something. once they get hungry the scene changes and if they know they can get food then maybe they wont run. I dont know.

Sounds right. Leave food out far enough away that she can get it without fear. (And accept the fact that she may be sharing it with some other creatures.) If she starts taking it, move it in closer the next time. She does not really know you yet and may need time.

If that does not work, animal control folks usually can help with a live trap. It is good to set up such a trap so that you can open it from a distance in case you catch one of those other creatures.

We've had great luck using a live trap on dogs. Animal control let us borrow theirs once, but they aren't that expensive to buy either. Good luck.

for future reference, after you catch your dog, you might want to consider an invisible fence. They work great. We have one, and they really arent too expensive.

This is a copy of a letter to Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer (my hero!) Hope it give you some ideas, good luck!

Dear Cesar,
I rescued a dog that had been boarded in the vet's office for a year. Although I thought I had planned appropriately, the dog, a neutered male Chow mix, ran away in the first 30 minutes at home and promptly got shocked by an electric fence and attacked by the fenced dogs. I live in the country, and he ran off into the woods behind another neighbor's house. He is very timid. My neighbors love animals and are helping me by putting out food and water for him. Every now and then we do get a sighting, but he runs from people. He has not taken up with any of the neighborhood dogs. Is this normal for a dog to be alone? How long can a dog go without a pack? Do you have any idea how we can use his pack instinct to attract him?

Sherry Garner
Pike Road, AL


Dear Sherry,

It is not normal for a dog to be alone. Regardless of the breed, dogs are pack-oriented animals. However, they don't always form packs with other dogs. If they don't trust their own species, they may form a pack with another animal, like a cat or a horse, but they will create a pack. Without a pack, depression will kick in, and they may die.

Unfortunately, this dog associates his negative experience with humans. In order to regain his trust, you want to make him come to you. Outsmart the animal by ignoring him while moving closer. To attract him, I would bring a nice-smelling piece of chicken from El Pollo Loco and tie it to my belt, so the smell travels his way. Avoid eye contact. Do not walk toward him; walk parallel to him. The key is for him not to realize that you are looking for him. The more you look at or talk to a dog that doesn't trust humans, the more timid he will become, but the more you ignore him, the more attracted he will become.

Stay calm and assertive,



Cesar Millan

[This message has been edited by K.Duffy (edited 2/1/2008).]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. My husband put food out for her around 1 yesterday and between 4 and 6 it was gone. I put some treats in there and by 8:30 they were gone, so I filled the bowl again and moved it a little closer to the door. Around 9:10 or so I was trying to put my daughter to bed and thought I heard some yipping outside (but told myself it was my imagination) and then the neighbor's dogs started barking and raising heck. So I decided to get up with the excuse that I was filling my daughter's cup (worked for her!). Went to the front door first, but no sign of her, which I expected. So I filled my daughter's cup and on the way back to the bedroom, I decided to look out the small windows in our back door. Not even a minute later I saw this dark shape moving and then sit down in my old garden bed. I whispered to my husband to look out the window (our normal voices carry outside really badly--big picture windows!), and then I slowly opened our back door. I didn't want to scare her away so I started talking to her in a soft/normal tone so she knew I was there and so as to not try to scare her away. I kept talking to her as I slowly opened the screen door and as I was opening the door, I started squatting down and opened my other arm--she came immediately to me, on a weaving track with her tail tucked between her legs. I think she thought she was going to be in trouble, but we praised her for being a good dog for coming home and gave her some treats. She seemed really happy to be back in the house again, too! So now we will be extra cautious when we take her out--leash goes on BEFORE doors are open and then she's put on the chain outside BEFORE the leash comes off and same goes for bringing her back in--at least until we can train her to stay and she learns "come". We think she has probably never really been taught the commands come and stay. She needs some work, BUT I think she'll be a great dog! (We got her at Help for Homeless Pets in Billings--great people there and not too bad of a place--big enough and not bad like some of those types of places can be)

Thanks again for all your help--we are so happy she's home and safe and unhurt!!!

Bravo! I am very happy things worked out so well. Looks like your family will have to become her pack and she will stay around.
Lisa

Lisa-
that and we have 2 cats! They were both at the door "meeting" her when she came in--I think they missed her, too, although my older cat hissed at her, but that's all she does! LOL
Tana