#MiddleburyCT #Dog #Cat #Lost
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My dog, Shakes, is a “bolter” – he will bolt out the door and straight into the street if I’m not careful. I worry constantly about him getting lost in the woods nearby. If that happens, what should I do? I feel that lost pets don’t get found very often. – Jamie B. in Egypt, Maine
DEAR JAIME: Most dogs who get lost are found and returned to their owners at fairly high rates – between 81% and 97%, according to a 2012 report. That doesn’t make it any less stressful to their owners, who must scour the neighborhood and put up signs to find their dogs.
The statistics for cats are much worse, with only 45% to 72% being returned to their owners. A bunch of things make it harder to find a lost cat: no ID tag, if the cat’s collar breaks away on an obstacle or no microchip. Cat owners wait much longer than dog owners to report their cat missing – probably because they feel most cats will come home on their own.
Those stats aside, Shakes would benefit greatly from being trained not to react when the front door opens. Each day, do about 15 minutes of training with him:
- Put Shakes on a leash and lead him toward the front door. Command “sit.”
- Reach out for the front doorknob. If Shakes starts forward, bring your hand back to your side and command “sit” again.
- Repeat the doorknob reach until he no longer reacts but remains sitting. When he does this, give him a tiny treat.
- Progress to turning the knob, opening the door and leaving the door open. Shakes should remain sitting for each level to be successful.
Keep the training fun and be consistent. It’ll help Shakes stay safe inside and improve your peace of mind.
Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
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