June’s Weekend Escapades

None of our current dogs are big on escaping. They really have no desire to run away from us or explore the world on their own. (They love exploring the world, but like it best when we’re nearby.) And yet, twice this weekend, June “escaped”.

Except that the first time, she didn’t escape at all. At one point Saturday late afternoon, I notice that June is not in the room with me, Larry, and Howie. So I ask C and J if she’s in the other room with them. They say “No.”

Occasionally, C will hook a leash to the bakers’ rack right inside our doorway and then close the sliding glass door, effectively closing a dog outside. While I didn’t remember him taking her out, that was still my first thought, but no, she wasn’t on the back porch waiting to come in. There wasn’t an empty collar sitting there, either.

So, I started opening doors to the other rooms we’d been in that day, and calling her name- calling down the stairs and listening for the jingle of her tags. Nothing.

By this point, C and J realize that June actually is “missing”, and we discuss that no one heard her go downstairs when C had the garage door open (and she’s not really subtle). But still, that seems like the most likely case.

I grabbed a leash and some treat and headed outside to look for her.

I hadn’t gotten very far when C yells that he found her. I go back in.

She had apparently gotten herself in the front coat closet (which is also where their food is stored). I can’t imagine closing the door to that closet without noticing her in there, as it’s not a very big space, but apparently, someone did. And she didn’t mind. C said she was sitting there quite calmly when he opened the closet door.

And, 20 minutes later, she was scratching at the closet door, trying to get back in.

Sunday, she actually got out. C was working in the basement and had the garage door open when I needed to head down to do some laundry. June snuck past me and went down the stairs. Larry started to follow her, but he actually came back up when I called. (Good boy.)

I tried calling for C, but he wasn’t really paying attention, and was in a different part of the basement. June went straight for the garage and out the door. She was perfectly happy wandering into our yard, but when I approached, she decided it was time to play. She play bowed and then ran off like I should be chasing her.

I had to go back in for shoes and a leash. She followed her nose around a neighbor’s yard in that time, but happily came up to me as I was calling her. (She really didn’t want to escape, just play.) I had to convince her it wasn’t time to play. I got the leash on her and back home we went.

Not too much later, we were at the dog park where she could run around and play.