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This morning my little dog Oliver wanted to go out at 3:15 AM. I was dead asleep but got up and thought I'd latched his leash on his collar. It wasn't and the little shit took off. I never let him off the leash after the last time this happened and he was gone for a day and a half. Tonight I was just so tired after being sick for a week I wasn't all the way awake. He ran around my apartment complex not far away from me but he's such stubborn little thing that he won't just come in when I call. I was chasing him for a while it was like a game for him "nanny nanny boo-boo you can't catch me!" and even got in my car to look for him and now he's just gone. It's 4:20 AM and won't be light for a while I hate not being able to do anything.

I never leave this dog alone because he hates it when I do but yet one chance to run off on his own and he's gone. I am beside myself.

I could use some SI mojo to bring him back, You did it before I really need it again. It's cold and all he has on is a little raindeer sweater.

If I can't find him I don't know if I'll be able to take it.

Doggie finding MoJO.

And a (((Hug))) for you!

Be sure to post on Craigslist. That's how I found a dog's owner one time recently. ((Hugs))

Saying a prayer for you and your pup.

Mojo. Thinking of you both.

Sending loads of doggie MOJO.

((((mm))))

Oh no! I hope you find him soon.

Sending mojo and prayers. I hope he comes home soon.

((((meanie)))) I hope he's safely back home soon. Be sure to check with shelters when they open today.

(((meaniemouse)))

I hope Mr. Oliver shows up soon.

MOJO your way.

THANK YOU!

The wanderer has returned. I got dressed (had been out looking in my pjs) and just as I was getting ready to leave I hear whining and scratching at the front door. He was there--with that, "gee, I'm so sad I worried you but that was some fun--huh?" look on his face. I wanted to simultaneously hug and strangle him. He jumped up into my bed and immediately fell asleep. We both just woke up.

Thanks for the responses and the mojo--once again, it worked!

Dogs - worse than teenagers!!!!

I'm so glad he turned back up. SI mojo ROCKS!

Yay! So glad Oliver came to his senses. I totally get the strangle/hug comflicting impulses. Rotten little adorable furballs!

Glad he came back,

I would strongly encourage you to look into training with a shock collar, once he is trained then you just have to put that thing on him, and he will do whatever you want. Or that is my experience with them. I have used them on all of my dogs over the past 15 years, they are all larger breeds, but my MIL has used them on her Westies too.

These are a great training tool, and were orginally used to train hunting dogs, and so forth, but it can be great when you have a dog whose nose gets the best of them.

I have to put the collar on my Lab (4 now) every few months to remind her she has to mind me, she will start getting lazy with following my commands, and I know she is just waiting for the perfect moment to go wander in the woods, and follow a turkey or deer, or fox. Usuallly at the most inopportune times too, like early morning, or on my way out the door.....

They are expensive, but well worth the investment.

Bad Oliver. Bad dog.

I am so glad he came back safely.

Thanks again, everyone.

tushnurse--I don't know much about shock collars--do you have to work with a trainer when you get one? Oliver is a rescue dog and he had horrible anxiety when I first got him--literally he spent the first few months under the bed, and when you looked at him he just had that crazy-whale-eyed look all the time. Thankfully he's over most of the extreme nervousness but he is still pretty skittish--and is hypersensitive to loud noises.

He also gets really, really nervous when I take him to certain places, (Petsmart, certain people's homes, outdoor malls) he shakes like a leaf, strains at the leash and would bolt if I let loose of him. But he's not at all afraid of other dogs or people, unless they are loud, and he LOVES riding in the car. And of course--he loves running around my apartment complex when he knows he's not supposed to.

I've tried the DAP collar, he has a Thundershirt, I took him to basic dog training and the vet even gave him Prozac. I am not kidding. Of all that the Thundershirt kind of works. Nothing else.

I think he needs the Dog Whisperer. Or perhaps I do.

Meanie if you know the basics of dog training then no you don't need to work with a trainer with the shock collars. I would however talk wiht one about the best way to deal with it, given his high anxiety level.

As the dog whisper says they need limits, boundaries, and consistency. That is the real key with training a dog. The other thing they need and all dogs need this, some more than others is good consistent exercise. If they get their exercise, both mentally and physically they tend to be much calmer and happier, and walking them is a great way to do this.

Sounds like Oliver is a little guy who has a lot of extra energy. I would strongly encourage you make sure he is getting exercise time every day, fetch is a great way to get this done, if you have limited time. You may find that his anxiety levels are better as well when you can get him worn out on a consistent basis.

I can tell you from my experience with many many many dogs, that there are some that really truly need it daily. (My current Lab for example).

When she misses more than a day or two of exercise she is almost unbearable to be around, high engery, wants attention constantly, restless, spazzy. If I take the 15 minutes each day to throw a ball for her (LaCrosse Ball thrown with a Lacrosse stick) she is calm, quiet, and happy. She often will just greet you in typical lab fashion when you come in and then go find a comfy spot to rest. If not she will bug you until you have to yell at her.

It can make all the difference in the world.