Darwin Scared the Crap Out of Me!!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I can't believe I am telling one of these stories.  I hear them all the time, and I think "Oh my gosh I couldn't handle that if it happened to me." Today, I lost Darwin for a terrifying 30 minutes or so.

99% of the time, Darwin is in a fenced in area or on leash when outside. I do this because I'm cautious, even though he has a very good recall and isn't one to run off. But we have a routine, where I will go out into the yard to take pictures for my photo-a-day. I will go out with him, he pees, then waits on the porch or sniffs around while I snap the photo. This usually takes about 5 minutes and he's never once acted like he wanted to leave the yard. The yard is completely fenced except for the front gate, which is usually open. So today, he peed then waited on the porch while I set up my tripod. 

I'm serious, it looked at him on the porch, bent down and took 4 photos, and when I looked up he was gone. I assumed he had run to the backyard, because he NEVER tries to leave the yard. I had lost sight of him for maybe 30 seconds. So I put my camera inside and went around back. Nothing. I started feeling uneasy, and in the next 5 minutes of searching, I realized that he had actually left. I ran out onto the street and started calling him, and my MIL came out to help. She looked inside, then drove around the block. Then SIL joined in and we all started searching.

30 minutes in, I was absolutely panicked. I had called DH and he was coming home from work early to help, and he was about to call the shelter and tell them to keep a look out. He just happened to NOT be wearing his collar which is terrible, but he does have a microchip. I was on the verge of tears. I felt (and feel) like the worst dog owner in the world for letting this happen. "He NEVER does that" is hardly an excuse that brought me any comfort. I was imagining him trapped somewhere, wanting to come to my calls but being unable too. I wondered if maybe someone had brought him inside when they saw he was wearing no collar. I walked down the street and started to cry. Maybe two seconds later I faintly hear the word "dog". 

Whipping around I saw the most welcome, happy, infuriating, surprising, and unsurprising sight. Darwin was rolling/rubbing/frisking around on the grass, IN THE MIDDLE OF A BASEBALL GAME. It was the players who had been saying dog. No doubt they were wondering who he was and what they should do. I ran over to the field and called Darwin, after which he looked at me then promptly trotted off in the opposite direction. He ran around to each of the players, nudging their hands or sniffing their crotches, then rubbing on the grass again. It took me a bit to work around to the opening (the whole field is fenced) so he had plenty of time to disrupt the game. 

I was so angry and relieved by the time I got to him that I may have said a curse word or two. After which the players whistled and were muttering "oooh, Darwin's in trouble." Then I led him out by the scruff of his neck as I didn't know what else to hold. That was bad planning on my part but I was so panicked I didn't think to grab his collar or leash from the house. As we left, the players all started yelling "see ya later buddy" and "bye Darwin". I had no idea how they knew his name, until I realized I had been yelling it at the top of my lungs after I saw him. 

I brought him home and was unsure whether to hug him or cry. So I snapped this picture with my phone. He was VERY happy with himself. He's now fast asleep on the ground next to me, no doubt exhausted from his fun day. DH and I were talking about it, and it makes sense that he would leave and go find the most exciting people possible, he's just too friendly for his own good... 

He's wet because it was rainy and muddy.

Moral of the story, NEVER trust your sweet obedient Doodle. LOL. Caution is always a good idea. 

Finally, I am SO glad MIL and SIL were so level headed and great about helping me look. They are the best!

I apologize for not making this a blog... but discussions are quicker and better as far as responses go.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Camilla, I am so happy you found him safe (and putting on a show) That must have been terrifying! Your story on the baseball field had me laughing! We always say that if Chloe got loose she be 6 blocks il at the park looking for a ball game or kids! Darwin you are very brave! I
hope mom forgives you soon! It could happen to any of us.I love happy endings!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Silly Darwin! I think my heart would have stopped. What a goof! Maybe he was protesting all those video shoots...

[Camilla and Darwin]

LOL NO. He loves the video shoots! He gets attention, and yummy food. 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

About a year ago, we made the mistake of letting Peri off leash in our new backyard. She ran up into the woods and wouldn't come back. We could hear her, but she was being a naughty dood.  I went inside, closed the door and called my mom crying. I was basically panic-stricken and wouldn't even go outside because I was scared she would keep running.  DH went up to keep an eye on her and coax her back home.  Mom and dad got in their car to come over - we thought she'd come running when they arrived. Luckily, she came home before that.  One of the longest 20 minutes of my life.\

SO GLAD DARWIN's HOME!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thanks everyone for your concern/assurances. I feel much better today and I'm finally starting to laugh a little at the memory of Darwin prancing around the game like he owned the place. I am pretty glad it happened because it's really reaffirmed that I always need to be cautious and on guard. 

  He got off pretty easy, I couldn't be mad at him for long. His his new toy came in the mail yesterday AND we did a new video. He  has loved shooting them because he gets lots of praise, attention, and of course, food. :-) He jumped right up into the chair this time like "what are we cooking today???"