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.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I think I am more careful with Daisy due to my experience with Nicole, and yes, I can relate to aging in 5 seconds.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Oh My goodness Linda that is horrible, and clearly NOT a distant memory...did you get all shook up telling us the story?

I have a similar story from a Craft Show in Salem Oregon. My little one was 3 and we had a stand that was selling tents. She was right by my side and then she was with Daddy...2 minutes later I said "where is Nicole?" he said I thought she was with you? She was actually visiting the people at the next stand over. I found that out because I started crying and screaming immediately, then I heard someone say "are you looking for a little girl, she is right here". I was sure she was taken.

[Linda and Murphy]

Yes, I did!  I was sure someone had taken him

He told me he was going with his dad but dad never saw him.....  Like your situation.

My mom refused to watch him after he disappeared in the mall when he was 2 (We were shopping together and he was looking for me)

 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I totally feel your panic!   Tuesday nights is trash night - DH always takes the girls with him to take the cans to the curb. That is 'their' thing and I am not allowed - WOL! We have been schnoodle sitting for my sisters new rescue 7 month old, 10 lb pup, Marty.  He was not invited on the trash walk. I was in the kitchen and all of a sudden I heard DH screaming for me. Seems that Marty decided he wanted to be a big boy and go see what the trash walk was all about. He took the trash walk into the street. I got outside in a NY minute and DH told me all was okay. Seems that Charli, my black doodle girl, ran into the street after Marty, grabbed him by the neck and pinned him down in the middle of the street until DH could get Marty. I can't begin to tell you how proud (and quite honestly surprised) I am of my Charli.

I am thrilled that you got Darwin home safe and sound! It is a huge reminder that our doodles are dogs, as much as we sometimes think they are human.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Go Charli!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank goodness for Charli's quick thinking! 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Adrianne, Daisy and my DH do the trash walk on Wednesday mornings - once in a while he tries to get out without her but she knows and barks at the door until he opens it. Ha ha

Good for you Charli, what a good babysitter.

[Rose Ann and Amante]

Thank Goodness!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

OMD!!! I panicked reading this even though I knew you found him. What a terrifying time for you! Yup, Darwin is a people pup, that's for sure. I'm positive the players all enjoyed an interruption from Darwin. He is one lovable dood.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh Camilla, so glad it turned out well.  Today I had my dogs out for a walk and Groucho took out after a herd of cows.  He crawled under the barbed wire fence and just chased the cows, then came back.  I tried to get him on leash and he took off after the cows again.  Three times, he went under the fence and after the cows until I finally got him on leash.  Then, as we were walking back to the car, 25 cows came down the trail with a big old bull following them.  Groucho was whining like crazy, but he did not get a chance to go after that bull.  Scared me.  You just never know what they can get into given the opportunity.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Happy ending and will make a good story when your heart calms down.  Darwin now knows how fun it is to roam.  So glad that all turned out well.  Dogs are sometimes - just - well, dogs, I guess.  You can't anticipate everything.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

All's well that ends well, right???