Our Rescue Doodle keeps running away

[Micky, Derek & Colby]

We have two Doodles, both big guys, who we love to pieces.  Our 2nd Doodle is a rescue who we got over Thanksgiving weekend, his name is Colby.  Our other guy is Derek.  These two are devoted to each other!!  Derek, 100+ pounds at 11 months, and is a big mellow dood.  Colby, 65 lbs at 2 years, is a bit of a wild child and scrappy...probably due to his uncertain life before joining our family.  

We have a large, fenced in yard.  Colby has dug himself out of the yard 3 times and run away in his short time with us so far.

Does anyone have any experience or advice with this?  I am starting to feel desperate and considering an electric fence.  I know this is so mean, and my Colby's been through enough, but I worry for his safety and also don't want him teaching Derek this trick of digging out (though it would be some big trench to get Derek out!).  These two also play really rough, like Doodles tend to do, and I don't even know if a special collar would survive their play time.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If they "rough house" I'd worry about collars unless you're right there...they can get tangled and it can be really dangerous.  I really think the only way to be sure is that you need to be out there....watch and the minute you see Colby even begin to dig you need to correct him.  I don't think this is an unusual behavior for a rescued dog.  Maybe you could have a trainer come to your home to work with you.  I think an e-collar can be effective (and not mean if used correctly) but you would need to be there to watch and provide the "stim" at exactly the right moment.

[Micky, Derek & Colby]

Thanks for your advice!!!  We have been working at training them and will continue. I think Colby just knows there is a big world on the other side of the fence, and wants to explore.  Derek doesn't know anything else, so is very content in his backyard. I think we are going to invest in the e-collars, just for a matter of safety.  It is really impossible to be outside with them 100% of the time, but we have lots of windows and check on them often -- especially to make sure Colby is still there!!  I also worry about the collars, but thank goodness Colby had his on this most recent time, because a local resident found him and knew where to return him.  The funny thing is Derek picks up on Colby's training -- just this morning I caught Colby trying to jump/climb out over our 5 foot fence -- he could get seriously hurt -- and I corrected him, Derek followed up by barreling him over and away from the area.  Kind of funny.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Do you watch Colby when he is out in the yard?  If you are out there with them then he shouldn't be able to dig out.  When he does get out, where does he go?  Does he just run away or is he just standing on the other side of the fence?  How much exercise are they getting?  Maybe he is digging because he is bored and has  too much energy. 

[Micky, Derek & Colby]

Hi, thanks for checking in on this.  Colby is just mesmerized by squirrels...we have lots of trees in the area back behind our house and fence, and Colby gets nuts over the squirrels!!!  (He does this from the windows of our house also.)  They get tons of exercise, and usually just play together with the toys in the yard or with us, but it is really impossible to be out with them 100% of the time.  We will continue training, and probably invest in the e-fence after all.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I guess I don't really understand how it is "impossible to be out with them 100% of the time".  If my two have to potty, I let them out and stand in the door way to make sure they aren't getting into anything and then they come back into the house where they stay until the next time they need to go out.  If they are outside for playtime then we are always with them or they are out walking with us on a leash. 

[Melissa Angelini]

Hi Mickey,  As you know I have 4 doodles and have come across this problem more than once for various reasons.  I also considered the electric fence but before that I tried the remote collars and waited for the moment of the escape or bad behavior and made the correction when needed.  Having four different personalities they all responded different. two are more spirited than  the other two and it just took more time with them and the collars did the trick. We have had the collars for about four years andI still use them when bad behavior arises.  When my guys are outside for the most part  I am with them . We  built a 16 x 16 foot pen for them.  I keep them in this  if I can't be with them or keep an eye out. When its nice weather and they are drained of energy from play  .Otherwise they are in the house where they are happiest. I have one who can fit under the fence or another who opens the fence. Using chicken wire and pavers and roping I blocked off the exits.  My guys also play very rough and often have the collars on and the collars  survived .    Speak to you soon

[Micky, Derek & Colby]

Thanks Melissa...Colby just gets crazy over the squirrels.  We have blocked off much of the fence and areas where he digs with pavers from the garden...so now he is finding ways to climb up and jump over the fence.  This is how he got out yesterday - by climbing on the garden hose storage and jumping up and out.  He is like Macgyver...and now we've removed any methods of climbing now so I wonder what he will come up with next!  He sits on the deck staring at the roof...I honestly wonder if he's considering that as his next escape.  I do think we'll do some form of collar for them, though Derek really has no interest in leaving but will follow his brother if given the opportunity.  The most recent escape happened to our babysitter, so she now knows to keep a better eye on them.  See you soon.

[Adina P]

Colby sounds like my Boca:  Obsessed with squirrels!  We have a 6 foot fence that she scaled once.  Now we have a trip wire up.  And she's never made it over again.  We have it set up at the top exactly as you would set up electric fencing--like for livestock.  It IS an electric fence actually, but it's not hot or plugged in to any power source. 

There's also this company that makes a roller bar you can install at the top of your fence...seems to be pretty cool by the videos on their site: http://coyoteroller.com/ -- I don't think an e-fence is mean at all.  You aren't trying to hurt her...you're trying to deter yard escape which could save her life.  However, I think if you did just a remote collar to 'catch' her in the act, you'd have to be vigilant about supervision until you were quite certain it worked. Otherwise if she chanced it when you weren't watching, she'd learn that it's worth taking a chance...gambling that THIS time there would be no zap.