Help with keeping our dog from getting out and killed?

Question

I gave my mom a puppy for her birhtday last year, well he is 1 year old now and we love him very much, we have 2 other dogs at home and they all play all day long. Oscar is a Min Pin/Dauschund mix. he LOVES to get out and chase cars, we used to chase him but that was a game to him and so now we just keep a eye on him till he comes home and he as come home the last few time, we do take him for walks and rides in the car, he loves to go places, we even take all the dogs to a open field and let them run, noone else is around, we keep his harness and leash on to get him back. We are lucky, our neighbors know him and know he is our dog, but we live in farming country and logging country, we are afraid that he will go to the main road and get run over by a log truck. He almost got hit by a log truck before. The last few times he never left the cul-de-sac, but we live 2 houses away from a field and he can fit thru the fence, now its a combine we will get killed by, or racoon, coyete. HELP !

the fence is all patched up so he cant get out that way,he jets out the front door or the garage door as we are going in and the big door is going down, it has a safety thing were it goes back up when something goes by the sensor, if I could afford it I would replace the fence and put wire 2 feet down, he LOVES to dig too

and he is a house dog, he does have supervised outside times too, but he hasnt tried to get out the fence, just he front door, but it doesnt help when my father leaves the door wide open. any one want my father?

I have called about a electric fence, its would cost a lot, we have a big lot and would have to buy more wire, if I had the money I would get it, but I spent my savings on a $700 emergency vet bill for my yellow lab/golden mix and my Chihuahua a month later again emergency visit.

Answer 1

Installing a screen door that opens from the opposite side than the door would keep him from darting out the door. Screen doors are only $30-$60, depending on how fancy..

Answer 2

You were right to seek advice for this problem. A dog running at loose is a dangerous thing. He can very easily be hurt or killed by any number of things and also personal liability must be considered if the dog were to bite or damage another's property.
Dachshunds are prey hunters and they love to run. They are known for this behavior. Fighting a natural instinct is difficult but not impossible. If you can afford it, a trainer would be best in this situation to help you learn how to train your dog. Teaching him he cannot dart out the door is number one and this can be accomplished several ways. You can install an invisible fence and train him to his boundaries with the help of the collar that comes with these fences. They emit a high pitched alert when the dog nears his property boundaries and a subsequent shock that increases in intensity until the dog learns to not cross the boundary lines. Another technique I like is NILIF training...Nothing in life is free. Make the dog earn everything he gets so he knows who is running the household. Make him sit before going out and keep him on a leash in the beginning until he has learned not to dart out the door. Make him sit/down before eating, before going out to potty. The point of this is to teach your dog that he needs to rely on you for all of his needs and to learn to listen and respect you. There are other methods you can use eventually but your main priority right now is training him to obey and this where I can't stress enough the value of a good trainer. Good luck and give your little guy a big hug for me!

Answer 3

WIreless electric fencing. Maybe he also needs a lot more exercise. Also, you probably need to have a good talk with your dad in regards to leaving the door wide open. If it's going to be an issue, put up a baby gate in the door frame when they want the door open.

Answer 4

I had a Min-Pin & the lady who bought her, got an Electric Fence, & has no problems with her running off, & say's it works great!!!!!!.So, if you can afford it, its worth saving the dog from dying by getting hit.If not, you better find some way, to keep the dog inside, until you can be with the Dog.!

Answer 5

You didn't explain how the dog is getting out of the house to begin with.

My cat is a master escape artist but hasn't been able to get past us for years now. Why? Because we know to be ready to block when we come into the house and when we leave.

If you can't get everyone in your house watching to make sure he can't run out the door the best thing to do is put him in a room(s) that doesn't have direct access to the front door and put a doggie/baby gate on the doorway of that room (or rooms).

Answer 6

I think you should keep him on a leash at all times until you can afford an electric fence. It sounds like the right solution for your dog.

Answer 7

I have the same problem with people leaving the damn door open, i also have three dogs, we live in the city. our oldest stays on the sidewalk. while our youngest run to main streets. I get a heartattack everytime. when the older dog, scrappy was younger, he was like oscar. It was a game, we would chase her and she would run down the street and wait for us to get closer, and the same thing until she wanted to come home. well we got used to where she was always going when she got out, so we would get the car (sounds dangerous) and chase her slowly, she would have fun running full speed and barking at us as we gain we would circle the block and circle the block until she got tired and one of us would jump out and grab her. so she wouldnt do it again we would do something she hated as punishment, a bath. So she learned to stay on the sidewalk when she ran out of the house.

Answer 8

training, training, training. Find yourself an obedience class somewhere and teach a reliable recall. In the mean time keep him kenneled and take him out on lead. I don't care where you live it only takes one car to kill your dog. If he doesn't improve consider a good tether. I have a fence jumper, when she's in the yard unsupervised she's hooked to a 60 foot "sky cable" this gives her plenty of moving room without the freedom to get to the fence.
Good Luck,

Answer 9

Well there is a couple humane ways to do it. There is a spray you spray it maybe every couple of weeks and thats what keeps our dogs in the yard its an invisible barrier which you can get a you local feed/ ranch store. Or else you can try a collar i realy dont like it but it does work if they get close to the gate theyll know. Again this is all advice so i hope this helps.

Answer 10

I would suggest an electric fence or any sort of fence really. Unless you want to cage him all day which is never healthy for a puppy, electric is your only option. Or you could hire a trainer.