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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday August 26, 2006 - 29 Living with a Hairy Houdini T here's nothing magic about finding that your dog has run away. A visit to the Oakville and District Humane Society will quickly remind you that it can happen to anyone's pet and that in most cases it's avoidable. Frustrated pet owners need not continue living with a Hairy Houdini when they understand why their dog finds leaving such an appealing trick. Dogs find many reasons to run away, but the most common are age, boredom, breed, fear and opportunity. "When a dog is left for long periods of time without company, or if its environment lacks toys to occupy its attention, it is only natural that it will become bored," stated Heather White, Community Outreach and Education Manager at the Oakville & District Humane Society. "Young dogs in particular have lots of energy and they need lots of exercise." Boredom can be a great motivator for a dog looking for some adventure. Breed is also a factor. If your dog's breed is driven by a strong instinct to herd, detect, follow or protect, or if it is the type that requires a job to be happy, then it has been genetically wired to use these skills. What may appear to be an attempt to challenge your wits is in actual fact a dog doing what its breed does best. In all breeds, fear can drive any dog to venture out of familiar territory and seek safety. Things that we take for granted, such as thunderstorms, barbeques and cooking on the stove, can generate great stress in some dogs. Others suffer from separation anxiety and simply do not like to be alone. In both cases, fear drives them to a place that is safe, and that may be outside of the parameters of your home. Opportunity offers the greatest incentive for a dog to run away. The open gate, the lack of fence, an unguarded front door, or the hole in the wall, all beckon adventure seekers. What were once barriers now provide your dog a chance to travel to places that may reward him with more entertainment, food and/or people than they find at home. "Dogs that have a better time away from home than being at home will try to escape as often as they can," stated White. "Take away the motivation and you start to deal with the problem." While some people resort to tethering their dog when outside, White reminds owners that this leaves your pet vulnerable in a yard that other animals can enter, puts them at risk of entanglement and can lead to other undesirable behaviours. Exercise, training and spaying/neutering can provide more positive first steps towards improvement. Dogs should have a variety of toys and be supervised when having regular daily visits outside. Doggie day care or dog walkers offer helpful care alternatives for people working long hours. Professional assistance can also come in the form of veterinarians, dog trainers and animal behaviour specialists who can work through problems with you and your pet. One of the most successful ways to modify the need to roam is to spay or neuter your dog. It has been proven that these medical procedures (typically performed when a dog is six months of age) can reduce roaming behaviour. The significance of this is supported in a 50 per cent reduction in dog licensing fees for owners purchasing their annual Oakville license tag for their `altered' pet. Wearing a license tag can make all the difference to a runaway dog that finds itself at the shelter. "If a lost dog comes into the shelter with a tag it is likely to be reconnected with its owner within 24 hours," stated White. "Not all dogs are that lucky." Once pet owners recognize that safety and frustration are probably the two greatest reasons to take some form of action with a canine escape artist, there is no trick to finding a solution. Punishing a dog will not change the behaviour. Teaching the dog that home's a great place will make leaving far less appealing. Achieving these two goals will protect your dog from the dangers of running away and reduce the stress you experience every time it leaves. To find out more about living with your Hairy Houdini or to purchase your annual dog license tag, contact the Oakville and District Humane Society at 445 Cornwall Road, 905-845-1551. License tags must be purchased within seven days of owning a dog and are renewed annually. PET OF THE WEEK: Sluggo is a really nice older gentleman. He would love to retire into the care of a wonderful family. Could it be yours? Check our Web site for other available animals. www.oakvillehumane.ca. Leaders in Lifelong Learning Continuing Education at Sheridan: Hundreds of professional and personal development courses, most starting the second week of September. Register online today: www.sheridaninstitute.ca. Call 905.845.9430 or 905.459.7533 TM CONTINUING EDUCATION Rates (everyday after 3:00pm) (Friday to Sunday & Holidays) $65 $50 $50 $75 Twilight Rates now starting at 3pm