Aussie won't stay home

[copperhead46]

I'm kinda embarrassed to tell this, but I need some advise. My 7 year old Austrailian Shepard has started going to the neighbors house and staying. They live about a mile away and swear that they don't feed him or encourage him. (besides, he's never had an empty feed bowl) I have ask them to please run him off, but I don't think they will do that. He has never left home before and I can't figure out why he's doing it now. Their dogs have been spayed, so thats not the lure, and I just don't know what to do about it. I hate to tie a dog up, but he can jump right over my fence, which he does about every 4 or 5 days. I go get him and he comes running when he see me, but I'm getting tired of going after him, what makes them do that?? Any advise would be welcomed, thanks,

[Mahoney-Pursley Ranch]

Had a dog when I was a kid would follow me everywhere I went. Dog would always go with me to my buddies house whose Grandparents lived next door to them. Never had any trouble with him coming home with me till one day he stayed at the Grandparents house and never came home.He saw me there most every day after that too and was excited to see me but just stayed with them old folks till the day he died. Don't know why,maybe he just figured they needed him more than I did.

[C-E]

Oh sure copperhead now you tell me that my pups dad is a fence jumper.

Charlie Rose is doing great. Only problem I have is she is so fat I still have to lift her big butt into the pick-up. Wish she'd grow into that belly and learn to jump.

[kolanuraven]

I keep my Aussies & Heelers in their kennel (20' sq....7' tall) when they are not with me.


These dogs are just too creative to be left to their own devices!!


They will cry and might even try to dig out a time or two, but once they get adjusted to their new schedule it will be fine.


When we are done with whatever ' chore' I may have them on....All I have to say is " go to your room" and they got to their respective kennel door, wait, I give them a cookie and in they go and are happy as clams.

They are like kids...they need structure and a schedule.

[Faster horses]

We never had dogs that left home and we didn't kennel them. However, our old neighbor had a good border collie that liked to come and visti us. It was hard, but we tied him up with no feed or water for a couple of days. The old fella come and got him and he stayed home after that.

As I say, it was hard to do, as we are dog lovers, but...

[copperhead46]

Hey C-E glad to hear she's doin good, she'll grow into her belly, for sure. Her brother is already bigger that his momma and I'm betting that big girl you got is gonna be a big one too. Post some pictures of her, so I can see how good she looks, is she looking at cows yet? Her brother looks but they still scare him a little bit.
As for their daddy, I don't know why he's started this leaving home business. He's never done this before, but now it's become a habit, he stays home for about 4 days then goes up the hill. I guess I'll have to put him on a chain for a while, till he can break the habit, I sure hate too. It's true, they have too much energy and way too creative to be left on their own.
P.J.

[C-E]

She's gettin braver all the time now she will go to the gate and bark at them, but still not quite ready to take the plunge and get in the pen yet.

Well I take that back she did sneak in and play back up for my FIL's red heeler but she stayed behind him.

I'll try to get some pics of her this week.