Kicking myself HARD

And I deserve it.

The last hour or so (didn't time it but it felt like a hundred years) has been possibly the worst of my life.

Kuchar disappeared  . It was dark.

He went out to the back garden, which is enclosed. It was always Dobermann-proof and I thought it was Staffie-proof. BIG MISTAKE. I think he squeezed himself through a small gap between my fence post and the gate, Staffy high because of the mesh we put up when he was tiny, but can't be sure. Or why, either.

anyway, only a few minutes - searched garden and house but he was gone. Hysteria ensued. My son and I scattered in all directions in search. THANK GOD (and I mean that most sincerely) I went up a road he has never been to before (about half a mile away) and found him chasing around a couple of dogs with their owners. It took ages to catch him, he knew he was a naughty boy and dodged away from me time and again. I begged the dog owners to stay with me, and bless them they did. The sit command and his wanting another piece of treat finally allowed me to grab the scruff of his neck and put the collar and lead on him. I was never so relieved in my life.

We've certainly learned our lesson - he is not having eyes taken off him when he goes into the back garden, and Fort Knox security fencing will be put up just as soon as the weekend is over.

Sorry for the ramble, needed to spill my guts.

aww Lynda thank goodness kuchar is ok, kuchar you naughty boy for giving mummy the freight of her life glad everything turned out ok Lynda fence reinforcements to follow I think

 Poor you and Kuchar! I'm glad you got him back!

Try not to be too hard on yourself though. These things do happen! The important thing is that he wasn't hurt and now you can patch up the hole to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Hey Lynda sh1t happens , learn by the problems fix the holes and reassess . You have him back , all ok so not a bad result

Makes you realise how quickly it can happen, even to the best of us. No harm done apart from your blood pressure x

They are so annoying arent they!

Thank you my friends for your kind words, and also for not bollocking me about my inadequate fencing.

10 foot high solid brick walls with searchlights and alarm sirens are going to be installed.

and Kuchar is now being renamed Houdini aka Little Git.

Hey Lynda.
Glad you got him back.
Not much else need be said - we all **** up from time to time (but learn from it).  

Thank you Keith, and I have certainly learned not to be complacent or underestimate Houdini's powers of escape.

I'm glad you managed to find the little monster before he got himself into any trouble.  

Thank you Sarah. He was only a few feet from a busy main road when I caught up with him.

And little monster doesn't come near what we called him whilst cuddling him and spilling tears of relief onto the little so-and-so.

Glad you got him back!

I never leave the boys in the garden on their own, to much of a risk for me, plus we live on a main road

Wow! What a fright! Glad you got him back and all is well! Lets see some pics of Fort Knox when you are through!

Glad it all ended happily Lynda  

How terrifying - every owner's fear! 

Lynda wrote: being renamed Houdini aka Little Git.

I think that could be applied to 99% of the dogs on this forum! 

How awful Lynda, I know I would have been a total wreck.
Glad no harm was done x

Thank goodness you managed to find him and get him home again, sounds like the stuff of nightmares to me.

Thank goodness he's safe   My 2 both escaped together last winter when I opened the door to the postman and I had a broken foot so couldn't run after them. It's a horrible, horrible feeling. But, as you say, something you don't let happen twice  

thank you all, you are all so kind.

Yes it was a nightmare. I'm getting a guy around tomorrow to Staffy-proof my back fence, it'll take a bit of time (and mega-bucks) but until then Houdini aka Little Git is not being allowed into the garden unless under strict supervision, and not at all after dark (when he's invisible).

He's a bit puzzled but he's only got himself to blame.

Aw, hope your nerves are slowly settling Lynda. These things do shake us up  

You've all been so kind, thank you.

My son has barricaded up the gate so that Little Git can't get out.

I shall be getting a whole new fence, new gate, new posts, plus concrete lintels under the fences (so that Little Git can't dig his way out) in a couple of weeks.

This dog is costing me a fortune! And I won't relax until it's all installed.