Search Results for: blog moose the great escape mutt

Moose’s Special New Trick

Posted on by

My dog Moose is definitely NOT the stereotypical German shepherd. I’ve had little kids stop me and ask me if Moose is a police dog, and I have to laugh. He’s definitely not the smartest of dogs. Don’t get me wrong — Moose is a loveable, cuddly, goofball of a dog. He just doesn’t seem to have much in the brains department. For the first few weeks I had him, he didn’t answer to his name. (He came from the shelter named Coyote.) He’s not the best with obedience and basic commands, but he tries. Sort of. Alas, now that … Continue reading →

Dogs with GPS

If your dog is a chronic escape artist (like my shepherd mix Moose used to be), you can now have state-of-the-art tech on your side. I saw a magazine ad for the Zoombak — a small Assisted GPS (Global Positioning System) locator that fits on your dog’s collar. If your dog leaves the yard, the folks at Zoombak will send you a text message or an email to let you know where your pup has gone. You can check maps online and get phone or email updates until your furry wanderer is home safely. That’s pretty darn amazing if you … Continue reading →

Murphy Meets the Paramedics

Yesterday my mom’s health took a scary turn. She was extremely confused when she woke up. She was holding the clothes she’d been wearing the day before but saying she’d lost her clothes. Explaining she was holding her clothes only made her contemplate the bundle with confusion. As he almost always is, Murph was at my side to help with the Grandma Dorothy wakeup routine. When my mom kept saying she didn’t have her clothes but needed them because she was “going home today,” I opened her closet door and showed her all her clothes hanging there. Murph even snatched … Continue reading →

A Pet’s Personality Can Help When They’re Lost

Is your dog friendly and outgoing? Friendly dogs will often go up to the first person who calls them. These dogs are often found relatively close to home, or are quickly picked up close to the escape point. (This can vary, depending on the population and area where the dog was lost.) The people who find extremely friendly, social dogs are often tempted to adopt them. Moose — my escape artist dog — is an outgoing, friendly sort of dog. I remember one morning jaunt he took when we still lived in Vermont. He bolted out the door as I … Continue reading →

Nights of Thunder

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 o’clock in the morning, I was awakened by a big fat shepherd mix stepping on my head. Let me tell you — that gets me up rather quickly. Not necessarily alert, but at least I was awake. Moose was having a crisis, and I quickly figured out why — we were having a thunderstorm, complete with flashes of lightning and super loud kabooms overhead. My big fat shepherd, you see, is a big fat chicken. Normally, when he hears something that scares him, he goes to hide under the desk where I do my … Continue reading →

Stop Breakouts!

If you have an escape artist in the family, you have several options for breakout prevention and control. Stop yard breakouts! If your yard isn’t completely fenced in, your pet shouldn’t be allowed to roam without a leash. You can find portable fenced runs or tie-outs at your local pet store; the folks there will help you pick something appropriate based on the size and activity level of your pet. Make sure all gates are securely closed. Chain or otherwise secure gates — a smart pup could learn to pull a chain or lift a latch and take himself for … Continue reading →