Will my dog get lost?

Get him a little orange vest.

Ever hear a Beagle bark? Trust me, you won’t lose him.

I guess my concern would be that he’d head off on an ‘Amazing Journey’ adventure and try to get ‘home’. I always worry about that with my dogs, so they tend to stay indoors when we’re travelling.

We had a beagle when I was growing up in suburbia. He was not meant to live in our small back yard and was always taking off, particularly during a full moon. Around his neck was a tag that read, “Please place in Larchmont Taxi and have driver take Larchmont Jeffrey to 7 Villa Lane, COD.” There was only one cab in town and he was amenable and eventually got quite fond of Jeff.

I have funny memories of the cab pulling up to our house, wi Jeff sitting happily in the back seat.

Finally, it all got to be too much, and Jeff went off to some nice people in the country, or at least that is what my mother told us.

I agree with Del. Get him an orange vest. If you are really worried, get him tagged at the vet (can’t they implant little RFID chips that say owner, address, and phone numbers now?). Put a collar on him. Then take him with you. He might run about, but I don’t think disaster will happen.

HOWEVER: I am not a dog owner and I am not YOUR dog’s owner. So do what will make you comfortable. You already have a big yard and he won’t know that he’s missing out.

@Gail: Isn’t that parent-ese for “your dog got hit by a car”? Or do you think he actually went to the country? It sounds like it could have gone either way if he was always running off…

I suppose you could just keep him on leash. Just an idea…

What loser said.

My roommate had a beagle once. Our options with her were collar loose enough that she could wiggle out if we wanted and actually choking her. There was not a middle ground, try though we might.

She lasted all of a week. I am not a dog person but ended up with most of the doggie chores since she hadn’t been planning to get a dog. It was… interesting.

Martingale collars are a great middle ground collar. Or there’s always the harness idea.

I would keep your dog indoors unless you are able to supervise or walk him on a leash.

It scares me to think about my dog taking off and something bad happening. I think the scents of the wild could be a little to intoxicating and tempting for him!

@gailcalled- that is hilarious!
About the leash- it’s like taking a kid to the candy store and telling them they can’t have any, I can’t take the look in his eyes when he’s sad. The orange vest is a great idea. He is tagged, but I don’t know how useful that is in the middle of nowhere.

If your brother is taking his dog, the two will probably stay together.

@AlfredaPrufrock- that’s what my brother said. I’m 99% sure they would stay together.

I would make sure the dog has something bright on, and a tag with your cell phone number, or address where you are, even if it’s paper wrapped in clear tape affixed to the collar. Does he usually come when he’s called? Our dog likes to roam the neighborhood, but really freaked out in the woods, and stayed inside my husband’s sleeping bag the whole trip. When she came home it was a week before we could get her off the bed.

Would you rather be ridiculous and still have your beloved pet or would you rather be sorry you didn’t take steps to prevent the preventable? Until you KNOW how your dog will behave, it is your responsibility to look after him. I’m sure your son would prefer to have a ridiculous mommy than a lost/dead beagle.

If you’re concerned, keep him on a leash. If you feel it unfair, take him for hikes while you’re there.

@empress: shhhhhhh for god’s sakes don’t tell gail that after all these years! you can tell that she hasn’t figured it out yet. let her dream

Leash Him. You can also get a stake tie out.

You should probably duck tape a GPS unit to his head. That way, whever he goes, you will be able to track him down.

@bodyhead- haha duct tape fixes everything!!
Thanks, everyone for your opinions. I think I’m going to take him. I better get shopping for an orange vest, GPS, and duct tape.

If you would really just as soon not have a dog, let him run. In my opinion you would have about a 90% chance of losing him that way. Take him along, but until he has been in that area a few times, don’t let him off the stake-out cable. Take him for many long walks so he can get his bearings.

He’s going with? Ya!!! Have fun!!!

i know it’s too late because it’s already the weekend and so you’re already gone, but my opinion of this is that better safe than sorry. if you’re sorry, you’ll be saying “coulda,shoulda, woulda” and it will be too late.

Vest, micro-chip, collar with local number.

You said a beagle, beagles are coveted by hunters, be careful he does not get stolen.

If it were my dog, he would not get to run unsupervised.