Runaway

Many of you know about my escape-prone dog. Over Thanksgiving weekend he managed to double the number of escapes, adding three more to his repertoire. Saying that my dog has run away six times in only four months makes me sound like an irresponsible owner. If there's not anything he's trying to escape from, then at least I should know that my dog is an escape artist and take special precautions to ensure that he doesn't get loose outside. But believe me, I do take those precautions. It's just that each time is different, and each time he surprises me, and each time I swear that I will not be surprised again, and each time I am wrong.

After attempt number six, I was certain that there would not be another time. That was the time he made gagging noises at six in the morning so that I would rush him outside before he could throw up. He did throw up, he was not pretending, but he was certainly not feeling sick because in the five seconds it took me to run indoors to get the leash (a precaution I did not have to take the other two times he has thrown up), he saw something and darted and was off cavorting about the neighborhood for about two and a half hours before someone found him and called me. Now that I know Jin is not above forced regurgitation, I was certain I would never be fooled again, by anything.

But that's what I think every time.

Yesterday I spent the entire morning at home, giving Jin plenty of attention, and a decent walk. Still, he seemed to know something was up. He acted very restless and clingy, like he knew that when I finally did leave, it was going to be for a very long time. I got out the door about 12:30, balancing my schoolbag, lunch and dinner, a water bottle, my purse, and a change of clothes for volleyball later that evening. Normally when I say "bye bye" Jin sits dejectedly away from the door and watches me leave, but as I fumbled with everything in my arms and with the door, I didn't notice that he had crept up close to me, and suddenly he was outdoors instead of in.

Jin himself seemed a little surprised by what he had done. He paused right outside the door and looked back at me. "Jin!" I cried, "come here!" and just as I expected he did exactly the opposite and took off - but paused again on the rise between the parking lot and the street and glanced back at me. I realized that the hesitation presented me with an opportunity, that if I could lure Jin with a really, really good treat, he just might come back to me. But I also knew that, as much as he likes pepperoni (even if there had been time to grab the pepperoni), or cheese, or coconut date rolls (really!), he likes running away better. In fact, unfortunately, running away is about his favorite thing to do. If I could use running away as a reward for good behavior, he would be so well behaved. Except for the running away part of course.

And then in a moment of brilliance I realized that running away is actually just his second favorite thing to do. 

Hoping to keep his attention just a couple seconds more, I darted over to my car and pressed the clicker to unlock the doors (I swear he can recognize the sound of the doors unlocking from an uncanny distance), and then opened the door. There was no hesitation. In a flash, all thoughts of running away disappeared at the prospect of a car ride and Jin came dashing down the rise and across the parking lot and leapt into the car.

Poor dog. He totally didn't deserve a car ride, but he was so excited that I felt bad about immediately taking him by the collar and leading him back in the house. But now I know that the car is a powerful, powerful draw, and if he does manage to get by my defenses again, and is lucid enough to give me even a second of his attention before taking off for good, I know exactly what to do.

Learn from my experiences, all ye future dog owners...