Dangerous leaps into the void

emfab · 07-01-2005, 07:16 AM

My 17 month-old Lurcher, Stan, (whom we've had for a month) has nearly died twice in the past two days. Yesterday while he and my husband were out for a long walk he chased a sheep (after previously showing no interest in sheep) over a cliff. My husband assumed he was dead. Instead, Stan was stuck on a ledge half-way down the cliff with no way back up. My husband went to the beach (not soft sand) below and coaxed Stan down, but the dog had to leap about 10 feet down at the end. Stan was fine, as was the sheep, while my husband was nearly dead of shock.

Today it was my turn. Stan and I were playing ball at the local castle ruins. As we were leaving Stan got up to look (I thought) over a wall, but instead he jumped over the wall to the cement path below--a long drop of about 20 feet. I saw him go over in slow motion. He landed with a terriible thud and cried out, and continued to cry. I ran to him, screaming the whole way to attract attention. By the time I got to him and had alerted a couple of passers-by, Stan was standing up and, after limping a few feet, was raring to go as if nothing had happened. He has a few cuts, but that's all. I thought for sure he must have massive internal injuries or a concussion, and he's going in to the vet's (vet is way on call), but he seems perfectly happy and unfazed.

Question: how do I teach my dog not to jump into the void!!!!???? Obviously I will now keep him on a lead/leash when we're in such dangerous places, but don't most dogs have a self-preservation instinct that keeps them from jumping into the unknown?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

mulroony · 07-01-2005, 07:49 AM

First I want to say what seems like a big distance to jump for us are often not a problem for most larger dogs. I would be affraid of the dog breaking a leg, because dogs with legs like greyhounds can be britle when they are younger. I would hope the pup is learning from its experience. Besides keeping it away from this situation I would say when you go to go play, while the dog is still on its leash, take it over to any larger ledges. Let the dog see just what he is getting into if he jumps. I have the feeling he will be a little more reserved to immediatly jump if already knows how high the edge is. If this does not work, then I think working on his recall would be a good idea. Get him to recall immediatly no matter what the situation is so that if takes off for a ledge you can call him back before he leaps.

emfab · 07-02-2005, 02:23 AM

Thanks Mulroony.

I went back to the site of the castle jump and it wasn't as high as I'd believed--more like 15 feet. I think working on recall is the key--he does tend to go into The Zone where he doesn't listen to a thing we say.

I'd still really like to know if other people have had this experience of their dogs jumping/slipping from crazy heights (My friend's dog died while hiking on Mt Snowdon.)

Kade · 07-02-2005, 08:59 AM

Sight hounds will often fixate on something and follow it with no regard for their own safety. If you're in a potentially dangerous location, keeping him on-lead is definitely the safer way to go.

GreenleafGreyhound · 07-02-2005, 06:31 PM

I know you live in Wales and you have fewer dangerous roads and everything, but the sighthound rule remains as such : NEVER let your dog offlead in an unfenced area.

Over here in the US, that rule is VERY important and all sighthound owners should abide to it. I do realize the situation is different in Europe and other countries, but the fact remains that sighthounds have been bred for thousands of years for one purpose- to sight the prey, to chase the prey without question, and, lastly, to catch the prey. To this day, this basic instinct lives well and strong in our beasts. Sadly, instinct prevails over what we would consider common sense. For example, if your off lead Lurcher sights a rabbit and the rabbit happens to hop across a busy freeway, there's an excellent chance that your Lurcher will, too. Like the above poster mentioned, when sighthounds see a potential prey, they fixate on the animal and all other noises/sounds are mere distractions. Therefore, you can see how a recall will not necessarily help a hound during chase. Trusting a sighthound is dangerous and potentially fatal.

The answer is simple. Keep the hound leashed in unfenced areas and you'll avoid all trouble.

Good Luck with your Lurcher baby!

07-01-2005, 07:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
emfab Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Dangerous leaps into the void My 17 month-old Lurcher, Stan, (whom we've had for a month) has nearly died twice in the past two days. Yesterday while he and my husband were out for a long walk he chased a sheep (after previously showing no interest in sheep) over a cliff. My husband assumed he was dead. Instead, Stan was stuck on a ledge half-way down the cliff with no way back up. My husband went to the beach (not soft sand) below and coaxed Stan down, but the dog had to leap about 10 feet down at the end. Stan was fine, as was the sheep, while my husband was nearly dead of shock. Today it was my turn. Stan and I were playing ball at the local castle ruins. As we were leaving Stan got up to look (I thought) over a wall, but instead he jumped over the wall to the cement path below--a long drop of about 20 feet. I saw him go over in slow motion. He landed with a terriible thud and cried out, and continued to cry. I ran to him, screaming the whole way to attract attention. By the time I got to him and had alerted a couple of passers-by, Stan was standing up and, after limping a few feet, was raring to go as if nothing had happened. He has a few cuts, but that's all. I thought for sure he must have massive internal injuries or a concussion, and he's going in to the vet's (vet is way on call), but he seems perfectly happy and unfazed. Question: how do I teach my dog not to jump into the void!!!!???? Obviously I will now keep him on a lead/leash when we're in such dangerous places, but don't most dogs have a self-preservation instinct that keeps them from jumping into the unknown? Has anyone else had a similar experience?

07-01-2005, 07:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
mulroony Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 2,100 Rep Power: 119	First I want to say what seems like a big distance to jump for us are often not a problem for most larger dogs. I would be affraid of the dog breaking a leg, because dogs with legs like greyhounds can be britle when they are younger. I would hope the pup is learning from its experience. Besides keeping it away from this situation I would say when you go to go play, while the dog is still on its leash, take it over to any larger ledges. Let the dog see just what he is getting into if he jumps. I have the feeling he will be a little more reserved to immediatly jump if already knows how high the edge is. If this does not work, then I think working on his recall would be a good idea. Get him to recall immediatly no matter what the situation is so that if takes off for a ledge you can call him back before he leaps.
	__________________ Shelby (CGC), Jackson, Max, & Mackenzie (CGC) - My pups :) Pit Bull "Problem" Movie (Graphic)

07-02-2005, 02:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
emfab Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Anyone else have this problem Thanks Mulroony. I went back to the site of the castle jump and it wasn't as high as I'd believed--more like 15 feet. I think working on recall is the key--he does tend to go into The Zone where he doesn't listen to a thing we say. I'd still really like to know if other people have had this experience of their dogs jumping/slipping from crazy heights (My friend's dog died while hiking on Mt Snowdon.)

07-02-2005, 06:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
GreenleafGreyhound Good Dog - Greyt Peke Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern CA Posts: 736 Rep Power: 104	I know you live in Wales and you have fewer dangerous roads and everything, but the sighthound rule remains as such : NEVER let your dog offlead in an unfenced area. Over here in the US, that rule is VERY important and all sighthound owners should abide to it. I do realize the situation is different in Europe and other countries, but the fact remains that sighthounds have been bred for thousands of years for one purpose- to sight the prey, to chase the prey without question, and, lastly, to catch the prey. To this day, this basic instinct lives well and strong in our beasts. Sadly, instinct prevails over what we would consider common sense. For example, if your off lead Lurcher sights a rabbit and the rabbit happens to hop across a busy freeway, there's an excellent chance that your Lurcher will, too. Like the above poster mentioned, when sighthounds see a potential prey, they fixate on the animal and all other noises/sounds are mere distractions. Therefore, you can see how a recall will not necessarily help a hound during chase. Trusting a sighthound is dangerous and potentially fatal. The answer is simple. Keep the hound leashed in unfenced areas and you'll avoid all trouble. Good Luck with your Lurcher baby!
	__________________ ~~Amazing Greys Retired Racers~~ [size=3][color=#0F2085] size]

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07-02-2005, 08:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kade 9 months old?! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 903 Rep Power: 89	Sight hounds will often fixate on something and follow it with no regard for their own safety. If you're in a potentially dangerous location, keeping him on-lead is definitely the safer way to go.

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