Rat Terrier on the loose...

[Sadie&Zoey]

Hello, I have a rat terrier and she keeps getting out. We have wooden fences and she digs under them. Anyway, my husband thinks that she does not want to be here, and I think that she is just looking for something to do. We are not home during the day, but when we are she does not dig out. So I was wondering if besider securing the back yard again, and short of locking her inside is there anything else we can do to deter this? I was thinking maybe another dog because maybe she would have something to do, but whenever she sees another dog she tries to bite it. I don't want to get rid of her if we can help it but she is terrorizing the neighborhood and it is upseting people we live around.
Thanks

[kazkirkpatrick]

Have you tried crating her while you are gone?

[TribalRats]

Crating is a wonderful idea, how long are you gone for at a time?
I have 4 Rat Terriers and a Rat Terrier mix all of whom are crate trained. They are crated or kenneled when ever I am gone.
I usually crate if I am going to be gone for an extended period of time as opposed to putting them in the kennel as I know they are safe in there crates.
They have water dishes that are secured to the side of their crate and plenty of chew toys inside there crates to help alleviate boredom.
Rat Terriers do crave allot of attention and they can also be diggers. A frustrated Rat Terrier is a digging Rat Terrier.
You have to find a way to:
A) better secure her
and
B) keep her occupied when you are gone.
Is there anyone who can come by and take her for a walk during the day?
Does she get out in the evenings and go for a walk with you?
We have a HUGE backyard and we stil take them down to the local dog park or the school down the street that is gated (so it is secure) and let them run and fetch and act a fool every other day. They also get regular walks as well as a ton of attention and regular training.
I do not think she wants to be somewhere else, she is just board and want to find something to do.

[Sadie&Zoey]

I don't think we can crate train her she's already too old. We are gone about 9 hours a day. We don't really have friends or family up here though. I would like to try taking her out in the evening for a walk and maybe that will help with the curiousity. Can you think of any good ways they can stay occupied by themselves? We do need to secure more, I am rather upset because we got cement put in a she still got out through the gap, my husband said it looked like she worked real hard to do it. Do you think another dog would be beneficial or frustrate her more?

[fert_girl]

I don't know whether this works but, giving them their kibble in one of those balls that as they roll it around dispenses it, that might keep her busy?
Or Kong toys? Put treats inside em and let her get them out during the day?

[TribalRats]

First off A dog is never too old to begin crate training. Yes it is harder but it is a life saver, literally. Especially for a Rat Terrier and a Rat Terrier owner.
As far as how to entertain her goes, we have picked up kiddie slides and picnic tables at yard sales over time and we now have 2 slides and the table out in the yard for the dogs to climb on. Every morning I go out and hide treats through out the yard so it takes them all morning to find them.
I would not recommend getting another one. The reason is then you would have 2 Rat Terriers loose on the streets. Yes they would have each other to play with but the play would not last 9 hours. The Kong is a great suggestions, some chew toys, get creative find out what she likes and make something for her that she enjoys.
The main thing is exercise, she needs more exercise and more stimulation.

[Sadie&Zoey]

I was thinking about kongs, those are all great suggestions, I want to take her to the park and stuff on th weekend and I will get her a bunch of toys, even though she had some chew toys I will get her some of those interesting treat ones you are talking about. I was not saying necessarily another rat terrier just another dog but I am not really up to it right now so hopefully this other stiff will work. I should be getting a little slide for my daughter soon so if the dog likes it, that's another bonus. Thanks for all the help.