We have an escape artist!

[rme147]

My new female corgi pup is a little stinkin escape artist! At night time she, and our other 3 dogs (including a male corgi pup), sleep in the kitchen by means of an accordian gate and they have a dog door out to the porch. Well, she discoverd that she's still small enough to fit under the gate so most mornings my husband and I wake up to our addorable little pup begging to come to bed with us! That's okay for now, because she'll get bigger and stop crawling under the gate. But here is my problem:

Just a few minutes ago my husband was out in the yard and he called me outside. The puppy had squeezed through the railing on our porch and fell about 4 1/2 - 5 feet to our front yard! It didn't even phase her, she got right up and started to explore the front yard! I'm afraid that it will happen when we're not home and she'll either get hurt- or escape from the front yard too and get lost or hit by a car... we can close the dog door while we're gone, but that keeps the other 3 dogs locked up too and they'll potty in the house. Does anyone have any advice? We have a puppy pen we can keep her in, but I dont' want her to feel punished... help please!

[Chip's Mom]

For her safety's sake, I would definitely keep her in the puppy pen when you are not home until she is older. I have three corgis and each one had to stay in the puppy pen until they were more trustworthy to have the freedom of the house when we aren't home and they didn't feel punished. It is well worth it for your peace of mind. Better an unhappy corgi then a missing one or worst yet, one getting hit by a car. Good luck

[Michael Romanos]

For outside fences, gates, partitions etc there is nothing better or cheaper than a little chicken wire netting cut to your requirements for filling in gaps. There are also relatively inexpensive mobile fencing that one can buy - might also come in handy for outside pens and other outdoor barrier requirements.
For indoors , surely you can think of something suitable for narrowing or filling a gap or two.

[Corgis4me]

Originally Posted by rme147

My new female corgi pup is a little stinkin escape artist! At night time she, and our other 3 dogs (including a male corgi pup), sleep in the kitchen by means of an accordian gate and they have a dog door out to the porch. Well, she discoverd that she's still small enough to fit under the gate so most mornings my husband and I wake up to our addorable little pup begging to come to bed with us! That's okay for now, because she'll get bigger and stop crawling under the gate. But here is my problem:

Just a few minutes ago my husband was out in the yard and he called me outside. The puppy had squeezed through the railing on our porch and fell about 4 1/2 - 5 feet to our front yard! It didn't even phase her, she got right up and started to explore the front yard! I'm afraid that it will happen when we're not home and she'll either get hurt- or escape from the front yard too and get lost or hit by a car... we can close the dog door while we're gone, but that keeps the other 3 dogs locked up too and they'll potty in the house. Does anyone have any advice? We have a puppy pen we can keep her in, but I dont' want her to feel punished... help please!

Your puppy is 11 weeks old and is able to go outside unattended with the possibility of escaping from your yard?


I agree with the other poster, put her in a pen, small room behind a baby gate or crate when you are at work and come home during your lunch hour to let her out for potty or get some other trustworty person to do that for you.

[Michael Romanos]

Having a very young Corgi puppy outside unattended for short periods is fine so long as you are certain that there is no vegetation (including branches and leaves) such as plants, flowers etc and objects, obstacles, chemicals etc that can poison or harm your puppy. Takes a lot of doing and knowing exactly what is harmful and what is not. I have a huge amount of agapanthus in my garden and if a Corgi chewed on one of those leaves he/she would become very sick. Taylor or any staying or visiting Corgi has never chewed on these plants on my property, but when Taylor was a little puppy someone usually kept a surveillance going.

[colbycorgi]

I too agree, having a 6 month old puppy myself....she doesnt go very far unattended, even in the house, as shes not totally housebroken yet-little brat, and outside we keep a close eye on both the dogs even though we have a fenced in yard...when colby was just a pup, he got out ONE time and that was all it took to practically give me a heart attack, so now we are extra cautious...cammie still stays in her crate when we are gone and Colby goes back and forth between having freedom and when he mis-behaves and chews and makes a mess while we are gone, he gets confined to the kitchen again...its been a battle with him all along, and hes 1.5 years old now...we werent giving him any free reign of the rest of the house other than the whole kitchen before cammie came along, but we thought maybe he had earned it...but give my bubbie a little freedom and he manages to screw it up so hes back in the kitchen at the present....although, jamies mom is home most days all day and never says that they bark all day or seem generally upset at being left somewhat limited on the good life of laying around on the couch....good luck to you...

[Copper's Mommies]

Our boy Copper HAS to go in his crate when we aren't home. He has very bad separation anxiety and will eat the sofa or anything else he can get a hold of. He is very good about it and if you start them going in the crate when they are young it won't bother her as much. Don't think of it as punishment, it is for her own safety.

[MyPemCharlie]

I agree with others that she needs to be in her crate/pen when you can't watch. Too much freedom at her age can get her into trouble, or injured. She'll most likely see her crate as her "safe place" to relax, not as punishment.

[MattC]

Nick used to like to escape too. I had to build a pen for him as well. We called it "the learnin' box"

[Chip's Mom]

MattC - I like that name the learnin box. I will have to remember that for the next time Taffy is in time out.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by rme147

My new female corgi pup is a little stinkin escape artist! At night time she, and our other 3 dogs (including a male corgi pup), sleep in the kitchen by means of an accordian gate and they have a dog door out to the porch. Well, she discoverd that she's still small enough to fit under the gate so most mornings my husband and I wake up to our addorable little pup begging to come to bed with us! That's okay for now, because she'll get bigger and stop crawling under the gate. But here is my problem:

Just a few minutes ago my husband was out in the yard and he called me outside. The puppy had squeezed through the railing on our porch and fell about 4 1/2 - 5 feet to our front yard! It didn't even phase her, she got right up and started to explore the front yard! I'm afraid that it will happen when we're not home and she'll either get hurt- or escape from the front yard too and get lost or hit by a car... we can close the dog door while we're gone, but that keeps the other 3 dogs locked up too and they'll potty in the house. Does anyone have any advice? We have a puppy pen we can keep her in, but I dont' want her to feel punished... help please!

I would not leave her outside when you are not home. Too many things can happen and she might get loose or injured.

About the gate in the house. Before she figures out that she's too big to get under it she could get stuck and injured. I'd be making sure she was secure now. IMO, puppies should sleep in crates. That way you know they are safe. And not making messes or getting into things they shouldn't be while you're sleeping.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

For outside fences, gates, partitions etc there is nothing better or cheaper than a little chicken wire netting cut to your requirements for filling in gaps. There are also relatively inexpensive mobile fencing that one can buy - might also come in handy for outside pens and other outdoor barrier requirements.
For indoors , surely you can think of something suitable for narrowing or filling a gap or two.

I recommend chain link for confining dogs. I had a puppy who pulled on the chicken wire and broke it. So IMO, chicken wire is not sturdy enough for corgis.

Peggy