I dont know where to start !

[Ashley]

Terrifying! I agree, when walking on my own I always bring a phone because you just never know what could happen. Glad everyone is ok!

 

[Plum's mum]

Flippin heck Kate, it’s drama central for you at the moment. Sounds an awful experience, glad you’re both ok.

 

[kateincornwall]

Thank you all , my phone is being charged right now and Debbie is coming over this weekend to give me a lesson in texting . For now , I am steering clear of the forests where deer are in abundance , its just too much temptation for Reuben . Today is going to be a rest day as I am aching from head to foot this morning and the reality of what could have happened has really hit home , making me weepy but then I will work hard with the lad , his recall has always been good but this is twice recently he has not responded , twice it could have been disastrous , so starting tomorrow , we will go to the enclosed dog field to work on it . I think also that the realisation has dawned at last that I am not invincible , nor I am young and fit , so its time to stop walking in isolated places even if I am carrying my phone . Although shattered , I didnt get much sleep last night so today, no walks for us , I will play games with him in the garden and otherwise slouch on the sofa . Feeling mentally exhausted and guilty , I let my boy down again . This afternoon we are going out in the car to see if we can find the lovely couple . We know that they are staying in a cottage with a massive garden , and know the small village where it is , know their car and that they are here for another week , we thanked them of course but I want to thank them again xxx

 

[Cath]

 

[Granca]

You haven’t let Reuben down, Kate. These things happen, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Deer in the woods are normally shy creatures, so it was just bad luck that Reuben caught the scent. Some games in the garden today sound about right for both of you. (A friend even nags me to have my mobile phone with me in the garden!)

Hope you feel better soon. x

 

[Jacqui-S]

You are brilliant with Reuben don't let yourself think that way Kate.
He's a teenager kicking his heels and pushing boundaries now and I know you know that.
Awful as this was yesterday, try not to dwell on it, look at the bigger picture. You have just had a couple of blips like we all do.
Take it easy and let you body and mind heal a bit xx

 

[Selina27]

Kate -- good Lord, I'm speechless with horror, what an ordeal for all concerned.

Of course you haven't let Reuben down.

He's a teenager kicking his heels and pushing boundaries now and I know you know that.

Says it all.

I should imagine the adrenalin got him through the fence in the first place. Thank goodness he let you know where he was.

 

[Boogie]

I’ll never forget the day Keir flushed up a deer in the park and nearly ended up running across a main road. My heart still beats too quickly at the thought of what might have happened. It took me ages to take any dog to that park again.

You definitely haven’t let him down. These kinds things happen to all of us from time to time. (((Hugs)))

.

 

[snowbunny]

Yep, I remember when Shadow's recall started to break down at around the same age and I was upset because it had been impeccable up to that point. Someone shrugged at me and said, "You had a puppy recall. Now you have to train an adult one.". That's so true, it's a very different thing. As they become more independent - which is a natural part of development and not something that should be seen as a problem - then it's bound to impact the recall. It's not a failure on anyone's part, it just is what it is.

 

[SteffiS]

Gosh, only just reading this, so glad it all turned out well in the end @kateincornwall , but what a traumatic experience. Echo others in the importance of a mobile phone, but I can see you are sorting this out.
What a merry dance your lovely Reuben is leading you, the joy of puppies .

 

[edzbird]

I will take your lesson too Kate. I'm a terror for not taking my phone, but as you have demonstrated, things can so easily turn bad. So glad you and Reuben are OK.

 

[Candy]

Oh Kate! Kate! That's SO much worse than me and my elbow. Absolutely terrifying! I'm so very glad you were both found safe and well, if traumatized. Every time I set of with Joy now, my brother and SIL say 'MOBILE?!' to me and I somewhat reluctantly comply. It does make sense though. A restful day or so now for you I hope.xx

 

[Charlie]

You most certainly have not let Reuben down, he's a young lad and we all know what they can be like!! We have all had these heartstopping moments, me probably more than anyone with Charlie Here is one that will make you feel better. In January whilst in Scotland Charlie was happily off lead checking in as he does when out of the blue he shot off before I could do anything, in persuit of a deer, we think. Bearing in mind we walk in thousands upon thousands of acres with nobody around and no mobile signal at all. David and I split up to try and find him. It was a shocking day, wind howling so much you just couldn't hear a thing, I blew my whistle in hope he would hear it but no. It was also late afternoon so not much daylight left. I was in tears as looking into the distance there was just nothing, no sign of him Finding a needle in a haystack would have been easier. Due to the deer gates he wouldn't have even been able to make his way home. We met up again, still no Charlie. I really thought that's it we are never going to see him again when I heard the faintest bark. David followed it across a great distance. When he returned with Charlie he said he had jumped a low fence but had got stuck between that and a 10 foot deer fence and was panic stricken. The poor boy was terrified and so happy to see David who picked him up and carried him over the fence. If I hadn't heard that tiny bark I really believe we never would have found him When he came back he acted like he hadn't seen me for weeks. He was subdued for a few days. It was so frightening and a day I will never forget. Needless to say he does not go off lead in that area any more. xx

 

[Loraseal]

Oh Kate what an awful experience. Thank goodness you are both OK. Please stay indoors today and have a few days of rest. X

 

[JES72]

Huge hugs.

 

[Shaz82]

Of course you haven't let Reuben down, you rescued him and imagine how pleased he must have been to see you.

I always take my phone with me, not just for my own safety but in case anything happens to Maisy, I keep the emergency vet number in it and some small notes and a credit card in it too. And if you get a new phone - you don't have to use all the whistles and bells in it - you can film Reuben and Nelly and we could all be watching your videos!

Have a relaxing weekend now and I hope you find that couple, what lovely people they are x

 

[MellowYellow]

I just saw this on FB and now again here. I agree with everyone else who is gently bullying you into ALWAYS having your mobile with you. I hate mobile phones but they give you so much extra security if and when you need to be in contact with others.
Secondly, if Reuben is a deer chaser, knowing where you live, you should invest in a GPS tracker for his collar. I know you wouldn’t be happy to keep him on a lead the whole time, but this is twice in a very short time that he has been in a potentially dangerous situation - and more than that, is potentially putting you in danger in the process. At least if you can track him, you will know exactly where he is. Think on it, Kate, please. X

I'm seconding Snowbunny on this; please Kate, always take your mobile, and the GPS tracker sounds like it might be worth looking into. This could have ended very differently - you could have got hypothermia up there...

And as everyone else has said, of course you didn't let Reuben down! You went and searched for him, then stayed with him until you were both found. I would call that being a great doggie mum.

 

[Stacia]

Oh there is no need to feel guilty Kate, it is life, you had no idea that this could have happened. As @MellowYellow said, you searched and stayed with him and it has all ended well, apart from you feeling shocked, but you are a brave girl and you will 'gird your loins' and face another day

 

[kateincornwall]

Thank you so very much for all your lovely words of reassurance . Today , two things , Reuben has been a little subdued and I have aches in places I never knew I had , and so it was a very short 20 minute gentle stroll in a place where it is highly unlikely to encounter deer . As he was more quiet than usual , I did lots of recall , using hotdog sausages as treats and boy, was he sharp , he had much praise as I called him back every time he got more than 10/15 yards ahead . He doesnt seem to mind that his walk was not long , which is a blinkin good job as I couldnt have gone much further today . I realise now, in hindsight ( isnt it wonderful ? ) that I have most likely been trying far too hard to please Reuben , overloading him in the process and so from now on his walks will become far more structured , not so long and avoidance of the main forest which is over run with deer . Thanks again , I still feel like absolute pants today but its good to know that I am not alone , I love this boy so very much and dont mind admitting that at one point yesterday, my love for him took me down a path of wondering if I was enough for him , well of course I am and also the fact that no matter how many dogs I have had , they are all so different in their needs and therefore their training , learning never stops xx

 

[Lisa]

Thatta girl, Kate! You and Reuben will come out of this with lessons learned and a plan to move forward. Trust me, I know what it’s like to have a dog go haring off after a scent and the fact is there isn’t anything I could do to stop him when his nose takes over. His ears absolutely turn off. Which is why I always use a long line and why I sometimes hold that line for the whole walk if he seems to have caught a scent of something. Also I have found that if he does abscond, the best thing for me to do is to stay in the same spot as he will return there once he loses the deer or whatever. Of course in this case that wouldn’t have worked but I always try to stay put for a little while at least, before I go looking.

Glad you are feeling more positive today. Take it easy and keep the chin up! You have all the ability and experience you need and Reuben is blessed to have you!