Lost in the woods

[PugMa]

Every day we walk our dogs along a wooded trail around the back perimeter of our property. The dogs are allowed off leash as this is a safe environment for them to be in. We walk early in the am and late in the pm weather permitting. The dogs frequently follow their noses off the beaten path into the brush and come back to the path when called. This goes on every walk. Today was different. When we called the dogs, Amos and Jubilee came back, but there was no sign of Joy. We called and called and retraced our steps, stopping and listening for her "freight train" breathing that tells us she is running toward us.
I was beginning to be seriously worried that she had gone off deep into the woods and had either gotten stuck somewhere or worse yet, encountered a "critter" that either she wanted to "git" or wanted to "git" her!
Finally off in the distance, I thought I heard her distinct but faint pug "woof". She is not a vocal dog and even when she is ready to really bark, her bark is not loud. It sounded as though the "woof" was coming from the direction of the house. We headed back to the house and sure enough, our Joy had not been lost at all but just went back "home". She was barking at the back door to be let back in!
She's a smarty, she is! Even if she did give me a scare.

[tall grass pugs]

I wonder if you can find a small cow bell to snap to her collar or harness when off leash. Nothing as scary as a disappearing act.

[PugMa]

That is a good suggestion. She wasn't wearing anything. I let her be nekkid as much as possible because the collars and harnesses rub the hair off her neck. Sigh.... I know... what if she got lost.... I'm gonna go put her collar back on now. Thanks for the reminder.

[Suri]

When Scruffy was about 8 months old and my friend got her bully puppy she would stop by on her way home and pick Scruffy up for a play date, she lives 3 houses down the block, one afternoon she
opened her deck door to put a pie out on her deck to warm up and then she came back in and couldn't find Scruffy, meanwhile my husband yells to me Scruffy is here barking at the gate to be let in, but she is alone there is no Carolee with her, her comes Carolee frantic that she can't find Scruffy. Scruffy was just ready to come home so she left out the deck door and walked up the block, would love to have seen her do that. Didn't even know Scuffy could find her way home, my neighbor was so upset. Now playdates are always at my house with the fenced in yard.

[CountryPug]

How scary, I bet you were worried sick, I know I would have been a mess. Glad she found her way home.

[MuShu Mom]

How scary for you! But what a clever little puggie to find the way home!

[celesteja]

That was very smart of Joy to head for home. Not so sure my Daphne would have done that! lol She feels the need to explore EVERYthing! How scared you must have been for a bit though. Glad she's safe and sound.