Scary Moment

[ricky]

Hi Everyone,

I had a scary moment with my 20 month old girl Bella. My wife and I had a BBQ with friends and family yesterday. Bella loves people and gets so excited. Because the gate to our yard was going to be open, we decided to leave Bella on our deck attached to her leach (which we usually do). My wife was with Bella cooking on the BBQ while I helped bring food from our guests cars. Bella likes to stick her head under the railings of our deck. This time, she decided to push herself off the deck. She was dangling at least 1 foot and a half to 2 ft off the ground from her neck. My wife screamed and I quickly ran over to Bella and grabbed her. She seems fine (thank GOD). My wife said that Bella was only dangling for seconds before I got to her. She is barking, playing, eating, shaking her head, getting into mischief....she's seems to be herself. She doesn't have any pain at all around her neck, ears, or throat. The fall didn't seem to phase her one bit. I think I was traumatized more than Bella. I do want to take her to the vet to get checked out but everyone is telling me that I don't have to because Bella is fine. She does seem fine but I want to make sure.

~Ricky

[Lisa and Pic]

Oh, poor little thing. Glad you got to her in time. Sounds like wearing a harness instead of a collar would help keep her more safe.

That said, I am watching my daughter's dog and he is constantly jumping between the slats of our deck. Luckily his jump is not far, but I have to watch him every second outside because of this. They can do the funniest things, can't they?

[gemy]

Originally Posted by ricky

Hi Everyone,

I had a scary moment with my 20 month old girl Bella. My wife and I had a BBQ with friends and family yesterday. Bella loves people and gets so excited. Because the gate to our yard was going to be open, we decided to leave Bella on our deck attached to her leach (which we usually do). My wife was with Bella cooking on the BBQ while I helped bring food from our guests cars. Bella likes to stick her head under the railings of our deck. This time, she decided to push herself off the deck. She was dangling at least 1 foot and a half to 2 ft off the ground from her neck. My wife screamed and I quickly ran over to Bella and grabbed her. She seems fine (thank GOD). My wife said that Bella was only dangling for seconds before I got to her. She is barking, playing, eating, shaking her head, getting into mischief....she's seems to be herself. She doesn't have any pain at all around her neck, ears, or throat. The fall didn't seem to phase her one bit. I think I was traumatized more than Bella. I do want to take her to the vet to get checked out but everyone is telling me that I don't have to because Bella is fine. She does seem fine but I want to make sure.

~Ricky

What a scare so glad she is okay. A quick vet visit may reassure you.

Another idea I've used with outdoor fun, I have a 4ftx4ft xpen - bought it for camping has a ground floor and a mesh roof. When it's busy as heck with ppl coming n going and I'm cooking I know my little one is safe in there

Halters are great too

[FL Tink]

Huge lesson learned with the deck huh? So glad you guys saw it when it happened. Exercise Pen would be great for her like gemy said. wow. i can imagine your trauma! glad all is ok now!

[terlis]

So glad you got to her right away. I would have been shaking in my boots.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by ricky

Hi Everyone,

I had a scary moment with my 20 month old girl Bella. My wife and I had a BBQ with friends and family yesterday. Bella loves people and gets so excited. Because the gate to our yard was going to be open, we decided to leave Bella on our deck attached to her leach (which we usually do). My wife was with Bella cooking on the BBQ while I helped bring food from our guests cars. Bella likes to stick her head under the railings of our deck. This time, she decided to push herself off the deck. She was dangling at least 1 foot and a half to 2 ft off the ground from her neck. My wife screamed and I quickly ran over to Bella and grabbed her. She seems fine (thank GOD). My wife said that Bella was only dangling for seconds before I got to her. She is barking, playing, eating, shaking her head, getting into mischief....she's seems to be herself. She doesn't have any pain at all around her neck, ears, or throat. The fall didn't seem to phase her one bit. I think I was traumatized more than Bella. I do want to take her to the vet to get checked out but everyone is telling me that I don't have to because Bella is fine. She does seem fine but I want to make sure.

~Ricky

Great that you were right there - there was a longtime member here who's beautiful older yorkie girl was on a deck and I guess 'forgot' her limits on ....she took off running straight off the deck and landed many feet down....she didn't survive the fall and it was heartbreaking to hear that happened. The saving grace was hopefully it was instant but still - a very important thing to remember if you have a dog and a deck - an accident happens in seconds and in your case - you were VERY lucky !

[Ringo1]

So glad your girl is ok! We use a harness for that very reason. That would have been so scary to see your baby hanging like that!

I'm worried because we bought a house that has a loft on it - second floor. But the railings are very far apart. Surely Lucy wouldn't be silly enough to jump down?

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

So glad your girl is ok! We use a harness for that very reason. That would have been so scary to see your baby hanging like that!

I'm worried because we bought a house that has a loft on it - second floor. But the railings are very far apart. Surely Lucy wouldn't be silly enough to jump down?

I'd put up netting or something so she can't get thru just to be on the safe side. You can probably weave it thru the rails since they're that far apart.

The friend/member I posted about had faith that her yorkie would never jump as she was on the deck often and a very well trained mellow girl

instinct or something took over and she just went running and never stopped.......

[MollysMum54]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

I'm worried because we bought a house that has a loft on it - second floor. But the railings are very far apart. Surely Lucy wouldn't be silly enough to jump down?

its not so much that she would be silly enough to do it, but if she saw something she wanted to go after, she might jump. You know how yorkies sometimes think they are invincible giants!! I wouldn't take any chances.

[Ringo1]

Well thanks for confirming my worst fears! I was afraid of that. I think our baby gates will stretch out far enough to cover the railings. We'll probably set those up for starters and then see what we can do on a more permanent basis. These little ones; I swear!

[luckylady]

OMG.........a very scary moment!!!! I am SO glad you were there to see it happen and get her to safety quickly. A harness is definitely in order for future outings on the deck (and walks) and/or yes, an expen is another great idea.
I'm so glad this story had a happy ending.

[JERSEY BOY]

How scary for you. Glad Bella is ok. We to had a deck scare last Nov, Jersey boy jumped through the the side railing and broke his leg, it was horrible. So this year my DH got from Walmart plastic fencing that looks like chicken wire fence and wrapped the deck in it. It was very easy to put up with a staple gun and it was inexpensive I think about 10.00 a roll, we used 2 rolls .

[stingraylady]

Scary indeed, you just can't predict these little ones
Glad Bella is O.K.

[ricky]

thank you so much everyone. I appreciate your comments. Bella is my pride and joy. My wife and I don't have children...so Bella is like our child. To us, she's more than just a family pet - she's part of the family and we love her so much. I do think this whole ordeal was much more traumatizing for me than it was for Bella (thank GOD). She's been playing and jumping as if nothing happened.

I do like the idea of a pen. It would sure put alot of my fears at ease.

thank you again!!!

~Ricky

[My Sophia]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

So glad your girl is ok! We use a harness for that very reason. That would have been so scary to see your baby hanging like that!

I'm worried because we bought a house that has a loft on it - second floor. But the railings are very far apart. Surely Lucy wouldn't be silly enough to jump down?

When we moved to Vegas we passed on a great apartment for just this reason. I know my little knot head and could just see her being upstairs, mama walks in the front door after being oout all day and .......

Geronimo........ Catch me mama!!!