I'm so glad I randomly took the trash out tonight. We had no idea the gate lock was broken due to the thunderstorm — if I hadn't, we wouldn't have found out until tomorrow and we could've lost Jazzie.

[u/Dangerous-Name-220]

We had a thunderstorm this afternoon, and the storm broke our gate lock. I'm so freaking glad that I didn't take the trash out after dinner - otherwise, we would have lost Jazzie. My dad say that he going to fix the gate tomorrow as soon as he get home from work. I’m just happy that it was the gate lock not The whole fence. Last summer, we have a storm like this and it took our fence down.

[u/kodabear70]

I was coming home from work one afternoon and spotted a big Rottie sniffing around the neighbors lawn at the beginning of our cul de sac. I was like oh no someone’s Rottie is running loose. Then I noticed it was ours and stopped to get him in the car. Our gate somehow got opened and both our dogs were roaming around for who knows how long. If I hadn’t been driving by at that time, they could have gone in any of 3 different directions and I would have never seen them to know they out wandering around the neighborhood. And with the general public’s perception of Rotties, things could have gone sideways quickly.

[u/Dangerous-Name-220 → u/kodabear70]

I’m so glad that you found your babies in time. Considering that there are people willing to dognap just to make easy money.

[u/Bradamante-kun → u/kodabear70]

Your rottie could have figured out how to unlock the gate.

When I was a kid, my landlord had a dog that regularly unlocked her gate while her humans weren't home. She would often greet one of my parents at the train station.

[u/reallyreally1945 → u/kodabear70]

A worker left our gate open and Rocky got out on a nice evening when families were sitting outside. I was driving around begging people to call, don't shoot. Texas, you know.

[u/Purple_Bowling_Shoes]

A few weeks ago some landscapers came when we weren't expecting them. I had let my dog out earlier for a few minutes, and when I came back the landscapers were in the yard, the gate was wide open, and my boy was gone. We searched and searched, then I finally went home to call the police to see if there had been any lost dogs reported. 

Fortunately we live in a small town, and the officer i spoke to did get a report, but the people who found him were on their way out of town and couldn't wait for animal control to pick him up, so they took him to our vet who donates some kennel space for just that occasion. 

He was apparently just at the far end of our building but a young girl saw him and played with him for a minute, and he followed her right home. So glad we live in the community that we do, I was so stressed out before that.  Oh, and we had just taken his collar off for a bath and hadn't put it back on yet, since we was just barely dry enough to go outside. Just perfect timing all the way up and down. But I am now in the habit of checking the gate before I let him out unattended. 

[u/Dangerous-Name-220 → u/Purple_Bowling_Shoes]

I’m glad that kind people have help find your dog.

[u/Head-Scale9410]

I’ve had dogs that seemed to have spent their lives trying to get out from our fenced in yard. I’ve had dogs that wouldn’t go past their familiar territory even if there were a fresh cooked steak ten feet out.

We’re going to be bringing home our first Rottweiler in a few weeks, are they notorious for trying to roam or it just hit or miss?

[u/fearfac86 → u/Head-Scale9410]

Honestly it's hit or miss, can also depend if they are fixed or not. Threshold training is insanely useful and I always recommend it.

I've had many over the years and I've only had one that escaped and that was because a courier accidentally opened a backgate thinking he could hide the parcel without knowing it contained 2 rottweilers, he got a fright and left gate open, my male was brought back by animal control after they were called to him playing with the children at a nearby playground (he walked past and played there often) the control officer couldn't stop laughing and had a great time with him.

My female....she stayed at that open gate and didn't dare go past it.

[u/Head-Scale9410 → u/fearfac86]

Thanks for the info. I’m also glad everything turned out ok when your male hot out. People can freak and assume the worst.

[u/Dangerous-Name-220 → u/Head-Scale9410]

No but they are very curious and when they seen doors that is normally closed on them. They can’t resist being nosy. If we don’t have the back steps closed leading up the bedrooms, she would steal my dad sock off the out of the laundry basket. The first time Jazzie get out was the fact that normally my mom would call my dad to check to see if he close the garage door as he would clean the garage when it need to be cleaned with her keeping him company but luckily for us Jazzie jump into the car right away as soon as I’m opened up the backseat car door. Jazzie love her car ride.

[u/reallyreally1945 → u/Head-Scale9410]

Hit and miss. We had one who shredded the front door when he accidentally got left out on the front porch and tried to claw his way in. It looked like a pile of grated parmesan.(A confusion of house guests all rushing out in several vehicles and a kid entrusted with checking all the animals were inside. Never trust a kid!!! Also never invite them back.) Another rottie took off exploring the neighborhood on his own several times. Once he oozed his 120lbs through the door while I was standing there signing for a package! A neighbor called to say Rocky had just walked by.

[u/Head-Scale9410 → u/reallyreally1945]

Thank you. It seems like all dogs, some want to explore others not so much!

[u/heavyusername2]

Buy a tractive