I am worried. My male dog (my avatar), Bear, got himself lost this morning. He has never been away from home for more than an hour, total, in the whole 3 years since he was born! Every morning, when we go to open the poultry barn, both dogs, Bear and Gracie, patrol the perimeter of the property, including a small portion of woods, some of which are on our property and meet us back at the gate leading to the house. All of the property is not fenced in yet, but these dogs know where the property ends. Well, this morning, when Hubby went to let the birds out, as usually, the dogs went through the pasture and through the woods, but only Gracie came out. Hubby noticed him gone by the time he got to the porch, as that is when they usually catch up, with a race to see who can get to the house first. Everybody around here know and love Bear, he has so much personality. Hubby waited a short while, calling for him several times and Gracie stayed on the porch and watched for him, not coming in. Now, let me explain, these 2 dogs have never lived outside, but go with me, wherever I go on the property and no matter if it is raining, freezing, hotter than they can stand having black coats, will lay in the shade nearby, but will not go back inside until I do, anytime day or night. If I leave the property, to go to the store or to dinner out, they both sit on the porch and wait for me. They have their own entrance, to the house and are free to come and go as they need to protect the flocks. Grace is a yapper, if someone comes to the house, that doesn't live here, as I am loosing my hearing. Bear is the silent type, but thinks he is a lap dog, never being very far from me at anytime, either on the floor at my feet or next to me on the sofa. Their beds are in our bedroom, between ours and the window. Any time I get into bed, he will get into his bed, but every time I wake up, he will be as close to my side of the bed, on the floor. He will get up every single time and follow me everywhere. His only fear has been of thunder and sings with the train whistle and loves the sound of a motor, so during Hurricanes, he keeps checking on the generator. We named the generator "Ginnie"! When he was missing about 20 minutes, Hubby went all over town(very small town) up and down every street, asking if anyone saw him? No one has! He then put on his boots and with gun in hand, went looking through the woods for him! While he was driving all over, I looked outside with Gracie, at my heels, and calling for him. She would not go into the woods with him, which is very much not like her, to miss an outing, outside the property with him! We recently lost 2 full grown tom turkeys to a predator, during broad daylight. These dogs are not afraid of any animal and have chased wolves and foxes. They have chased deer, when younger, but now know it is OK for the deer to come onto the property. I am beside myself, trying to think of what might have happened to this dog! I always keep their collars loose, so they can pull out of them, if tangled onto something, and get away! I have looked in all of the rooms in the house, including closets, all the outbuildings, called neighbors and for the life of me, don't know where Bear could have disappeared to! It's like he vanished into thin air! Does anyone have any ideas where else we can look?
