We have three dogs total, two 6 year old female Samoyed littermates and one 2 year old Shetland Sheepdog. One of our Samoyeds, Atalanta, has been jumping the fence and going out on excusions since she was about 2. She's friendly to people, and she doesn't get into much trouble except for once when she almost caught the neighbor's cat. It's really annoying, and we try so hard to control it. She always comes back, but lately she hasn't been coming back as fast. Today she jumped again and I spent a good 15 minutes calling for her. She came back completely wiped out and soaked up to her belly- she had been in the creek a good way away. The most we can ever do is speak harshly to her, and sometimes deprive her of her bedtime snack. But I'm not sure if she affiliates this with fence jumping. The whole family babies her because she's the teddy bear. Her sister is more dominant, and Atalanta is very submissive and pathetic. She also has a few problems. She has a pigment condition in her nose, so it's always red and scabby. She takes medication 3 times daily plus topical steroids. I don't know how I can extinguish this behavior- I can't exactly cue it, and I can't think of an incompatible behavior, not to mention working dogs aren't as smart as some.

The other Samoyed, Athena, started wetting herself while she lies in the kitchen about six months ago. We at first believed it was due to an extremely long stay at the kennel, where apparently they urinate wherever they please and then lay there. After scolding and long evenings left outside, she still continued. About 2 months later we thought it was a mix of that, laziness, and perhaps a urinary infection. She is spayed, and this isn't uncommon for spayed females apparently. At the last vet visit we asked them to look into it and got nothing. She was good for two days after coming home last week, but had a huge spill today. I don't know if we should just try to start potty training all over or what.

If anyone has any help to offer, please do!

For your escape artist- give her more exercise and mental stimulation. Feed all of her meals out of toys like Kongs or Buster Cubes. Since she has been going to get in water- try filling up a baby pool for her as well.
Scolding her once she comes back is the last thing you want to do. She doesn't assosciate the scolding with running off- she'll start associating it with coming back. This may be the reason she has been taking longer to come back to you.
For Athena, I would have some more tests done on her- possibly with a different vet. I have a feeling that it's a health issue and not a training issue. Is she going while she's laying down?
Once again, scolding and leaving the dog outside will do nothing- especially if you don't catch them the second they do something wrong. A dog lives in the present, not twenty seconds ago. They don't understand what they did wrong, and you're just weakening the trust they have in you.

Your samoyeds are indeed working dogs and need a lot of exercise. Are you providing it? Two long walks a day plus lots of playtime incorporating training is a must. Your story reminds me of when I had a Samoyed many years ago. She, also, would disappear, come back really muddy from hanging out in the creek!! I didn't know then what I know now about how much stimulation she needed. Working dogs are very smart! They just need to have their energy channeled in the right way. Begin the long walks, obedience training, and maybe try agility training. She may thrive on that. This breed can get bored easily, just like any working breed, she needs a job to do!
Your other Samoyed may have a condition related to being spayed. Some females experience leaking urine while resting or sleeping without being aware of it. This problem is often due to reduced estrogen levels that result with the removeal of the ovaries. This problem can often be treaed with hornome therapy. She shouldn't be scolded for it because she doesn't realize it's happening. My dog has this problem also, and she is only two. If the dribble happens, I just say so what, and clean it up and take her outside. I haven't started hormone therapy, because the problem isn't that bad, and I don't like using drugs if I don't have to. When you say a huge spill, I'm thinking it may be more than just the spaying intervention. I agree that you should start the training all over again, and then if you get no results, see your vet again to determine that it is just due to the spaying, and he'll prescribe some meds if you want them.

For the fence jumper, you could use invisible fencing. Run the wire along the fence (underground). Only the "fence jumper" would need to wear the collar. Of course there are people that will say that shock collars are bad, but when you think of all the other situations your dog could get itself into, it is the lesser of the evils!!

I don't think at invisible fencing is what it will take for this.

They need exercise more than buying an expensive invisible fence put in their yard.

They need mental and physical exercise. Are they trained? If not, you might need to start with a dog training with commands. But, I think exercise is the main key here.

Good luck.

Another thing about invisible fences is that if the dog runs fast enough, they won't get shocked. If the reward on the other side is better than the fear of shock, then they're still going to leave. Plus there can always be problems using shock collars/invisible fences- especially if they aren't trained correctly.

Very well stated erl, I was gonna say that too, but you took my words from me. :P

Some dogs are escape artists and you could take it for a half hour run and it would still get out. Maybe there is a way you can modify your existing fence. Is it a kennel, or is the whole yard fenced? If it's a kennel, could you put a roof on it?

As for the invisible fence... by running the wire along the existing fence, the dog wont be able to run through it. I've used invisible fences on two dogs. Both dogs were Akitas that are notorious for escaping any containment. My dog will chase a rabbit within 5 feet of her boundary and stop. It does take proper training, but when done correctly, invisible fences work wonderfully. There are so many dangers for a dog running loose (not to mention getting hung on the way over the fence) that a little shock can't possibly be worse than what could happen.

Some dogs are escape artists and you could take it for a half hour run and it would still get out. Maybe there is a way you can modify your existing fence. Is it a kennel, or is the whole yard fenced? If it's a kennel, could you put a roof on it?

As for the invisible fence... by running the wire along the existing fence, the dog wont be able to run through it. I've used invisible fences on two dogs. Both dogs were Akitas that are notorious for escaping any containment. My dog will chase a rabbit within 5 feet of her boundary and stop. It does take proper training, but when done correctly, invisible fences work wonderfully. There are so many dangers for a dog running loose (not to mention getting h*ung on the way over the fence) that a little shock can't possibly be worse than what could happen.

About the Samoyed who wets herself while lying down. This is most likely a purely medical problem and not behavioral. If your current vet hasn't been helpful about it I would recommend a second opinion at another vet. Many female dogs develop bladder leakage problems, just like many human females do. 6 is rather young to have such problems but not unheard of. Medication should help control the problem.

As to the escape artist, if all else fails, you might need to consider tying her when she's in the yard. A loose dog is very likely to be hit by a car, and every time she gets out the chances go up.

Well with the tying part, I don't know about that since she is a escape artist and might break the chain or rope and escape again and the problem might still exist. Especially if she has been feared from the past of being tied to a tree or in the yard before.

Exercise, exercise, exercise and of course obedience training.

I consider tying cruel.

I agree tying should be a last or temporary resort, but at least a tied dog is better than a dead one.

Thanks for all of the input! I really appreciate it.

My mother walks all three dogs for about an hour every day while I'm at school. I've got so much work I rarely get to take them out a second time. We have a very large yard surrounded by a tall-ish wood fence- a little over 5 feet I'd say. But Atalanta has springs in her heels. The Sams are outside almost all day in the winter, but around this time of year they have to spend a lot of time inside because of the heat and their thick coats. We shave them down a bit but are still weary of heat exhaustion. I really hope to get in some more excercise for Atalanta this summer then. The two have basic husbandry behaviors down- sit, stay, paw, lie down. Out Sheltie has much more advanced training, seeing as he's the msot easily trained. He accepts much more than food as reinforcement, while the Sams will fall all over each other and only for treats.

As for Athena, the spills are indeed big. We know limiting water intake is not the best answer. She wwets while lying down and sometimes sitting, and then walks around in the kitchen dripping. I agree in thinking it's something she can't help. I know a vet lives down the street, and we'll look into it

Thanks again for all the advice! I'll be sure to update you this summer.

Not a problem, glad that we could help.

Remember, a fence yard isn't enough exercise to exhaust out all the pent up energy that the dog has stored, so vigurous walks and playing hard will do it.

We have had invisible fencing for the last 10-11 years. It works great if you get the training in early. Now our dogs wont even wander off if the battery goes dead...(of course we fix it right away) . We did have an older dog and she used to take off all the time. When we first got her collar it only had two prongs and she wanted out so bad she would run through but you can get collars with more prongs. Usually one good shock is all it takes and they will stay within the boundaries. They are great tools. Plus if you ever move, you can take the box and collars with you and you only have to reinstall the fencing

Well even a trained dog can stay inside a invisible fence, but it sees another animal or person, some dogs will have more of an urge to break the invisible fence boundaries and risk it.