The Case of the Disappearing Jackapoo: A Dog Walker’s 10-Minute Panic!

Every dog walker has that story - the one that gives you a few grey hairs but ends in laughter (and relief). Here’s mine.

It was like any other walk - in this case a solo walk for the lovely Jackapoo sisters Bluey and Chloe at their favourite woodland location. We’d almost finished the hour walk, on our way back to the van. There’s a particular spot where they love to have a chase after each other, zoomies through the trees, it’s fun to watch. I thought “I’ll get a pic to send to their owner”, so got my phone in hand and lined up ready to get them in view where I expected them to come zooming back out… and nothing. Suddenly it was silent other than the birds chirping. Very strange. So I put the phone away and look for them through the trees, calling their names. Nothing, no sign of them. A few loud whistles and more calling. Nothing. I walk back along the path we’d come from.. then further up the path in the direction we were heading. No sign of either of them.

Then Chloe appears out of the bushes. Phew, they’re back! But wait, there’s no Bluey, and they’re always together. So for a solid 10 minutes, I was that person - pacing up and down the path calling “Bluuuuueeeyyy!” in various pitches. I’m sweating, panicking, and already composing the apology call I’m going to have to make to her owner.

At this point I decide to walk Chloe back to the van and put the call in to their owner. Just then, I look behind me and Bluey comes trotting up and looks at me like “So what’s been happening?”. OMG. You can imagine, the mix of panic and relief!

Leads on for the walk to the van - enough ‘excitement’ (and whispered expletives!) for one day.