True escape artists don't get out because they are bored, they get out because they "can". I have a working golden who is hunted, given tons of affection, and will escape out of a fence just because it's there. My old girl used to do the same thing, just to be on the other side.
Agreed. We had one hound who was a true escape artist when I was a teenager. Admittedly, he was un-neutered, because he was one of Dad's stud dogs. But that hound could get out of ANYTHING. And he did it even if no bitches were in heat. He just liked to get out. He never went far . . . he'd just escape, trot around the kennels and then up to the house to steal cat food. And, tail wagging, let my parents catch him. Since there were 50 or so other hounds at the time not trying to escape, I think we can assume that the problem lay with good old Major. He was the cause for endless enhancements to the kennels. He should have been called Houdini. If you've ever had to deal with a true escape artist, you'd understand why some people feel they have to chain. And depending on their life situation, that may be the only option.
I've known a few other escape artists (none of them ours, thank god). Some of them WERE bored. But some of them either really, really enjoyed running loose . . . or enjoyed the challange of getting out. It didn't matter how tired they were, given the chance, they were over/under/through the fence and gone.
And once a dog becomes an escape artist, they stay one. So, if you adopt one, then however they came to be that way, you'll be dealing with it. Fortunately, Sarama is not one, and despite the fact she could dig out of our yard, she's shown no interest in doing so. <crosses fingers>
Now, most of these dogs come home . . . they are escape artists, not runaways . . . but something horrible can happen while they are out . . . and if you have leash laws, you'd been in violation if they escaped.
