How adorable is that…"nope, no help needed here, I got it all by myself.."
Thank you Dan for sharing, made me smile..
Cute yes. Luckily mine have never been climbers.
Yesterday I had to go buy a chain and lock. I was in my room changing from work clothes to walk the dog clothes and heard jonny b. and hansel whining to get out of their 5x5x4 wire covered chain link kennel in the basement. I yelled "i'm coming guys" and the next thing i knew they were greeting me at the top of the stairs. Now how in the world did they get that lock on the gate up, out, and open???????? I could not believe it. My son and I went to inspect the kennel. I thought maybe they chewed a hole in the wire on top or managed to get a hole open… the door was wide open. So I ran to the Farm and Home store, got a foot of chain and a combination lock to secure the gate. I am going to hide the combination...I asked the store clerk if he thought the dog could get that open.... he said he hoped not, and had a funny look on his face. 
I have found that the older she gets, the more Shaye wants to JUMP. We took her to doggie daycare the other day and once her leash was off, she jumped right up on one counter, down onto the ground between and up onto the other counter before we could grab her. From now on we've decided she gets off leash only when she's in the play area, and the people at daycare agree because we are all afraid she will hurt herself. She has been one to climb up on things a little out of her reach forever - we've tried to stop the climbing and the jumping. So far, only a little success.
jonny b.
Please find another way to secure the chain. I was a firefighter for 10 years…if, heaven forbid, anything should ever happen and your babies need to be rescued, a firefighter isn't going to have bolt cutters in his or her hand and won't have time to search for a combination. We carry a radio, flashlight, charged hose line and an axe into a fire. If it's just the dogs working their way loose, just hang the lock on the chain but don't latch it.
Yes, firefighters do try to rescue pets from fires. I've rescued cats, dogs, fish, birds and a turtle. We even have special muzzle oxygen masks on the ambulance.
@AJs:
jonny b.
Please find another way to secure the chain. I was a firefighter for 10 years…if, heaven forbid, anything should ever happen and your babies need to be rescued, a firefighter isn't going to have bolt cutters in his or her hand and won't have time to search for a combination. We carry a radio, flashlight, charged hose line and an axe into a fire. If it's just the dogs working their way loose, just hang the lock on the chain but don't latch it.
Yes, firefighters do try to rescue pets from fires. I've rescued cats, dogs, fish, birds and a turtle. We even have special muzzle oxygen masks on the ambulance.
Excellent point Belinda. Would they try to break the lock with an ax?
Most locks will not break with the axe and with all the gear we wear (75 lbs worth), you couldn't get enough of a swing to break the typical lock.
I am not sure how your are using the padlock but could a large carbiner work in its place?
A 'Biner would be an excellent idea. All firefighters worth their salt know how to operate one of those. 
I am not sure how your are using the padlock but could a large carbiner work in its place?
That would be my suggestion as well. Don't use one of the small cheap ones - go to a store that sells real climbing equipment (online llbean and international mountain equipment should have them) - Petzel makes them as does Black Diamond. I have locking ones from Petzel from my rock climbing days - they have barrel locks on them. That's what I use on Liyah's crate (and used on Brando's crate when Liyah was in heat - because Liyah had been known to open his crate to let him out to play with her before she ever went into heat).
OK. got the carbiner on both kennels!!! they are good to go< unless they can PINCH the carbiner!!! :0
This is off the main comment but AJ'sHuman reminded me about a program my vet friend has started in the vet school here. They have a special program to train first responders (fire brigade, cops, whoever) in ways to deal with dogs and cats when there's a fire, crash, destruction, whatever - breed quirks, caging a scared animal, all kinds of things. I hope it spreads to other states.
In Oregon, it is up to the department you belong to. I happened to belong to large enough departments that I received at least cursory training in animal anatomy and life saving procedures. Only the basics, though…ABC's...Airway, Breathing, Circulation. My last department carried oxygen masks for pets in various different sizes. Used one on a chihuahua puppy (teeny little thing) that had aspirated some food. Lost her, but the experience taught me a lot.
The Basenjis that we raised in the 70s'-80's would climb over a 4' high plywood gate. Sometimes they would say forget the climb and just stand 2' away and give one push with their back feet and sail right over the gate. We also made a run for them on the back side of the porch with a doggy door enclosed with an 8' high fence. that didn't stop Dandy from still climbing up the fence. Also had to watch when we went outside. Mad Dashes out the Door. Thank God we lived on a Farm!!!
Is there any chance of getting that original picture file sent to me? I would love to print it out and have on my wall. Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?
PS
About this "lock" thing, just use a carbine hook They are plenty strong, and safe if it has to be removed in a hurry.
yep, that is what i put on the kennels for the boys. so far so good. but really, nothing will surprise me…they are just to darn smart. good thing they dont have thumbs. lol maybe they dont need them.
A friend of mine has a very clever escape artist, and she has to use TWO different kinds of carabiners - one like the one shown above and a twist-lock like the one attached. One by itself is not enough.
Loki & Freya
ARE YOU KIDDING???? ok i am really not surprised….
If the carabiner is positioned properly and all your dogs are contained, you will not have them escaping. Keep in mind with those barrel locks, firefighters wear thick gloves and do not have fine manipulation capabilities with them on. The suggestion of the carabiner was for the safety of the dog and possible rescue in an emergency. Anything overly complicated also places risks on your fur family.
I have a fold-down metal crate for AJ and I'm trying to figure out how he would be able to reach the carabiner from the inside of the crate.
Yes we also had a male in the 70s that was always escaping. 6ft wall no problem. My parents added an extention to the top. He found an window upstairs with a broken latch nudged it open went on the roof, from the roof jumped to the wall ledge and from there was home free.
