The next morning, Mark decided to try a different approach. He went to the bottom of the stairs to show Duke some affection, hoping to settle his nerves. But the moment Mark reached out to pet him, Duke didn’t lean into the touch. Instead, he let out a sharp, urgent bark and launched himself over the tall baby gate with a powerful leap. Mark stumbled back in shock as Duke tore up the stairs, his paws thundering on the wood.
By the time Mark reached the landing, Duke had already nudged the nursery door open. From Mark’s perspective, it was a terrifying sight. Duke was moving faster than he ever had, ignoring Mark’s commands entirely. He sprinted into the room, his eyes wild.
Mark watched in horror as Duke jumped onto the changing table and then lunged toward the glass window, hitting it with his shoulder as if he was trying to break through to the outside world.