Sounds like a heck of an adventure. Ladders are handy, shoes dry, and chipmunks are a dime a dozen.. good dog you got there. It sounds like you have the same kind of luck I do.

My old lab pulled almost an identical stunt on me. I was in the process of remodeling the house. And somehow a weasel (pure white, black tip tail middle of winter.. you know the kind) got into the house unknown to me of course.

I'm sitting that night in the living room, the dog is sleeping on the floor when I see this weasel at the top of the stairs (raised ranch) at the living-room. level. At first I could not believe my eyes. But that explained why there was no mice in the house. As I am watching it, and its watching me, the dog opens his eyes and now... the race is on. Now understand my dog was over 100 pound of pure muscle. The weasel goes under the sofa, and so does the dog. The sofa goes flying onto the coffee table. Then they head behind the entertainment center and the dog is trying to get behind that. I grab the dog who is very upset that I am stopping the race.

The weasel bolts out the other side of the center and dives down the steps and hides under the HOT wood stove. The dog breaks free, and dives under the stove as well only to get a good nip on the nose from the weasel.

I open the front door and the race is back on with the weasel crossing the living room, through the entry way and out the door. The dog of course is in hot pursuit. Where the weasel went after that I have no idea. I barked out a DOWN command and the dog froze and dropped. Then I ordered him off the chase and back into the house. As the dog entered he must have realized the mess he made, and got his oh sh*t look on his face. After the furniture was replaced, the coffee table set back and the nicknacks put on the table again... and the dog ... now cowering was called and forgiven... which caused him to break into his tail wagging over happy mode of being buddies again... I had a good laugh. It was a heck of a night.