Dogs are curious and playful by nature. However well domesticated, dogs enjoy the freedom of running, jumping, and playing without restrictions. That is why the tendency to run away on getting the first chance is common in canines. But no matter how cute you find your pooch otherwise, running away is one habit you would not want them to have. It can not only lead to separation from your furry family member but can also put them in harm’s way. So, how can you stop your four-footer from running away? Here is the answer.

In this blog, we will list down the most common reasons for dogs’ runaway behaviour, and useful tips for how to train a dog not to run away and how to stop a dog from running away when off-leash.

Why do dogs run away

You provide your furry companion everything from food and shelter to love and warmth. But still, running away is more tempting for your fur buddy. There are many reasons for this canine behaviour. Here is the list of the most common reasons:

• Fear or anxiety

  Dogs get stressed or anxious due to the loud noises of firecrackers or thunderstorms. There can also be other stressors like another animal in their close proximity or a human that your pet gets intimated by. In such conditions, your fur friend would want to run away from the fearful situation to safeguard them. If you stay outdoors for long hours, your furball may want to run away from the house to find you because of separation anxiety.

• Insufficient exercise

  When your furry buddy has excessive unused energy due to a lack of adequate physical exercise, they may run away to stretch their legs and utilise their pent-up energy.

• Boredom

  Your pooch can also try to run away to escape the sheer boredom of their routine life. While it is easier for you to take a break and go out when you get exhausted, your fur baby is dependent on you for going out every time.

• Mating urge

Intact male dogs get lured by the scent of female dogs in heat and vice-versa. Both male and female canines try to run away due to an intense desire to find a mating partner.

• Distraction

  If your dog gets a glance at a squirrel, rabbit, bird, or similar small animal passing by while they are playing in your backyard or lawn, their hunting instinct entices them to run away and catch their ‘prey’.

How to train your dog not to run away

Running away from a fenced area secured with electric wires or running on the road can put your beloved doggo’s life in danger. So it is a necessity to train your dog not to run away. Here are some useful training tips:

• Teach verbal cues like ‘stay’, ‘wait’

  Select some verbal cues and train your dog to answer them. Use the word ‘sit’ before you open the house door or before you release your fur baby from the leash in a fenced area. Next, use the cue ‘stay’ or ‘wait’ to teach them that you expect them not to be on the move. Once they obey these cues, you can use the command ‘free’ to indicate to your pup that they are now free to go ahead.

• Train dogs for recall cues

  When your dog is moving freely in a restricted area like a fenced or walled backyard, call them by their name and use the cue ‘come’ to call them back.

• Appreciate and offer treats

  Do not miss out on rewarding your furry companion with a high-value treat every time they follow your command and behave as expected. Also, a gentle pat on the back and verbal cues like ‘yes’ or ‘good’ will help your doggo understand that they displayed your desired behaviour.

• Repeat: provide adequate practice

  Repeat these training steps regularly till your furball learns not to bolt out the moment they get the opportunity and stay put till you command them to move.

How to stop your dog from running away when off-leash

One of the best options to stop your dog from running away is to provide them freedom to run, jump, and play without restrictions for a while. But before you get your furry bundle of joy off-leash, you need to train them not to run away. Here is how you can do that:

• Take your dog off-leash inside a fenced or restricted area. Let them move around and play. Then, use the cue ‘come’ to recall them. Here, they will be able to move freely and still not be completely exposed to the uncertainty of the outside world.
• Stock your fur buddy’s favourite treats and reward them handsomely once they come back to you following your command. This way, your doggo will learn to associate coming back as a happy thing and will get discouraged from taking off.
• Attach your fur friend to a long leash that measures fifteen feet or longer in open, public places. Here, they will get a chance to roam freely, at a distance from you and yet will actually not be completely off-leash and vulnerable to the risks in the outside world.

Before we part

Running away from their human parents is not a strange behaviour for pets. However, you can stop your furry family member from running away by providing them with adequate training. Follow the tips provided in this article to save yourself from the pain of losing or getting separated from your four-footer, and to keep them protected from the unknown dangers.