If you have a dog and it has ever run away, you are aware of the concern that an owner can feel when they cannot find their friend. He may run away during a walk or wait for you to open the door to escape. This can lead to dangerous situations that are best avoided.
In this article on our site we will tell you the main reasons why a dog runs away and how we can avoid it. Keep reading and discover all our tips to prevent your dog from escaping.
Why is my dog running away?
There are several reasons why a dog can run away:
Sexual reasons
The presence of female dogs in heat near the house or in walking areas can cause your dog to run towards the source of the odour. The females release pheromones that will attract males to the area. Avoid areas where you know female dogs in heat live on your walks.
Lack of exercise
Dogs and especially young ones need to burn energy. They need long walks or outings to spaces where they can run freely. If a dog doesn't get enough exercise he may run away from home to run around and let off steam.
Hunting, wanting to explore…
The smell of prey close to home or just seeing the door open can cause your dog to run away. Many reasons can lead your dog to run away without really knowing why. That is why it is very important to educate your dog and that he is integrated into your family. If your dog is always in the garden, does not participate in games or daily activities with the family, he will have a greater tendency to escape.
Daily routines, whether they are walks, outings to the woods or simply accompanying us to run some errands, will occupy part of your dog's day. Thus, in the moments that he has to be in the garden or patio he will be more tired and less bored
Prevention and location
We cannot prevent our dog from escaping at all times, but we can take some precautions to help us find it.
As you well know, the microchip identification is mandatory in Spain. It lodges under the skin of the animal and contains the contact details of the owner. This is very useful, because if someone finds our lost dog, by going to a veterinarian they can obtain the owner's information and contact us.
We can also put a plate with your name and our phone number on your necklace. It is simple but very useful because it allows the person who finds our dog to call us directly without having to check the microchip.
The last thing to locate our dog is the use of GPS attached to the collar. Allows the owner to view the location of their dog with a smartphone.
My dog runs away from home
Outside area
If your dog spends most of his time in a terrace or garden, you should know that he knows every corner and that if there is an area through which he can go out, he will. That is why it is important that you fence or delimit the outside area well and check from time to time that the fence has not been broken or there are no holes in the ground that would allow it to leave. This way you will be sure when you are away from home that your dog can walk in the garden without escaping and without the need to be tied.
Respect the door
If every time you open the front door your dog tries to run away, you should know that it is a training problem. We must make sure that they learn from an early age to respect the door. Every time you go out for a walk, grab the leash and head to the door. The dog must be calm when you put the leash on it and later when you open the door. If not, say NO and close the door. Repeat the process every day before leaving until you understand.
My dog runs away during walks
If you walk around the city, wearing a leash is mandatory. If you walk off-leash in rural areas or dog parks, it is important that your dog receives basic training.
Answer the call
If the dog is loose during the walk, we must get him used to not straying too far. That's why it's important that he come to the call. We must call it by attracting the gaze of the animal and speaking to them loud and clear. As soon as he comes, we will give him sausages or other rewardsWe must be patient and not get angry if he does not come. It is a slow process and depends on trust. Little by little the rewards should be disappearing. It is best to pet him and play with him when he comes, although from time to time you can reward him.
It is important that during the walks you do not call him only at the time of leaving, because he will realize it and avoid it.
Avoid hot spots
If there is a female dog in heat in the area or you know that your dog gets especially upset when passing a certain place, avoid it. It costs nothing to change the route a bit and avoid distractions that could make our dog escape, especially if he is in the training phase.
The importance of exercise and training
As we said before, lack of exercise is one of the reasons a dog may run away.
Depending on the breed and age of the animal, its needs are different. If your dog is young and very active, you should make him burn off that excess energy. Even if you take them out for a walk several times a day, they need to run, release energy.
A day in the mountains or in a dog park running are perfect for your dog to come home tired but calm. That way he won't want to go exploring so much
The training is something basic, not only to prevent it from escaping but also so that our dog is balanced and perfectly integrated into the family. It is very important to spend time on it, not only at the beginning. Constancy is essential. And above all, don't get angry with him, shouting and bad methods are completely unproductive. positive reinforcement and consistency will make our dog obey us.
