Why does a dog run away from home and how to avoid it

It’s a beautiful day outside, and you let the dog out for a walk in the fenced area while you do household chores. Of course, she will be happy to spend time outdoors.

But when you leave the house to check on how your pet is doing, you find that he is not there. Dog escape was not part of your plans for the day! Luckily, you find your furry friend on the sidewalk a couple of blocks from home. How to train a dog not to run away?

Keep reading to find out why your dog runs away from home and how to teach him not to leave the yard so you can safely leave him on the street.

Why does the dog run away from home

Dogs are curious creatures. If the dog ran away, it was most likely chasing something that came into its field of vision, be it an animal, a person, or a machine. She wanted to know more and was ready to go on a journey for this! 

Although any dog ​​can run away, some breeds that are also called diggers or jumpers, such as the Siberian Husky or the Border Collie, are more prone to escaping the fence of the site. Hunting breeds, such as the Rat Terrier, also an experienced digger, are more likely to run away from the yard, chasing squirrels or other animals.

How do dogs run away?

The fence surrounding your site seems completely impregnable. How does a dog run away from the yard?

A dog can break free in several ways: jump over a fence, climb over it, or dig a hole. Do you think she can’t jump that high? Some dogs manage to overcome the height of not the lowest fence in one jump. Others use aids, such as garden tables or chairs, to turn them over and climb over the fence.

If the fence is not strong enough, the dog can squeeze through loose panels or knock over loose boards. Especially smart animals can even open the gate latch with their paws.

No matter how hard we try to avoid it, but sometimes the human factor can contribute to creating ideal conditions for the dog to escape. If you, for example, forgot to lock the gate, it will be much easier for her to get out.

How to train a dog not to run away from the yard

If your dog has ever been lost, you know how intimidating and stressful this situation can be. But you can take some measures to limit your pet’s ability to escape:

• Check your yard and the fence around it to make sure there is no way for the dog to escape. Check for holes in and under the fence, and for any devices in the yard that can help the dog climb over the fence.
• If you’re dealing with a jumper, the American Kennel Club recommends installing rolls on top of the fence in the form of pipes strung on an aluminum rod. If the dog jumps to the top of the fence, he will not be able to grab onto the rotating pipe with his paws.
• Consider building or hiring someone to build a dog kennel, which is a lockable fenced area inside a yard where your pet can run around as much as they want.
• Before you leave your dog in the yard, take him for a long walk or some other form of exercise. Leave toys for her to play with. If the pet has something to do, and if by the time you need to leave him, he has already spent a lot of energy, he is unlikely to be interested in the idea of ​​​​escape and is unlikely to find the strength to implement it.
• Try to find opportunities to be outside with your pet. If it’s raining or you want the dog to walk on his own, stand by the door and watch him, calling out if you suddenly notice that he is about to chase the rodent out of the yard.

The American Kennel Club recommends not punishing a dog if it does run away: “It won’t make it want to run away, but it will make it afraid to go home.” When a dog runs away on a walk, the owner sometimes does not know what to do. Nevertheless, you need to be patient and take care of raising a pet.

If your dog runs away even after you’ve taken steps to strengthen the fence and tried all the other suggestions, seek help from a veterinarian or dog handler. Some type of professional training should help the dog figure out what behavior is acceptable. Also, a specialist can give recommendations on how to teach a dog not to run away from the owner.