Why do dogs run away?

How to stop a dog from running away

Your heart is pounding, the adrenaline is pumping through your veins and dreadful thoughts are crawling up your neck like a tarantula.

When our dogs run off it's easy for our minds to start racing. Dogs are a part of our families, and when we don't know where or how they are, we get worried beyond belief.

Many people think they are bad dog owners if they lose control of their dogs.

Thoughts like 'does the dog hate me?', 'did I do something wrong?', and 'is it not happy?', are more common than you think. However, in most cases, these kinds of thoughts are usually completely irrational.

Why do dogs run away?

Several factors may come into play, but often dogs run away because:

1: The dog has discovered something interesting, such as another animal

2: The dog suffers from separation anxiety

3: The dog is scared

4: Sexual drive

5: The dog is understimulated and bored

The dog has discovered something interesting, such as another animal

Both humans and dogs have instincts. Still, it is no secret that a dogs' impulse control is weaker than humans''.

Some breeds have a stronger hunting instinct than other breeds. These dogs will rarely hesitate to run after an animal if the opportunity arises. This especially applies to hunting dogs, such as the Beagle and the Irish Setter.

Once the dog senses the presence of a hare, squirrel or deer, it will lock on to the animal and become difficult to get in touch with. It does not mean you have done anything wrong if the dog runs after an animal. But remember, it is the dog owner's responsibility to keep the dog on a leash.

The dog has separation anxiety.

Suppose the dog is stressed or scared, for example, due to separation anxiety. In that case, it will try to get away from the situation. If you then forget to close a window or lock the door, the dog can find its way out and runoff.

The dog is scared

The dog may become frightened if it detects a potential danger, such as an animal or if it is standing on the edge of a precipice. The fear can trigger a reaction where the dog will want to get away from the situation.

Sexual drive

Dogs are sexual beings. Combined with an insanely strong sense of smell, this can cause the dog to seek out potential partners, especially if there is a bitch with maturity nearby.

The dog is understimulated and bored.

Dogs need stimuli, both mentally and physically, to thrive. Some individuals and breeds need more stimuli than others. If the dogs need are not met, destructive behavior and boredom can develop.

In such a case, the dog may run away because it simply needs to run or because it will experience something other than the four walls of the house. Intelligent dogs usually need more stimuli than less intelligent dogs.

The best way to prevent boredom is to give the dog tasks and facilitate play.

In summary

There are many reasons why dogs run away, so it is important to learn the dog's signals and characteristics, including its instincts.

Fortunately, if the flight has already happened, there are aids that can help the dog get home safely. Lildog is an example of such aid. With a tracker, you can precisely locate the dog, even if it is far away.