6 Ways to Keep Your Dog from Running Away

Having a dog escape the security of a home and into the wild can be one of the most heartbreaking instances for dog parents. Unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence. Dogs, especially some breeds, can be extremely difficult to control and contain. As a dog parent, you will constantly find them trying to figure out how they can escape. This is why it is important to put some precautions and preventative measure into place – to ensure the safety of your much-loved canine. Here are a few ways to keep your dog from running away.

Figure Out Why Your Dog is Running

When their dog escapes, their owner typically experiences a myriad of emotions. While some are grief-stricken, others are furious, but most of them get very panicky and confused. Amidst all this chaos, commotion, and determination to search for their beloved pet, most owners often don’t try and find out why their pup ran away in the first place. 

Here are a few reasons why dogs run away. 

Your Dog is Bored

Boredom is the primary reason that most dogs escape. When left alone in the backyard with nothing to do, your dog will attempt to take themselves out for a stroll around the neighborhood to entertain themselves. 

Your Dog is Searching for a Mate

Dogs that haven’t been spayed or neutered are particularly guilty of roaming around the neighborhood in search of a mate. If your male dog can sniff a female nearby, especially if she’s in heat, then he will try his best to jump over the fence in an attempt to meet her. 

Your Dog Is on the Hunt

Dogs love hunting! Many canines are readily waiting around to jump over the fence to chase down a squirrel, rabbit, or another potential prey. Even though this is a more common instinct of prey-driven breeds such as huskies, almost all dogs have an instinct of chasing small animals. 

Even though it can be quite difficult to remain calm and composed during such a situation, figuring out why your dog ran away can help prevent it from becoming a recurring instance. Moreover, figuring out your dog’s motive for running away can also improve your chances of finding it. 

Get Familiar with Your Dog’s Breed

All dog breeds are different. Certain dog breeds such as Retrievers, Beagles, Sighthounds, and Huskies have a natural tendency to wander around. They won’t stop at anything to find out what lies beyond the fence. This might be due to a few reasons such as the desire to mate, overcome boredom, or for the need of companionship. If you have one of these dog breeds, or are planning to get one, you should be well-acquainted with their natural predispositions so you can take extra precautions to keep them from running away. 

Get Your Dog Spayed or Neutered

One of the major reasons behind your canine’s escapist predispositions is the need to find a partner to mate. If this is the reason that your dog is trying to run, then the simplest solution is to get him or her spayed or neutered. Getting your canine spayed or neutered can substantially reduce their urge to wander around and attempt to explore what’s beyond the fence. However, you need to remember that this will only help reduce their hormonal urge to roam; it won’t necessarily change their habit if your pup is used to roaming for years!

Tighten Security

Regardless of the reason behind your dog’s escapist tactics, keeping your home secure is probably the best way to keep your dog from running away. There are many ways to amp up the security in your backyard to ensure that your dog stays put. 

Add a Baby Gate

If your dog dashes towards the front door every time you come home or leave, install a baby gate to add some additional security. This can be a rather effective strategy if your dog already follows your commands such as ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’

Install a Tall Fence

While it may be a pain to install, a bigger fence can help you contain your pup. The height of the fence is largely depending on the dog breed you have. However, a 6 feet tall wooden fence should easily suffice for most breeds. Also, when installing a tall fence, remember to install chicken wire between the ground and the bottom of the fence to discourage your pup from digging. 

Get a Pet Containment System

You can also invest in a great wired or wireless pet containment system to keep your dog from running away. A pet containment system comes with a correction collar that starts beeping when your dog attempts to go beyond the electric fence. This collar comes with completely safe correction levels such as vibrations and static to correct your dog’s behavior.

Keep Your Dog Occupied

Boredom is one of the main motivations behind your dog’s escapist behavior. Your dog might especially attempt to escape when it’s left all alone in the background with no one to play with and nothing to do. If that’s the case, then you should leave some toys and other stimuli around to keep your dog occupied and entertained while you’re not around. Chew toys, puzzles, and bully sticks can do wonders when it comes to keeping your pup happy! Another great way to keep your dog occupied is to increase their daily exercise. Taking your dog out for a walk every day will reduce its need to walk himself. 

Try Obedience Training

Obedience training requires time and effort, but is a long-term solution to keep your dog from running away. You can hire a personal dog trainer to train your pup to follow commands and teach them how to remain within a boundary. You can also send your dog for group training classes, or you can study up and attempt to train your dog at home. Remember to conduct thorough research when training your dog by yourself. 

The key to ensuring your dog’s safety and keep it from running away is to set preventative measures in place.