No matter what you do, your dog manages to release himself into the wild over and over again! …Or at least outside of the confinement of your back yard. Your never-ending attempts to keep him where he belongs have been a series of failures, which may have been funny in the beginning but are getting old, fast! You want to be able to leave the house without worrying that you’re your pup’s safety. What are you supposed to do? You have tried everything!
Why is your pooch so eager to leave, and what can you do about it?
There are a series of potential reasons that could be pushing your pup to explore the outdoors! Here are some you might not have thought of, and some tips to break the habit:
1. He is socially isolated and frustrated:
Your dog may be escaping because he is bored and lonely, especially if he is left alone without interaction with you, or other playmates. A good way to know if this applies to your puppy is if he visits places during his adventure that provide him interaction and fun! For example, a local park with adult and children interaction!
Tip: Give your pooch some people time! He’s dying to play with you. Just simply walking your dog every morning can make a world of a difference.
2. Your pup is ready to meet a lady friend:
At around the age of 6 months dogs become sexually mature and are ready to scope out males or females. It can be very difficult to prevent a maturing pup when he determined to be on the loose!
Tip: Have your male or female dog neutered or spayed. It has been proven in studies that neutering has decreased sexual roaming in about 90% of cases!
3. He’s leaving because he’s scared of something:
There’s a good chance that your dog has a fear or phobia, especially if he normally leaves during thunderstorms, or when he is exposed to loud noises such as firecrackers.
Tip: If there is any chance he may encounter the fear outside allow him to come indoors, or create a “ safe place.” It might also be a good idea to desensitize your dog to what is frightening him, which might require the help of a professional trainer. You can also ask your veterinarian about anxiety medications.
4. He has separation anxiety:
It might be clear that your pup has separation anxiety issues if he runs away the second you leave the house. Some other clues would be if he remains near you after his escape or if he normally displays behaviors that prove he has a strong attachment to you.
Tip: There are a couple things you can do to keep you from worrying while away from your pup:
- Distracting your dog with a bone about 10 minutes before you leave will keep him occupied and happy while your gone.
- Exercise your pup for abut 20 minutes before you leave so he is to tired to escape
- Work with your dog daily so he gets used to you leaving and coming back.
It’s important to understand why your dog is escaping so that you can help keep your dog safe and prevent it from happening again!
A little socialization may be what your dog needs, click here to download our free ebook on how to socialize adult dogs.
