Dogs

Why Do Dogs Run Away? 18 Common Causes

On Jul 29, 2024

The worst nightmare for dog owners is having their dog run away from the house. It might be common but is a potentially dangerous scenario.

There are several reasons from mating instincts to hunting instincts or exploring new surroundings with curiosity, all factors help the dog to run away even if it is well-behaved. Understanding why your pup tries to escape whenever you open the door can help prevent their next run away from home.

1. Separation Anxiety

Most dogs can be anxious when they feel left out by their owners, even for a shorter duration. When a dog with separation anxiety is separated, there can be destructive behaviors and they can try to have escape attempts.

They can perform activities like destroying things, chewing furniture, peeing indoors, and trying to escape or run away as a result of being anxious when left out. When they are alone at home, they might try to make new canine friends and meet others or may run away from the house to come and find you. Training, routine, and sometimes medication can reduce anxiety levels in those dogs.

2. Boredom Or Fraustation

Dogs are active creatures and need mental and physical stimulation to stay active and healthy. Without it, they easily become bored or frustrated doing nothing but lying around the house. Being bored, there is a probable chance of a dog running away from the house in search of something exciting.

Some northern dog breeds like Huskies are bred for roaming, making them vulnerable to escape therefore they should stay inside the house. Providing your furry friend proper playing time with regular exercise and mental challenges can help prevent them from escaping by searching down the road. When feeling bored, very smart dog breeds can be the likely suspects as it begins with chasing the squirrel over and going down the road to make friends in the neighborhood.

3. Unfamiliar Surroundings

These furry animals are creatures of habit and become uneasy when they are taken into unfamiliar surroundings. The major reason is moving to a new house, which is a major stressing factor for dogs as they may find it difficult to adapt.

Some dogs try to run away back to their previous home, where they feel secure and comfortable. Sudden changes in the environment such as new smells, new sights, and sounds might make dogs anxious, just as in humans. Everyone needs time to adapt to a new home, but it is hard to accept the fact that dogs change homes like we humans.

4. Hunting Instinct

Many dog breeds have a strong hunting instinct triggered by moving things like squirrels, or other small animals. When dogs see their prey, they may run away ignoring the commands and surroundings.

Dogs in a yard may be driven to dig or jump over if they see or smell potential prey animals. Some dogs are trained to stop this behavior whereas the instinct is too strong for some dogs. Whether it's a squirrel looking across the yard, a cat teasing from a fence, or the scent of a rabbit in the air, these can trigger a dog's hunting instincts. Walking them on a strong leash and keeping them inside or in a kennel can be necessary.

5. Lack Of Exercise And Stimulation

They are active creatures and are one step ahead in tasks such as hunting, herding, and guarding. They also have a natural climb toward physical and mental engagement. Regular exercising not only keeps them healthy but also satisfies their need to move and explore their surroundings.

When dogs don't receive enough exercise, health issues such as obesity, joint problems, and cardiovascular diseases can arise. They may become restless and anxious, seeking outlets for their energy. Mainly, indoor dogs can't go for regular walks and playtime with their owners and can become frustrated and run away when they find an opportunity.

6. Mating Instinct

When dogs become sexually active, they may feel the necessity to seek other mates. It is usually seen in unneutered and unspayed female dogs but happens in fixed dogs.

Their instinct to mate can lead dogs who never leave the yard to roam far in search of mate, without any safety considerations. It is usually seen when a male one smells a female dog in heat. During this time, her behavior may become more restless and driven by a strong desire to find a mate. Spaying and neutering can reduce their sex drive, but may not eliminate it. You should keep an eye on your dog as they become sexually mature whether it will trigger your furry friend to run away.

7. Scary Sights And Sounds

Dogs have sensitive hearing and find themselves overwhelmed by loud noises. Fireworks and thunderstorms are some common triggering factors, but a vacuum cleaner sound to a hair dryer can also create havoc in dogs.

Not every dog is disturbed by the scary sights and sounds but some certainly are. Loud noises like fireworks can cause dogs to flee in panic. They may escape to search for familiar surroundings after running away so that they are safe and peaceful. They have a sharp sense of hearing and can sometimes hear sounds between 15-50,000 vibrations per second. You should be aware of the signs that show your dog being uncomfortable in certain situations.

8. Fear

Some dogs run away when they feel scared of their surroundings. They can become afraid of various things, such as loud noises, unfamiliar people or surroundings, or even changes in the environment. They may be suffering from past traumatic experiences, lack of socialization, and genetic predisposition due to which they will seek a way to escape.

Also, the changes in routine and separation from their owners, or the presence of other animals can trigger fear in dogs. They may show signs including panting, pacing, drooling, hiding, excess barking, or whining. Some may run away after becoming aggressive when confronted with situations that trigger their fear. Fear-induced running away is often heightened in dogs with improper socialization or those unexposed to various situations and environments positively.

9. Lack Of Socialization

Dogs with little exposure to social interaction with other canine friends can be fearful or overexcited around strangers, showing potential escape attempts. Before they reach their adulthood, they should be properly socialized.

Socialization helps dogs explore various environments, people, and experiences from a young age, helping them to generate in-built confidence and adaptability. Without proper socialization, pet owners may face behavioral issues with their dogs. These include aggression, fearfulness, excessive barking, destructive behaviors, and difficulty responding to commands. Also, untrained dogs can struggle to adapt so that they can run away to escape from social gatherings or hide out in a quiet place.

10. Abuse And Neglect

Dogs usually require vigilant oversight to ensure their safety, well-being, and proper behavior. Owners should monitor their dogs properly, especially in potentially hazardous environments or situations, to prevent accidents, injuries, or unwanted behaviors.

Leaving dogs neglected and abused sometimes with loud noises can create panic situations in them. Keeping them ignored may lead to destructive behaviors, or escape confinement or aggression toward other animals. Furthermore, neglecting their physical and emotional needs such as food, water, exercise, and affection can lead to anxiety and frustration, which can trigger them to escape attempts for relief.

11. Traumatic Experiences

Dogs sometimes may have suffered a traumatic experience in the past such as confrontation or ignored. They may try to escape away when they feel threatened. The past incidents can make them hypersensitive leading them to escape away from something that reminds them of their negative experiences.

Addressing their past trauma requires patience involving professional help from a veterinarian or animal behaviorist. As an owner, you should be able to build trust and provide a consistent and positive environment helping your dog feel secure in the house so that they won't escape away.

12. Lack Of Proper Containment

Your fences or containment may be hazardous or inadequate, making them run away easily across the fences. If your house fence is not high enough, has faps, or is not secure, your furry friend may find to escape.

It is usually problematic for breeds known for their climbing or digging skills. You should secure your yard enclosed with appropriate barriers. The fences should be regularly checked and fixed if any potential escape routes have problems. For instance, breeds like Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Huskies are known for their jumping skills. A fence for such dogs should be at least six feet tall and may require additional measures.

13. Curiosity

Dogs are curious creatures who want to explore beyond their familiar surroundings if they find new smells, sounds, or sights. Their temptness to explore can sometimes lead to running away from home.

While it is considered a normal behavior, it can become problematic when the dogs try to escape frequently from the house. Sometimes an interesting smell can also increase curiousness in dogs, forcing them to go beyond their boundaries. You should provide a stimulating environment with lots of toys, activities, and social interactions to reduce their exploration outside the safety zone.

14. Health Issues

Health issues can sometimes cause a dog to escape away from their usual surroundings. If a dog is suffering from any kind of physical pain or discomfort, they may show unusual behavior and seek out a more comfortable place to rest.

Some conditions such as viral or bacterial infections, or any internal issues might make a dog vulnerable to fleeing away from the house. If your furry friend shows unusual behaviors and tries to escape away, you should once consult the nearest vet to examine the underlying health issues. Regular vet check-ups and examinations are needed to monitor their behavioral changes while addressing health issues.

15. Environmental Changes

If there are major changes in a dog's environmental surroundings, such as moving to a new home or changes in the household, they may feel stressed and run away. They follow their routine effectively and familiarly, while the disturbances in the environment can cause them anxiety or depression.

To help them adapt to the changes around them, you should introduce them gradually a new surroundings and maintain consistency in their schedule as much as possible so that they won't escape away. Also, you can provide your furry friend with a comfortable place to reduce the likelihood of escape.

16. Overexcitement

Dogs can sometimes run away in excitement if they encounter something that triggers their enthusiasm, such as another dog, a game, or new surroundings. The overexcited ones may lose focus and lead to escape without considering the risks.

You should manage these over-excitement behaviors through controlled interactions, regular exercise, and training, which helps to reduce this behavior. Also, teach your dogs to remain calm and composed in stimulating situations further reducing their options to run away. They will not escape and react calmly when another dog in new surroundings approaches them to play and won't escape as an excitement to explore new things.

17. Food Or Scent

The food aroma or other appealing smells can attract dogs to run away from home. If a dog catches the scent of something tantalizing such as food from a nearby hotel or cafe or a strong animal odor, they may escape away from home following the smell.

To restrict them from running away, you should ensure that food and other things are not accessible to dogs and that garbage containers to prevent this issue in your home. Also, give proper training to dogs using voice commands so that they may return to their owners once called.

18. Aggressive Encounters

Aggressive encounters with other canine friends animals or people can cause your dog sometimes to run away as they try to escape from threats. If any other dogs show aggression towards your dog, or a hostile behavior from people, they will trigger a flight response and try to run away.

You should keep your dog properly socialized among other companions, people, and dogs, and interact with them with close supervision, which later prevents aggressive encounters among the canine friends. Also, you can provide your pup training to react calmly to aggressive situations by providing them a treat or praise.