Training Tips for Dogs That Run Away When Let Loose

Running off is one of the top problems reported by dog owners, trainers, and pet care specialists.
It is a dangerous behavior in that it exposes a dog to car accidents, fights with other animals,
theft, and disease. In the country or even some cities, dogs may be shot if they dig in the
garbage, chase livestock or cause other problems. In a town or city with leash laws, the dog can
be picked up and brought to the pound, resulting in a fine and/or ticket for the owner. If a dog is
brought to the pound and the owner cannot be found, the animal may be put down. At the very
least, this behavior can take all the fun out of dog ownership. Running away is one problem that
must be controlled for your dog’s sake, and for your own.

All dogs are likely to run after rabbits, children on bikes, and other similar stimuli. It is in their
nature and you will have to work hard to teach them not to run under these circumstances. Also
females in heat and male dogs on the scent of a female will be very hard to keep at home. Spaying or
neutering your dog can go a long way toward solving running problems. If you want to keep your dog
intact for breeding purposes or because of personal preference, be sure to keep females confined
while they are in season. And you will have to keep a close eye on an intact male dog in almost
every situation. You never know when a female in the neighborhood will come into heat.

Running off under occasional circumstances is different from dogs that run away every chance
they get. There are several reasons that dogs become runners. First, this is a natural progression
for a dog that learns she doesn’t have to come when called or especially for a dog that gets
punished when she comes back.

A dog also may run off if she hasn’t learned where the territory boundaries are. Dogs don’t
understand property lines so you have to teach them where the allowable area is. As a dog
becomes known as a runner, she is rarely let outside to play freely and consequently bolts the
minute she gets the chance. If her owners chase her when this happens, that only adds to the fun,
and it becomes a game.

Some dog owners simply put up a fence. Chain link works best but can be expensive, especially
with a big yard. But anything that provides a barrier will help slow your
dog down and teach her where the yard ends. Underground fencing with an electric collar is
another option, and we are mentioning it here despite the fact that it involves a slight amount of
pain for the dog. Because running off is such a dangerous behavior for a dog and can often result
in canine fatalities, this more aggressive method seemed worth noting as a last resort. However,
Spaying or neutering your dog can go a long way toward solving running problems.

it is expensive and is not always effective, as the Makenzies found out. And that doesn’t solve
the problem when you want to take your dog with you to the country. You and your dog will
both be much better off if you can find something that works for you from the methods listed
below.

How To Keep Your Dog From Running Away When Let Loose

1.) TEACH YOUR DOG WHERE THE BOUNDARIES ARE
A dog that is new to your home or who has demonstrated a problem with running needs to know
where her boundaries are. While she does need to learn who’s boss and how far she can push,
we are talking literal boundaries here, as in property lines or the area in which you want your dog
to stay.
Once you have established the area in your mind, put your dog on a leash and walk her around
the boundary. Keep the leash lose enough that she can cross the line, and if she does this, give
her a sharp jerk and issue a verbal command such as “Get back,” “Far enough” or “No. Home.”
When she gets back within the approved area, give her a pat or some words of praise.
Walk around the area several times, each time letting your dog have more slack in the lead but
correcting her when she crosses the line. If you have a fence line or row of shrubs along your
property border, your dog will likely get the hang of it rather quickly. But if the line is
imaginary, it will take weeks or months before your dog will fully understand where her
boundaries are. Don’t allow her the opportunity to run off. Once the dog realizes she can do
this, the behavior will be very difficult to correct. Do not let your dog off the leash or run line
until you are certain that she will stay nearby or come back when called .
Even after things seem well established, your dog may begin to wander slightly.
The first time you see this happen, get her back on the leash and
spend some time walking the property line again.

2.) MAKE YOUR YARD A FUN PLACE TO BE
If you want your dog to stay in the yard, you have to make it a fun place to be. If your dog feels
like the yard is a prison, she will try to escape. Play with her there, keep toys outside for her,
give her treats and perhaps even feed her outside. Bring a doggy friend over to the yard to play
(be sure this is not a dog who will run off, thus compounding the problem).
Is something scaring your dog and making her run off? Observe the area to see if there are
loud noises, blankets flapping in the breeze, doors slamming, a car engine being revved. All of
these occurrences can be frightening for a dog and may make her want to run from the area.

3.) BE SURE YOUR DOG GETS PLENTY OF EXERCISE
Dogs that are bored or too full of energy will tend to run off when given the chance. They have
gotten tired of waiting for you to meet their play needs and they take matters into their own
hands. If you don’t have a fenced yard, find someone who does and whose dog also needs some
playtime. Or take your dog to a daycare center like Cathy Gustafson’s Mud Puppies. The dogs
that go to her facility have a large indoor area to run and play in with other dogs. All activity is
supervised, and quiet time in a crate is an option for dogs that get tired out or over stimulated. A
weekly socialization class helps tremendously, but is not enough exercise. Your dog needs to get
out each day. If you don’t have an area for your dog to run free, take her on a walk everyday and
give her a long leash for part of the time. It is important that your dog’s fun times focus on you,
not on running freely, out of your site while off the leash.
One pet care professional told of a woman who lived in an apartment with her dog. In order
to exercise her dog, she bought a 40-foot length of rope and a sturdy stake to hold it in the
ground. She took her dog to the county park several times each week, where she staked her dog
securely in an open area and played fetch and Frisbee, being careful not to throw the toy too far
and cause the dog to run to the end of the lead. She also brought other toys and let the dog roam
and play in his large circular area, staying within his reach at all times. With a little creativity
and commitment, you can accommodate your dog’s needs. If you can’t provide your dog with
these basic necessities, you should rethink pet ownership all together.

4.) PLAY HIDE AND SEEK WITH YOUR DOG
This approach was described in the previous section on teaching your dog to come when called.
It is also effective for dealing with dogs that run off. By teaching your dog to look for you when
she can’t see you, this helps a dog to learn to stay within eyesight.
The basic concept involves hiding from your dog and then calling her to come find you. You
can use the “Come” command or something more specific to bringing the dog back within
eyesight, such as “Come back” or “Find me.” Most dogs get a huge kick out of looking for their
owners. They can hear their voices, but can’t see them and it drives them crazy and makes them
want to get to the bottom of the mystery. They experience a sense of satisfaction and pride when
they find you, and eventually your dog will to learn to stay where she can see you, or at least
come find you when she realizes you are gone.

This approach is ideal for the Makenzies whose dog thinks running away is fun. By replacing
it with an even better game, they eliminate Tipper’s desire to run off. Plus the children can be
taught to play the game properly, thus adding additional reinforcement and practice. And if
Tipper learns to stay within eyesight, she can romp and play up at their hunting land without
getting into trouble. The Makenzies should try this at home until they feel she is ready to try it at
their land, and then only with Tipper still on the leash until it is clear she will not run off.

5.) ENLIST THE HELP OF A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR
Several of our contributors suggested having a friend or neighbor hide behind a building or tree
in an area where your dog often crosses out of your yard. When the dog comes near, the helper
jumps out shouting or blowing a horn to scare the dog back home. If there is no building nearby
to hide behind, have your helper cover up with a sheet or blanket. It is important that the dog not
see the person ahead of time or she may run to that area to say hello, rather than as an act of
running off.

We suggest using this method as a last resort and NEVER with shy or nervous dogs. The
concern we have with this approach is that the dog might bolt and take off in the wrong
direction. Obviously this is not a good method for a dog that is afraid of people or nervous
outside.

6.) USE A DUAL LEASH APPROACH
Use two leashes on your dog, one her normal walking leash and another a long lead at least
fifteen feet in length but no more than fifty. When you unclip the first leash, the dog will likely
think it is free and attempt to run off. You can use the second leash to guide her and help her
understand how far you are willing to let her roam. As she is running, call her back using the
commands you have established.

If your dog is a bolter who takes off like a shot as soon as the leash is off, be sure to have a
good hold on the second lead. You may also want to wear gloves to protect your hands and
improve your grip. The last thing you want is for your dog to be running through the
neighborhood or woods trailing a twenty-foot lead. Try to soften the jolt when she reaches the
end of the leash. You do not want to injure the dog. Just coming up short will be enough of a
surprise for her.

If your dog wanders too far or takes off, use the long lead to bring her back to you, using the
established commands and praising her when you have taken a hold of her collar. Continue this
exercise until your dog no longer runs to the end of the lead and returns to you when called.
Then try removing the long lead while in an enclosed area. If you dog still stays nearby and
responds to your commands, you can practice the exercises until you feel ready to give it a try in
the open. For your first attempt, it is best to take your dog to a safe, familiar place where she
will not be hurt or lost if she does run off.

Don’t chase the dog!

If you are foolish enough to let your untrained dog off the leash, or if a training accident
happens, don’t chase after your dog. Continue to call her back to you in the same tone of voice
you normally use, or have a backup plan such as one of the techniques listed below. It can be
nerve-wracking to just let the dog go, but dashing across the grass will likely make her run faster.
If the dog does not come back in several minutes, or you know from past experience that she will
be gone for some time, get on a bike, in your vehicle, or start out walking. Have special toys and
treats that your dog is fond of and calmly try to locate her. Once you do, bend down and
nonchalantly call her to you. If she comes, praise her gently and get her home. You don’t want
to give her big rewards or she may think she is being praised for running off, but you don’t want
to scold her – after all she did eventually come back to you.

If you are not able to reclaim your dog the first few times, you will have to decide if you want to
continue or let her return home on her own. This will have to be a personal decision based on
your location and safety factors, your dog’s past behavior, your town’s or city’s leash laws, etc.
If safety concerns result in the need for you to chase and tackle the dog, get it over with quickly
and put the leash on the dog without a word. Don’t praise or scold. Handle the situation in as
neutral a manner as possible. It should only take one incident like this to convince you that
training is needed and that there will be no reckless off-leash time for many months to come.