How To Prevent Your Dog From Roaming
Canines "run away" for many reasons, most of which are misunderstood by their owners. Many people believe their pets run in order to escape from an environment they dislike. In reality, dogs are only doing what is in their nature. We'll cover this in more detail below.
This article will first explain why the term "running away" is a bit of a misnomer. While some canines do actually abandon their homes, most roam. This difference forms the core of why the behavior is so often misunderstood. We'll also explain the most common reasons pets roam, and provide a few tips for curbing the behavior.
Roaming Versus Running Away
Dogs are descendants of wolves. They are pack animals, and thus roaming is natural to them. Outside the confines of domesticated life, it is a large part of their daily existence. They roam from their dens to hunt food, scout for potential dangers, and to explore their surroundings. In most cases, they stay within a few miles of their dens, and can easily find their way home through natural instinct.
In the city where pavement has replaced the range, and vehicles cloud the environment with pollutants, it is much more difficult for a canine to find his way home. Making matters worse, roaming is far more dangerous since it can lead to capture, injury, or death.
When dogs actually run away (as opposed to roam), they usually do so for one of two reasons. First, they run to escape elements they perceive to be dangerous. This might be the case if they feel threatened by their owners, or their immediate environments. Second, they run away to acquire a reward they deem more desirable than their current circumstances.
Understanding the differences between roaming and running away is essential to understanding the triggers that spur canines to do the former.
Common Reasons Canines Roam
The drive to reproduce is instinctive in canines. This is the reason intact male dogs are more inclined to roam than those that have been neutered. When they become aware of estrogen in the air, their instinct prompts them to pursue it.
Another reason dogs roam is the promise of food. If your pet has identified a reliable source of food in a location other than your home, he may be motivated to visit it. This behavior is rarely a reflection of hunger. Instead, many dogs have a persistent craving for food, and will go to great lengths to satisfy it.
Lack of mental stimulation is another common trigger. If you routinely leave your canine home alone during the day with nothing to occupy his time, he will become bored. He'll begin to look for an alternative source of stimulation beyond the confines of your backyard.
All dogs have an innate predatory instinct. This, too, can motivate them to roam. Given the opportunity, your pet might escape in order to hunt for prey. His goal is not to kill or eat his prey, but simply to track, chase, and catch it. If you take him to a park, you may observe him doing this with resident squirrels and other rodents.
Steps To Take To Curb Persistent Roaming
If your canine has developed a habit or escaping and roaming the neighborhood, invest the time to curb the behavior. First, make sure the fence surrounding your yard is tall and durable. This is important for keeping your pet inside, and keeping other animals from gaining entry.
Second, provide your pet with a number of toys with which he can play during times when he is left alone. Make sure he also has easy access to plenty of drinking water and food if you leave him for long periods.
Third, take him for a walk each day. Routine exercise is critical for his long-term health, but will also help him burn off pent-up energy that might otherwise prompt him to roam.
Fourth, have your canine neutered. As mentioned earlier, intact male dogs are more likely to roam due to their reproductive drive.
By taking the above four measures, you can successfully curb your dog's tendency to escape. This will help ensure he avoids possible injury or worse.
This article will first explain why the term "running away" is a bit of a misnomer. While some canines do actually abandon their homes, most roam. This difference forms the core of why the behavior is so often misunderstood. We'll also explain the most common reasons pets roam, and provide a few tips for curbing the behavior.
Roaming Versus Running Away
Dogs are descendants of wolves. They are pack animals, and thus roaming is natural to them. Outside the confines of domesticated life, it is a large part of their daily existence. They roam from their dens to hunt food, scout for potential dangers, and to explore their surroundings. In most cases, they stay within a few miles of their dens, and can easily find their way home through natural instinct.
In the city where pavement has replaced the range, and vehicles cloud the environment with pollutants, it is much more difficult for a canine to find his way home. Making matters worse, roaming is far more dangerous since it can lead to capture, injury, or death.
When dogs actually run away (as opposed to roam), they usually do so for one of two reasons. First, they run to escape elements they perceive to be dangerous. This might be the case if they feel threatened by their owners, or their immediate environments. Second, they run away to acquire a reward they deem more desirable than their current circumstances.
Understanding the differences between roaming and running away is essential to understanding the triggers that spur canines to do the former.
Common Reasons Canines Roam
The drive to reproduce is instinctive in canines. This is the reason intact male dogs are more inclined to roam than those that have been neutered. When they become aware of estrogen in the air, their instinct prompts them to pursue it.
Another reason dogs roam is the promise of food. If your pet has identified a reliable source of food in a location other than your home, he may be motivated to visit it. This behavior is rarely a reflection of hunger. Instead, many dogs have a persistent craving for food, and will go to great lengths to satisfy it.
Lack of mental stimulation is another common trigger. If you routinely leave your canine home alone during the day with nothing to occupy his time, he will become bored. He'll begin to look for an alternative source of stimulation beyond the confines of your backyard.
All dogs have an innate predatory instinct. This, too, can motivate them to roam. Given the opportunity, your pet might escape in order to hunt for prey. His goal is not to kill or eat his prey, but simply to track, chase, and catch it. If you take him to a park, you may observe him doing this with resident squirrels and other rodents.
Steps To Take To Curb Persistent Roaming
If your canine has developed a habit or escaping and roaming the neighborhood, invest the time to curb the behavior. First, make sure the fence surrounding your yard is tall and durable. This is important for keeping your pet inside, and keeping other animals from gaining entry.
Second, provide your pet with a number of toys with which he can play during times when he is left alone. Make sure he also has easy access to plenty of drinking water and food if you leave him for long periods.
Third, take him for a walk each day. Routine exercise is critical for his long-term health, but will also help him burn off pent-up energy that might otherwise prompt him to roam.
Fourth, have your canine neutered. As mentioned earlier, intact male dogs are more likely to roam due to their reproductive drive.
By taking the above four measures, you can successfully curb your dog's tendency to escape. This will help ensure he avoids possible injury or worse.
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