What to do with a dog that won't stay home?

Dogs are unwilling to stay at home and run away from home like a wild horse. This is not only a behavioral problem, but also a concern for every owner. Exploring the reasons behind it and finding a solution is the key to our protection of the safety and happiness of our dogs, and it is also our responsibility to this precious companionship. ​

Separation anxiety is a common and difficult reason why dogs are unwilling to stay at home. Dogs are social animals and have a deep emotional dependence on their owners. When they are forced to separate from their owners, their inner anxiety and fear will grow like weeds. Some dogs will keep barking and scratching doors and windows after their owners go out, trying to call their owners back through these methods; some will destroy furniture, urinate and defecate everywhere, etc. These seemingly "disobedient" actions are actually their helpless expressions to relieve anxiety. Just like children are afraid of being abandoned by their parents, when dogs face an empty home alone, the loneliness and helplessness make them eager to escape from this uneasy environment and look for their owners. ​

The fact that dogs' vigorous energy cannot be released is also an important factor that prompts them to leave home. Being active is the nature of dogs, especially some medium and large dogs and working dogs, which need a lot of exercise every day to consume energy. If the owner is busy at work or for other reasons and cannot give them enough time for outdoor activities, the dog will be like a machine full of energy but nowhere to release it, restless. They will try their best to sneak out of the house and find an outlet to vent their energy in the vast outside world, running on the streets and playing on the grass. While enjoying freedom, they also put themselves in danger. ​

Curiosity will also make it difficult for dogs to stay at home peacefully. The outside world is full of temptations for dogs. New smells, strange sounds, and traces of other small animals all attract their attention like magnets. When the environment at home cannot satisfy their desire to explore, dogs will look for opportunities to sneak out of the house to explore unknown areas. Maybe just a little looseness in the door, or maybe the half-open state of the window, can become their "green channel" to the outside world. ​

Faced with dogs who don't want to stay at home, owners need to use patience and wisdom to resolve the crux of the problem one by one. For dogs suffering from separation anxiety, gradual desensitization training is an effective solution. Start with a short absence of a few minutes, let the dog gradually adapt to the owner's short disappearance, give them gentle comfort and delicious snacks as rewards every time you go home, so that the dog knows that the owner will definitely come back after leaving. Over time, slowly extend the time of absence to help the dog build a sense of security and trust. At the same time, creating a comfortable environment for the dog to be alone, leaving clothes with the owner's scent, and playing soothing music can relieve their anxiety to a certain extent. ​

In order to consume the dog's excess energy, it is important to develop a regular and sufficient exercise plan. According to the dog's breed, age and physical condition, arrange appropriate walking, running, and game time every day. A stroll in the park in the early morning and chasing and playing in the evening can not only exercise the dog's body, but also enhance the relationship between the two dogs in the interaction. For dogs with particularly high energy, you can also try some agility training, Frisbee games, etc., so that they can release energy in exercise, and they will naturally rest quietly after returning home and no longer think about running outside. ​

In order to satisfy the curiosity of dogs, owners can set up a variety of interactive toys and puzzle games at home. Leaky toys can make dogs use their brains in the process of finding food, and sniffing pads can let them enjoy the fun of exploring smells. Regularly change toys and game methods to keep them fresh, so that dogs can also have enough stimulation and fun at home, and reduce their yearning for the outside world. ​

In addition, strengthening the safety protection of the home environment is essential. Carefully check whether the doors and windows are closed, whether there are gaps in the door and window gaps that dogs can drill out, and install guardrails and pet gates to prevent dogs from leaving home from a physical level. At the same time, give dogs a collar with the owner's contact information and identity information or implant an electronic chip, which can increase the chance of finding them if the dog accidentally gets lost.​

Dogs are reluctant to stay at home, which is a "help signal" they send to their owners. Behind every time they run away from home, there are unmet needs and unspeakable emotions. As owners, we need to use professional knowledge, endless patience and full of love to understand these signals and solve the root of the problem. Only in this way can our beloved dogs stay at ease in a warm home, spend every happy day with us, and continue to write a warm story that belongs to each other.