My Dog Ran Away! Anything I Can Do?

One in three household pets goes missing at some point in their lives. The emotional toll it brings a dog parent like you can be unimaginable. In some cases, the reason for a dog to go missing is because it just ran away. 

Your dog may run away because of several reasons. It might be curious about the outer world or is afraid of something. Whatever the reason is, it is very traumatic for you. However, you can take certain measures to find your lost dog.

In this article, we will discuss why your dog might run away, which breeds are more prone to running, and what you can do to prevent this incident. Let’s take a detailed look:

Why Did My Dog Run Away?

There are a lot of reasons why a dog might run away. It might grow anxious about the unfamiliar surroundings right after you bring it home, it can feel curious about something, or it has seen another animal that triggered its hunting instincts. 

Whatever the reason is, you cannot take it personally. Some canines just cannot resist the call of the outdoors. But what about when your dog runs away and never comes back?

Well, this is really a terrifying situation, but something you can still definitely act upon. While venturing outside is normal for dogs, running away can endanger its life. Here are some common reasons for your dog to flee:

Boredom

Dogs are social creatures that need to play and exercise. Without having a proper play and exercise routine, your dog might use its residual energy by doing something drastic, aka, running away. 

If you get busy and tend to overlook your pup’s playtime, it will dig under the fence and run away to spend its energy elsewhere. Thus, you need to make time for your dog to give it enough opportunity to play and socialize. If you have to leave your dog alone for a certain period of time, you must keep your dog entertained indoors

Fear

Fear is another great motivator for your dog to flee. It might hear loud noises or get startled by something. Thunderstorms, fireworks, and even loud horns can make your dog shiver in fear and motivate it to run away.

Even the most mild-mannered pooch can be panicked come the fourth of July and the first reaction they give is to run to find a safer spot. Thus, you need to be very careful if you anticipate incidents that can make your dog fearful. You need to be well aware of the ways you can help your canine friend cope with thunderstorms and other loud noises that can startle it. 

Mating Instinct

The faintest scent of a female dog can drive your pet into a wild frenzy. So, if your dog runs away during mating season, it might have sensed a nearby female in heat.

Also, female dogs wander outside in search of a mate. This can often result in them getting lost and not finding their way home. You should take your pet to a vet to consult if neutering or spaying could help temper its mating drive.

Hunting Instinct

Wild wolves have evolved into adorable puppies, however, their hunting drive hasn’t changed much. There are certain dog breeds that cannot resist a good prey-driven chase. So, whenever they see small animals like rabbits or squirrels, they start chasing after them.

If you have a dog that cannot ignore a stray cat running past, it is a good idea to regularly check your fences and apply some other measures. You should adopt creative methods as well to prevent your dog from escaping the yard.

Separation Anxiety

Dogs love their owners very much. They can feel really overwhelmed when their owner is not around. This makes them very irritable and prone to run away.

Dog anxiety is a severe problem that you should take very seriously. Your favorite boy or girl may not handle your absence and will flee from home to find you. So, you need to understand how much your dog is attached to you and how you can calm your anxious dog.

What Dog Breeds Are More Prone to Run Away?

According to a survey by Blue Cross, these are the dog breeds with the highest tendency to run away from home:

• Labrador Retriever
• Cocker Spaniel
• Jack Russell
• German Shepherd
• English Springer Spaniel
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Border Collie
• West Highland Terrier
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Boxer
• Border Terrier
• Pug
• Poodle
• Chihuahua

What Can You Do If Your Dog Runs Away?

Now you know the reasons why your dog ran away from home. These are the things you should do:

1. Start an immediate search: Once you discover that your dog has run away, go outside and check the neighborhood for any signs of your pet. Ask anyone you meet if they’ve seen an unsupervised dog wandering.

2. Report lost pets to PawMaw: If you come up empty after a quick neighborhood, check, it’s time to report your lost pet to PawMaw and post a lost pet advertisement on various channels. To be able to do this, you’d need to upload a clear photo of your pet. Make sure to provide a description of your pet and your updated contact details.

3. Post lost pet flyers: Print a lost dog flier to make more people aware of your missing dog. While you focus on your search efforts, your flyers will be doing an effective job of informing more people and have them on the lookout for your runaway buddy.

4. Do a wider search: Call family and friends for help in searching a wider area for your dog that ran away. How near or far a runaway dog ends up would depend a lot on his health and personality. You’ll be able to search more strategically if you understand lost dog behavior.

5. Call animal rescue and shelters: After a few days have passed and there’s still no sign of your runaway dog, it may be time to make a call to animal rescue authorities or personally visit the shelters. It also wouldn’t hurt to call vet clinics in the area. Leave your contact information with them in case someone brings your pet in.

Final Words

While a lot of dogs run away from their homes every day, there are many instances where they come back as well. They may try to find their way back for weeks or even months before finding their way.