Buzz
Dogs are wonderful companions, offering us joy and affection in our lives. However, if your dog keeps running off aimlessly, it can be frustrating and even alarming. Fortunately, there are several ways to train your dog to stay put when you open the door or release its leash for a walk. Hunting dogs or shepherd breeds may require professional training. It's important to know your dog's breed before applying training techniques.
Steps
Training Your Dog to Come Back to You
Start training your dog early, when it’s still a puppy. Just like humans, dogs tend to form habits from a young age. Training puppies may be challenging, but it’s definitely worth the effort. If you adopt an older dog, training is still possible, though it can be more difficult.
Prepare a few special treats for your dog. Choose healthy treats that your dog loves. It's better to use dog-specific treats rather than human food. Keep these treats in your pocket or a small bag to keep them hidden from your dog.
- Pick a treat specifically for training sessions. If your dog receives the same treat at other times, it may be harder for it to associate the reward with the behavior you want to reinforce.
- Consider breaking the treat into smaller pieces, keeping your dog eager for each reward.
Call your dog closer in a small room. Use a simple command, such as "Come here." You can also use your dog's name, like "Moc, come here." Say the command firmly once and wait to see if your dog responds. If not, repeat the command with the same tone.
- Minimize distractions in the room, such as the TV or other people.
- Make sure the room doesn't have areas where your dog might run off, as this could confuse it about where it can go.
Reward your dog when it gets closer. If your dog approaches you, reward it with a treat, praise, and petting to reinforce the positive behavior. Make sure to reward your dog immediately so it understands that it's being rewarded for following the command.
- Pet your dog and speak in an affectionate tone when giving the reward. Your touch and tone will serve as an additional reward.
Move away from your dog. Once you’ve rewarded and praised your dog, your job is done. You can now move away. Your dog may follow you, especially after being praised. Keep moving around until it loses interest or gets distracted and stops following you.
- Stay indoors or in an enclosed space so your dog doesn’t have the chance to run off elsewhere.
- If your dog keeps following you, consider switching tasks, like cooking or cleaning. Your dog will often get bored when it realizes you’re not paying attention to it anymore.
Call your dog again. When your dog has stopped following you, call it again. Be sure to use the same command and tone as you did previously. Your dog may be far away by now, so you might need to call louder or repeat the command multiple times.
- Avoid getting closer to your dog, as it might think this is part of a game or begin to expect you to always come to it.
Repeat this process until you achieve the desired results. Practice the command several times throughout the day until your dog reliably runs to you when called. Be consistent and make time to train your dog every day. Repetition is the key to teaching your dog to approach you on command.
- Like humans, dogs have limited attention spans. If you notice your dog getting bored, it’s best to stop and resume training the next day.
Practice this command in larger spaces. Once your dog is comfortable responding to the command, start practicing in larger spaces, such as a bigger house, a fenced play area, or a dog park.
- Gradually transition to larger spaces. Don’t go from practicing in a small room to a wide-open dog park right away.
Test your dog’s focus when distractions are introduced. This step can be the hardest for your dog, especially for hunting breeds. Distractions might come from other people, animals, or surrounding noises. When your dog is free to roam outside, there will be many distractions, which makes this an important lesson in learning self-control.
- If you use other people to distract your dog, start with familiar faces, as they will be less unsettling than a stranger.
- Small animals like birds or squirrels in the yard can also distract your dog. Wild animals can usually defend themselves, but be sure not to use smaller animals (like kittens or mice) in a way that would put them in harm’s way.
Training your dog to stay in one place
Combine a command with a hand gesture. “Stay” is a common command used to ask your dog to remain in one position. This command works better when paired with a hand gesture. A simple and easy-to-remember gesture is to extend your hand as if signaling someone to stop.
- Practice both the command and the hand gesture at the same time.
- Use a clear, firm voice and ensure your hand gesture is neat and easy to understand.
Walk towards the front door. Walk casually, as though you’re about to leave the house. Perform tasks you would normally do, such as grabbing your hat or keys. Avoid talking to your dog or looking at it while doing this.
Respond if your dog follows you. Even if you don’t look, you may hear the sound of its footsteps behind you. As soon as you notice your dog following, stop and turn towards it. Then, use a command and hand gesture to ask it to stop.
- Avoid comforting or reassuring your dog at this moment, as that could encourage it to keep following you.
- Give the command and gesture only once, then continue walking away.
Repeat until your dog stops following you. You may feel frustrated, but keep turning around and repeating the command until your dog stays put. You need to reach the door without your dog moving from its “stay” position.
Repeat this process until you can open the door while your dog stays in place. Once your dog is able to remain still as you approach the door, begin practicing opening the door. Your goal is to open the door slowly and step outside without your dog moving.
- Be cautious when opening the door, as your dog may become excited and try to run outside.
- Once you’re confident your dog will stay, you can open the door for a few seconds without it trying to escape.
Praise and reward your dog for good behavior. Once you’ve stepped outside and your dog has stayed in position, go back and reward it. Offer praise and affection to let your dog know it did well.
- Don’t reward or praise your dog until you can exit without it following you.
- Before rewarding, make sure to hide the treats, as they may otherwise distract your dog.
Practice the “stay” command outdoors. Once your dog is reliably staying still as you approach the door, you can practice this command outside. Start in an enclosed area like a fenced yard or a dog park. Continue using the same command and hand gestures as you did indoors.
- Outdoors, your dog might get distracted by animals or people. This adds a challenge for your dog to maintain its position. You may need more practice to master this command in outdoor settings.
- Try walking away from your dog after giving the “stay” command. Your dog should remain in place both inside and outside.
- Gradually practice in larger spaces. Over time, your dog will be able to stay put in the yard without wandering off.
Eliminate the triggers that cause your dog to run off.
Ensure the environment is familiar. Many dogs run off because they think they need to return home. If you’ve recently moved, your dog might not yet understand that your new home is now its home as well.
- Whenever you bring your dog to a new location, give it time to explore and get accustomed to the new smells and sounds around it.
Consider neutering or spaying your dog. A common reason dogs run off is to search for a mate, especially unneutered male dogs. Neutering or spaying can help prevent your dog from wandering off in search of a partner.
- Spaying and neutering also help reduce the number of unwanted puppies being born and ending up in shelters, which eases the burden on animal rescue centers.
Give your dog plenty of interaction time. Dogs are social animals, so they require engagement and interaction; without it, they may become bored. Ensure your dog spends enough time interacting with you, other dogs, or people.
- If you work long hours, consider hiring a dog walker or pet sitter to spend time with your dog.
- Not all dogs get along with each other, so allow them to meet while still on a leash to avoid potential conflicts.
Ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Sometimes, dogs run simply because they want to. Make sure to spend time walking and playing with your dog outdoors, so it won't feel the need to run for exercise.
- Different dog breeds require varying amounts of exercise. For example, a pug might only manage a 20 to 30-minute walk before needing a break, while a husky can run long distances. You should understand what type of exercise suits your dog's breed.
- Exercise activities can include walking, fetching a ball or flying disc, or running around at a dog park with other dogs.
Reward your dog when it runs back to you. It's important to show your dog that returning to you is a positive behavior. When your dog comes back, praise it and give a treat. This helps it realize that running back is just as rewarding as running away.
- Never scold your dog for coming back, even if it's been running for a long time. Otherwise, your dog may associate returning with punishment.
- Don't call your dog back only when the fun is over. For instance, if you're at the park, call it back for a short time and then let it play some more. If you call it back when you're about to leave, it will think returning means the fun is over.
Advice
- Training a dog can be a long and sometimes tedious process, but patience is key! Once your dog is trained, you'll enjoy many happy years with your companion.
- Always praise good behavior. Dogs are pack animals and want your approval. Praising them reinforces their good actions.
- Dogs don't care whether the reward is big or small, so feel free to break up the treats into smaller portions.
Warning
- Never chase after a dog when trying to call it back to you. It will think you're initiating a game. Always stay where you are and call the dog to come closer.
Items you will need
- Food as a reward
- Leash (optional)
- Ball or flying disc (optional)
