Video Transcript

Hello, I¡¯m Jamie Bozzi of Smart Dog. And today, we¡¯re going to discuss how to stop a dog from leaving home. Why do dogs leave home? There may be a variety of reasons that dogs leave the house or the property. So, here are some ideas: Boredom, anxiety, roaming to find a mate, or poor fencing. Now, let¡¯s look at poor fencing. Make sure that you have adequate fencing to make sure that the dog doesn¡¯t escape the property. Roaming: I like to call this, ¡°desperately seeking Susan.¡± This is especially prevalent in male dogs who are not neutered. They may roam in search of a mate. Having your dog neutered will decrease the roaming behavior. Boredom: Some dogs left in backyards all day develop nuisance behavior, such as barking or digging. Make sure that your dog is mentally and physically stimulated, and all his needs are being met. As for anxiety, if your dog is chronically escaping, or actually injuring himself or the property trying to escape, then this could be something more severe, such as separation anxiety. Any anxiety issues also should be handled by a certified pet professional. Recommended professionals would be a board certified veterinary behaviorist, a certified applied animal behaviorist, a certified canine behavior consultant, or a certified or associate member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Once again, I¡¯m Jamie of Smart Dog. And, we¡¯ve just discussed how to stop a dog from leaving home.