La fugue is one of the first causes of owner concern about his dog. What if I don't find a dog anymore? What are the reasons for this escape? Do I have to lock him up or keep him locked up all the time to make sure he doesn't run away? All of these tricky questions are linked to the fact that you don't want to lose your dog. But above all, they ask the question of wellness of your dog and that if he runs away, there must be a reason.

Differentiate between running away and going for a walk

First of all, it is important to distinguish between fugue and the walk. When your dog runs away, it's because “the grass is greener elsewhere.” In other words, there are reasons that push him to flee the family home and that can be very problematic. La fugue in dogs is generally related to a problem with the education, behavior or well-being of your dog.

The walk is much less of a problem than the fugue because it is not linked to a question of demeanour. Your dog has simply understood that he can go out for a walk whenever he wants, whether you are there or not. He wants to let off steam and go for a walk, he understood that he could do it without having to wait for you to come back and allow him to go out.
The difference between running away and going for a walk is big because one is symptomatic of a profound problem and sometimes complicated to treat, while the other will be much easier to solve.

The reasons for the runaway

There are a lot of reasons for your dog to run away. Some easier to detect and others much less obvious. Among the reasons why your dog runs away is being in heat. A female dog in heat will be more likely to run away because she is looking for a male. Her hormones take over and push her to visit the area in search of a suitor. The desire to socialize and meet other dogs can be a trigger for fugue. It can be akin to a form of boredom. The dog is locked up all day or alone, the fugue is a way for him to cheat on boredom and play, whether with other dogs or other humans. In the most complex cases, running away is linked to a behavioral problem and can be similar to aggression. The dog is running away because it has seen or smelled another dog and will want to attack. In this case, it is an underlying problem related to the dog's behavior and education.

How to fix it

There are several ways to remedy runaway behavior in dogs, depending on the reason for the runaway. We were talking about aggressive behavior and this can only be treated with the help of a veterinarian or behavioral educator. On the other hand, if the reason for running away is the desire to go out more or to socialize, walking your dog more will be the best way to prevent him from running away. But before making any decision, consult a veterinarian or a behavioral educator who will be in the best position to detect what is the cause of the runaway.