How to Train Dogs Not to Run Around

Dogs are great companions. They bring us joy and love in life. However, if this companion keeps running around, it is quite annoying and scary. Fortunately, there are ways to train your dog not to run away every time you open the door or let him go on a leash. Dogs of the hound or shepherd breed may need professional training. You need to find out what breed your dog belongs to before applying training methods.

Table of Contents

Train your dog to run closer

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Start active dog training at an early age. Just like humans, dogs tend to form habits from a young age. It can be difficult to train puppies, but you should give it a try. If you adopt an adult dog, you can still train it, but it’s more difficult now.

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Prepare your dog for some special treats. Choose healthy treats that your dog enjoys. You should also use dog-specific treats rather than human food. Keep these treats in your pocket or a small bag so your dog can’t see them. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Pick a reward that’s specific to training time. If the dog receives the same reward outside of training, it will be difficult for him to form a link between that reward and the behavior you expect.
You can divide the rewards into small portions and the dog will still be eager to receive them.

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Call your dog close when in a small room. Use a simple command, for example “Come here”. You can also call out the dog’s name, such as “Moc, come over”. Say this command firmly once and then wait to see if the dog responds. If not, repeat the command in the same tone. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Limit distractions in the room, such as the television or other people.
Make sure the room doesn’t have room for the dog to run away so he doesn’t get confused about where he might go.

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Give the dog a treat when it comes close. If the dog approaches you, give him rewards, praise, and petting to let him know he’s doing well. You need to give the dog an immediate reward so that it remembers that it was rewarded for following orders. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Pet the dog and pet it in a loving tone when giving the treat. That action of yours will also be another reward for it.

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Go away from the dog. Once you’ve given your dog a reward and praise, your mission is complete. You can now walk away from the dog. It will probably follow you, especially when you have just received a compliment. You keep walking around until it gets bored or distracted and stops following you. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Stay indoors or in an enclosed space. Don’t give your dog a chance to run away.
If the dog still doesn’t stop following you, you can switch to something else, such as cooking or doing housework. The dog will often get bored of himself when he knows you’re not paying attention to him anymore.

Train your dog to stay still

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Combine a command and a hand gesture. “Stay” is the most commonly used command to tell the dog to stay in his position. However, this command will be more effective when combined with a hand gesture. An easy move to remember is to extend your hand as if asking someone to stop.

Practice commands and hand movements at the same time.
Use a clear, firm voice and clean, easy-to-understand movements.

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Go to the main door. Go as naturally as if you were about to leave the house. Do things you would normally do, like reaching for your hat or keys. When you go, don’t talk to the dog or look at it.

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Respond if the dog follows you. Even if you can’t see it, you can probably hear its footsteps following. As soon as you spot the dog following you, stop and turn towards it, then use commands and hand gestures to tell it to stop.

Try not to comfort him at this time. Doing so will make it follow you even more.
Just say the command and signal with your hand once, then keep turning away.

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Repeat until the dog stops following you. You may get bored, but keep going back and repeating the command until the dog stops. You need to get to the door and it still won’t move from where you told it to be.

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Repeat this process until you can open the door with the dog still in place. Once the dog is able to stay put until you get to the door, start practicing opening the door. You have to try to be able to open the door slowly and step out without the dog moving.

Be careful when opening the door. The dog will probably still get excited and run away..
When the dog is sure to stand still, you can open the door for a few seconds without it running out.

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Praise and reward your dog’s good behavior. Once you’re out the door and the dog is still in place, go back and reward him. You should also pet and praise him so he knows he did a great job.

Do not reward the dog and praise him until you can get out the door without him following.
Before giving rewards you need to hide them, otherwise they will become a distraction.

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Practice the “keep quiet” command outdoors. When the dog is sure to stand still by the time you walk out the door, you can practice this command with him outside.Start in an enclosed area, such as: In a fenced yard or dog play area, continue to use commands and hand gestures as you would when training your dog indoors.

Dogs can be distracted by animals and other people outside. This is also the challenge for it to stay in place. You will probably need more training for it to master this lesson.
Try walking away from the dog after you’ve told him to stay still. It needs to stay in place whether outdoors or indoors.
Practice in increasingly larger spaces. Gradually the dog will be able to stand still in the yard without running away.

Eliminate the cause of the dog running away

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Make sure your surroundings are familiar. Many dogs run away because they think they need to go home. If you’ve just moved, your dog may not yet understand that your new home is his new home. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Whenever you take your dog to a new place, give it time to explore and get used to the smells and sounds around it.

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Spay or castrate the dog. A common reason dogs run away is because they want to find a mate. This is especially true for male dogs that have not been spayed. Spaying or spaying your dog will help prevent it from running around. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Spaying and spaying dogs also helps prevent unwanted puppies from being born, becoming feral and overloading shelters.

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Give your dog plenty of interaction time. Dogs are social animals, so they need encouragement and interaction; otherwise, they will get bored. Make sure your dog has plenty of social time with you, other dogs, or other people. ^{[10] X Research Source}

If you have to work long hours, consider hiring a dog walker or groomer to interact with it.
Not all dogs get along well with other dogs. You should let them get used to each other while still on the leash to avoid dangerous encounters.

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Give your dog plenty of exercise. Sometimes dogs run away simply because they want to run. Spend more time walking and playing outdoors with your dog. That way it won’t need to run away because of the need to exercise anymore. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Different dog breeds need different amounts of exercise. For example, a pug may only be able to walk for 20 to 30 minutes before taking a break. Huskies can run great distances. You need to find out what exercise is best for your dog breed.
Exercise might include going for a walk, chasing a ball or saucer, or running around in a dog park with other dogs.

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Reward when the dog runs back to you. You need to let your dog know that it is good behavior to go back to the owner. When the dog comes back, praise him and give him a treat. This will make it feel like running back is just as great as running away. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Never scold your dog when it comes back, even if it’s been a long time, or the dog will understand that it was punished for coming back to you.
Don’t call the dog back only when the fun is over. For example, if you are at the park, call your dog back for a moment and then let him play again. If you call him back as soon as he’s about to go home he’ll think running back to you means playtime is over.

Advice

Training a dog can be a long and boring process. But be patient! Once the dog is properly trained, you’ll enjoy years of fun with your accomplishments.
Always praise your dog’s good behavior. Dogs are pack animals and they want to be accepted by you. Praise will show him that you appreciate his behavior.
For dogs, the reward is big or small, so you can always split the reward for them.

Warning

Never chase a dog when you want it to come back to you. It will think you are playing a game. Always stay where you are and call the dog to run close.

Things you need

Food as a reward
Leash (optional)
Ball or saucer (optional)

Steps