Why does my dog run away when I try to pick him up? Here’s the Answer

There’s Something More Fun Then Returning To You

Sometimes a puppy sees something in the distance–like a favorite toy in the house. Or a squirrel while in the yard.

So the puppy runs to the fun object and away from us. That’s why we have to become more fun to the puppy than the things around us are.

We must also teach the dog how to pay attention to us and how to come on command even with distractions.

PRO TIP: When first teaching your puppy to “Come” make sure you have something very rewarding for him when he returns. Regular treats won’t do maybe get him a piece of steak, some super stinky Salmon, even small pieces of hot dog have worked well for us. Most dogs will return to you if they think a juicy piece of steak will be their reward.

Why Does My Puppy Run Away From Me?

Sometimes it’s hard to understand why our pups run away from us. It’s frustrating and sometimes difficult not to take it personally.

But if you’re taking the time to read this, you obviously care about your puppy. And you’ve treated your puppy well. He gets walks, plays fun fetch games, and gets yummy treats.

Check out this interesting article on teaching your dog how to come when called.

Puppies treated this well don’t run away because they don’t like you. But there are many different reasons puppies run away from us.

Your Dog is Scared

Dogs aren’t made of stone. If you have a pup that startles at loud noises or strange sights, experiencing one of them may prompt him to bolt in order to escape it.

Tip: If the sight or sound is something that you can replicate, work on training your dog to accept it and relax around it — or at least not to run away in terror. Additionally, if you know that your pooch is scared of something like thunder or fireworks, prepare a safe area for him ahead of time so he can’t run away.

What TO do and what NOT to do if your dog runs away and doesn’t listen

Your sweet, playful puppy is so smart and adorable. But he turns into a race car zooming away from you when you want him to come.

I’ve trained many puppies and seen them run away from their owners even though there’s a bond between the two.

There are many reasons why puppies run away from their owners. Very young puppies during their first few months usually want to remain with us.

As a puppy matures, which occurs various times depending on the dog, he generally becomes noticeably more independent.

This usually starts around four to six months old. Small dogs mature more quickly than larger ones do.