04/02/2026
Is your dog a track star?
If your dog gets loose, dont panic and dont chase them. Most dogs think you chasing them is the greatest game ever invented, and now you’ve turned a bad situation into the dog version of recess.
Instead:
Stay calm and use a happy voice
Run away from them instead of toward them
Get low to the ground or crouch
Call them excitedly like you found something amazing
Use a word they already know like “treat,” “ride,” or “outside”, you may have to open your vehicle door if they are good at loading up
Avoid sounding angry, even if you are stressed
When they come back, reward them big instead of scolding them
The goal is to make coming back to you seem way more exciting than whatever bad decision they are currently making.
Because if your dog gets loose and sees you running after them like you’re training for the Olympics, they are probably gonna make you earn your cardio that day.
If your dog still wont come back:
Dont keep chasing them
Keep them in sight if you can
Move slowly in the same direction they are going
Try sitting down or turning your back on them
Shake a treat bag, squeak a toy, open a car door, or say “wanna go for a ride?”
If they are staying just out of reach, make a big circle instead of walking straight toward them
Use fences, parked cars, gates, or corners to help trap them in a smaller area
Call somebody to help block roads or exits if needed
If they are scared, avoid too much yelling because it can push them farther away
Some dogs come back faster if you act like you are leaving them instead of chasing them. Their little feelings get hurt when they realize you are not participating in the game anymore.
And if your dog has ever slipped a leash before, that is your sign to start practicing recall before they decide to audition for a wildlife documentary again.
