If your dog has been barking at you then running away, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog bark at me then run away? Likely reasons why your dog barks at you then runs away are that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded, it is playing, boredom, intimidation or that your dog wants something from you.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog barks at you then runs away and it might be due to a combination of causes. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog bark at me then run away?
Below are likely reasons why your dog barks at you then runs away and what would make them more likely.
Encouraging the behavior
It might be the case that your dog has learned that it gets rewarded for barking at you then running away. If you have been giving your dog things such as extra attention when it barks and runs, such as by chasing after it, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards.
Your dog is playing
It might also be the case that your dog does it because it is playing. This would be more likely if it also does things such as wag its tail, run around and show other signs of excitement when it does it. In this case, it could help to give it things to play with.
Boredom
The cause could also be that your dog is bored and looking for a way to stimulate itself. This would be more likely if it tends to do it more before getting exercise and it does it most when it has not been able to do anything for a while. In this case, it would help to ensure that your dog is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for its age and breed.
Intimidation
The cause could also be that your dog gets intimidated. This would be more likely if your dog also does things such as make itself appear smaller and hide. It would also be more likely if your dog does it more when you are annoyed with it, are shouting or have aggressive looking body language.
Your dog wants something from you
The cause might also be that your dog wants you to give it something. ThIs would be more likely if your dog does it more before getting things such as food and exercise and if it runs to its food bowl or its leash.
Something causing your dog to be anxious
Another possible cause is that something has been causing it to be anxious. This would be more likely if your dog does it more at a certain time such as when there are loud noises inside or outside or when there are people nearby.
How to stop my dog from barking then running away?
Below are some options you have when getting your dog to stop doing it.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
As mentioned above, it might be the case that your dog has been doing it due to learning that the behavior is rewarded. Instead, it would help to avoid giving it extra attention when it barks and runs away and to reward your dog when it does not do it.
Avoid intimidating it
It might also be the case that your body language has been intimidating it. Instead, it would help to be calm with it and to use positive reinforcement training to get it to behave the way you want it to.
Give your dog exercise
Since your dog could be doing it due to boredom, it would also help to make sure that your dog is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for its age and breed.
Get your dog used to a daily routine
If your dog seems to be doing it because it wants you to feed or exercise it, another option would be to try to feed and exercise your dog at a regular time daily. By doing so, you should be able to get your dog used to getting what it wants at a certain time.
Limit reasons why your dog might be anxious
It would also help to limit possible reasons why your dog might be anxious such as by letting it stay in a quiet part of the house.
What does it mean when a dog runs away from you?
A dog running away from you could mean a lot of things.
It might be the case that it runs away from you due to intimidation, it is playing, it does not trust people much or it might have learned that the behavior is rewarded.
It would help to consider the body language that the dog shows and the timing of when it runs away. If it tends to run away at around the same time you would normally give it exercise, it might be the case that it is trying to tell you to give it exercise. Whereas, if it does it when you are annoyed with it, the cause could be that it is intimidated.
Why does my dog run away when I approach it?
Likely reasons why your dog runs away, when you approach it, are that it has learned that the behavior is rewarded, it is intimidated by your body language or that it is playing. It would help to consider the body language shown by your dog. If it does things such as have its tongue out and jump around, it would be more likely that it is playing. Whereas, if it hides or rolls onto its back, it would be more likely that it is intimidated.