Dogs That Lose Interest In Their Owner When They Leave

Outdoor environments are full of smells that distract dogs. In a state of excitement, our dog is likely to lose interest in us.

Many owners agree that their dogs are very calm and obedient at home, but when they put a paw on the street they stop paying attention and even lose interest in them. Are you curious about the topic? Read on: we’ll talk about dogs that lose interest in their owners when they go out.

Why do dogs lose interest in their owners when they go out?

The street is an open space full of smells, noises, other people, dogs, vehicles, bicycles… These are too much stimulation for a dog, especially if his walks are not as long as they should be. In these conditions of nervousness and distraction it is difficult for the dog to decide to listen to us.

Tips for taking a nice walk

When the dog is calm, it is easier for the dog to direct his attention towards us and for the dog to practice sitting still in one place, responding to our call or remaining calm in the presence of other dogs and passers-by.

To prevent the walks from turning into a moment of stress and excitement instead of a moment of relaxation and recreation for the animal, you could follow the following tips:

Increase the duration or frequency of walks depending on the breed

There is no standard walk duration for all dogs: it will depend on factors such as size, age, energy, personality. The ideal is to take about three walks a day, one of which is longer, in which to leave the dog free to explore and smell.

To these must be added the walks in the park, physical exercise, games that stimulate the sense of smell. In short, everything you need to move and play sports.

How should the leash be?

Extremely short leashes, such as those commonly used for large dogs, prevent the dog from lowering his head and sniffing, making it impossible to explore the surrounding environment. Walking with such a leash causes the animal to exercise physically but not mentally.

The dog must be able to interact with the environment. The sense of smell is highly developed in these animals, so allowing them to smell and recognize objects is necessary to stimulate them emotionally and mentally.

The most recommended leashes are the three to five meters long resistant nylon ones, with which the dog can really enjoy his walk and interact with others of his kind without maintaining constant tension. They are specially designed for open spaces such as the park or the countryside.

If the walks have a specific goal such as going to the vet or simply through the streets of the city, where there is less space and more people, you can use a 1 meter leash with which you would allow a certain freedom of movement without losing control. .

Keep calm

It is equally important that the dog remains calm, both inside and outside the home. Obviously outdoors it is more difficult, but you can practice gradually at the end of the walks, when the animal has discharged energy.

Just sit down with him in a quiet place and invite him to relax as if he were at home on the sofa. In this way, little by little you will be able to make sure that the animal remains relaxed even outside.

Train your dog inside and outside the home

By following the above tips, you can prevent the state of excitement and distraction caused by external environments. Over time you will see that the dog’s behavior will be less tense and you will be able to attract his attention successfully.

A further step is to practice training even outside the home, when arousal levels are lower. You can start with simple commands like “sit down” or “stay still” and continue with more difficult ones. Remember to always use positive reinforcement and reward the animal when it does the right thing.

It is also important to keep reinforcing these actions over time so that you don’t forget them. Learning should be a constant and daily thing.

First of all, it takes a lot of patience, as this process can take weeks or months. The changes are progressive and perhaps slow, but it can be a solution for those dogs who lose interest in their owner when they go out.

Finally, if you feel that professional help is needed, you can always turn to a trainer  to resolve specific behavioral problems.