I see a lot of posts about cats not coming home, or dogs not having recall once off leash. Though we try to control animals they have free will.
When they don’t come back it’s not always personal. Sometimes they feel too confined.
Dogs for example – if they rarely get off leash, when they do they’ll be excited happy and wild! Like a kid would be if of made them sit still all the time. Once off leash – This freedom for them feels glorious. If they are running and you react, tie them back up, scold them, etc they will run farther , faster, and longer next time because they are afraid of their freedom healing taken away. They want choices like we all have. They NEED time to run and if they aren’t given that time, especially certain breeds, they WILL bolt off leash. Yes we have to teach them not to, but all the “training” in the world won’t work if they aren’t allowed to run, ever. Or often enough.
When they are celebrating freedom and you are mad, upset, panicked, they’re not going to want to come back to you, if your dog bolts make coming back fun! Run the other way playfully, calling them in a fun want not panicked. Go back and forth, towards and away, toward and away, make it a game of them chasing you.
Cats, if they are strictly house cats without enough enrichment and exercise they may try to escape. Again, for exercise and freedom. I am a big advocate for house cats living inside for safety. But if they live inside you must provide enough exercise and enrichment for them to be happy and feel they have e choices and freedom. If not, they may try to run off.
If your cat runs off just leave your scented items outside and stay calm. Call them calmly at feed times when they are expecting you to call them. If you have a house cat that took off it’s probably already scared and hiding, if you are calling in panic they will panic more. So call at feed time the exact same way you would if they were in the house.
Mostly allow animals freedoms and choice when you can safely so they don’t feel the need to “bolt” and not return
