Sometimes, dogs run away to die. This can be because of their instincts, dementia, or becoming lost and disoriented.
However, not all old dogs will run away. Others may seek comfort from their owners or curl up in their favorite spot in their house.
We offer our expert tips on how to find a dog that's run away before exploring how dog owners can better understand their pet's behavior and care for their senior pup.
We'll also offer some advice on how to cope with losing a dog for those who are dealing with the loss of their furry friend.
Quick Navigation
Key takeaways
Do dogs run away to die?
Why would a dog run away to die?
What to do if your dog has run away
Understanding dog behavior for pet owners
How to care for senior dogs
How to cope with losing a dog
Do dogs run away to die?
Knowing whether dogs run away to die is tricky. It's something that veterinarians and owners can't agree on, and the lack of research or plain evidence (aside from anecdotal) means there's not one clear answer.
Dogs do run away to die sometimes, and other times, they'll die in the comfort of their home. It will depend on your dog's personality, breed, illness, and other factors we may not know of.
Ultimately, it is a possibility. But why is it more likely for some dogs and less likely for others?
Why would a dog run away to die?
Knowing the most common reasons why dogs run away to die can help you spot warning signs early and prevent this behavior.
Dog dementia
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome, otherwise known as dog dementia, can mean your dog may suffer from confusion and disorientation. This can lead to impulsive behavior, like running away.
Normally, our dogs can find their way back home fairly easily, thanks to their homing abilities. However, dementia will make it a lot harder for your dog to understand their surroundings and location.
This makes your pup vulnerable to predators and susceptible to wandering for hours, days, or even weeks, trying to find their way back. In the end, this may be what causes the death, instead of your pup running away purposely to die.
Instincts
Although this is slightly contested, it's widely agreed that there is an instinct in most animals that kicks in when they know they're sick.
The knowledge that they are weaker and more vulnerable to predators means they will seek somewhere isolated and secluded to remain safe. Because their ancestors were pack animals, an old dog may choose to run away and hide to die from the other wild animals in order to give them a better chance of survival by not slowing them down.
Avoiding interactions with other animals and people will limit their exposure to potential predators while they cannot defend themselves. For certain animals, this is definitely true. For example, cats are known for taking themselves away to die.
For dogs, it's slightly more difficult to know how strong this instinct is. While many owners will share stories of their pups acting in this way, others will disagree.
Ultimately, this could be a reason for your dog running away to die, but it's probably not the most common reason.
The knowledge that they are weaker and more vulnerable to predators means they will seek somewhere isolated and secluded to remain safe.
Getting lost
As we mentioned previously, our pups have fantastic homing abilities. Their powerful sense of smell and hearing, combined with good eyesight, means they can find their way around their territories easily. However, as our dogs age, their senses begin to degenerate.
Without their keen senses picking up on familiar sounds, sights, and smells, dogs can become lost quickly.
This means there is a risk of your dog running away and not returning even on routine walks and trails you've taken your pup on for years.
💡
Top Tip: To avoid this, keep your senior dog on a leash. It's safer for them, and it will put your mind at ease.
What to do if your dog has run away
If your older dog has run away, you need to be proactive in finding them. As a dog owner, it is your duty to leave no stone unturned when you're looking for them.
Use our three steps to increase your chances of being reunited with your best bud.
1. Physically search for them
The most effective way to find a lost dog is to physically search for them. If they have run away from home, your first steps should be searching outbuildings, gardens, and your neighbors' houses.
Use the following checklist for your home and your neighbors' (with permission):
Garages
Sheds
Outbuildings
Bin stores
Under/in garden furniture
Under cars
If you haven't had any luck, start searching further afield. Where your dog is likely to go depends on their personality. However, to cover all bases, here's a full checklist:
Local parks
Quiet backstreets
Fields
Farms
Abandoned buildings
Town centers
Local shops
Woods
Under cars
In neighbors' houses
🤓
Expert Insight: Remember to bring treats, toys, and their leash along with you. Using familiar smells and sounds will help attract your dog to you, making your search more effective.
2. Report them missing
One of the first steps if your dog has run away is to report them missing. Make sure you call:
By making these organizations aware of your missing pup, you'll ensure their best safety. Make sure your contact details are up to date on the microchip so if they are handed in to a shelter or picked up by a dog warden, they'll know to contact you straight away.
This will prevent any accidental euthanasia if you're dog isn't accounted for.
3. Spread the message
Spreading the message to your neighbors is essential for finding your lost dog. The more eyes on the lookout, the more likely you'll be reunited with your furry friend.
To do this effectively, you can start a PetRadar search. Once you choose the radius of your search area, we'll help notify over 4,000 people in the area.
We do this by creating a digital missing pet poster as a sponsored post on social media. By sponsoring the post, we make sure it pops up on thousands of neighbors' social media feeds as an advertisement.
People can report a sighting directly from this post on Facebook and Instagram, save it for later, or send it to a friend.
We'll notify you instantly as soon as there is any activity on the posts so you can act quickly on any information reported.
Spreading the message to your neighbors is essential for finding your lost dog. The more eyes on the lookout, the more likely you'll be reunited with your furry friend.
Understanding dog behavior for pet owners
It's important for pet owners to understand dog behavior in order to care for their wellbeing and ensure they are happy.
In order to prevent your dog from running away to die, you need to be aware of the signs and signals that your pup is unwell.
Do dogs hide when they're sick?
If your furry friend is sick, you may not notice. Like many other animals, dogs tend to hide their weaknesses, like illnesses or injuries.
This means there is a risk that your pup won't get the help they need. Some important signs to look out for that sick dogs usually show include:
Excessive licking: If your dog is licking their lips a lot or excessively licking a specific spot on their body, it can indicate that they aren't comfortable. If you notice this, check them over for injury. If you can't find anything obvious, monitor them for a day or two. If it continues, take them to the vets to find out what's going on.
Whimpering: Any unusual vocalizations can indicate pain. Whimpering, barking, and growling for a usually quiet pup are causes for concern. Check up on when they are making these noises. Is it when you approach them? When you touch them? When they're eating?
Reduced appetite: A dog that's stopped eating food is not a happy dog. Even just a few days of a reduced appetite can have a significant impact on your pup's wellbeing, and often indicates other health problems.
Sleeping too much: While old age will mean that many pets will sleep for longer, extreme fatigue will point to an issue with your pet's health. If your old dog is sleeping for the majority of the day and night and refusing to leave their dog bed, ask a vet for their advice.
A major sign for pet parents that their senior dog isn't healthy is hiding. If your best friend is suddenly hiding from you, it can feel like you've failed as a pet owner. But this isn't the case. Most dogs, like most animals, have natural instincts telling them they should be alone if sick.
If dogs are sick, they know they are vulnerable to predators and won't be able to defend themselves or their territory. If you notice your older dog hiding or any other warning signs we have discussed, be proactive.
💡
Top Tip: Taking them to their vet as soon as possible can make the difference between a dying dog and an older dog that has a good few years ahead of them.
How to care for senior dogs
After years of companionship, caring for your senior dog can be distressing and heartbreaking. But it's important to know how to make the last years of your pup's life comfortable, happy, and calm.
Regular veterinary check-ups
The most important part of caring for a senior dog is ensuring they aren't in pain. The best way to do this is to stay on top of visits to the vet. Often, our pups will hide their pain from us, so it can be difficult to pick up on any illnesses and or injuries that can be causing them grief.
A simple vet check-up will be able to eliminate the guesswork. They can also prescribe painkillers to make sure your dog is as comfortable as possible day to day.
A trip to the vet can often distress our dogs, so you don't want to be doing this too often if it's not necessary.
Specific diet
Food for senior dogs isn't just a marketing trick. As our dogs reach old age, they need very specific nutrients to keep their bones, muscles, and brains healthy.
Often, senior dogs will eat less than they used to, which means the food they do choose to munch on needs to be high in vitamins and protein to prevent muscle loss and deficiencies.
If your dog does suffer from health problems, they'll need a diet that's tailored towards living with that specific disorder or disease.
Ask your vet what foods and nutrients are important for your pup, and choose your dog food based on professional advice.
Senior dogs will eat less than they used to, which means the food they do choose to munch on needs to be high in vitamins and protein to prevent muscle loss and deficiencies.
Appropriate amount of exercise
Depending on the breed of your dog, exercise may be an important aspect of their life, even in their later years.
For example, dogs like huskies and German shepherds need at least 2 hours of exercise a day in their younger years. However, as they age, they need a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise and no more than 60 minutes.
Be sure to research what your breed of dog needs. Over-exercising can lead to muscle loss and put an unnecessary amount of stress on their bones.
However, they still need stimulation, and a healthy amount of walking and playing can improve your dog's quality of life.
Plenty of cuddles and comfort
Aging can be distressing and confusing, and not just for humans! Our dogs will have to adjust to a new way of living as their energy dwindles and their mobility reduces.
This is when it's our duty as owners to comfort them. This means endless cuddles, treats, and love.
Acting as you normally would with your pup is important in keeping their stress levels low. However, adding extra cuddles and love will do no harm.
How to cope with losing a dog
Your dog is your best friend, a family member, and a loving pet. When they pass away, it's a heartbreak like no other.
You can be left to wonder whether you made their final days comfortable, whether you did all that you could, and whether you helped them die peacefully.
It's a lot to work through and process. But there are some things you can do that can make it easier and help you grieve and move on in a healthy way.
Hold a memorial
We may think memorials are just for people. However, this isn't the case. A memorial is simply a way to honor a life and get some closure. Dogs and any other pets are lives that deserve honoring.
Some ideas people choose to do include:
Burying your dog in their backyard
Gathering family and friends in a quiet place and reminiscing about your best friend
Asking people to write down or say their favorite memory of your pup
Asking people to share photos they have taken of your pup
Creating an area of the house dedicated to remembering your furry friend
Reading a poem or a speech to family and friends
Ultimately, you can decide to do whatever you like. Think about what will help you in this period of time and ask your friends and family to help organize it.
Talk to loved ones
Grieving is a long and difficult process. It's nearly impossible to get through it on your own. This means leaning on your friends and family members is incredibly important.
It's easy to isolate yourself when you're feeling low. But talking about how you're feeling, the thoughts you're having, and what you're struggling with can make the load feel a lot lighter.
It's likely your friends and family are experiencing similar feelings if they spent time with your dog, so sharing these emotions will help you feel less alone.
At the end of the day, our loved ones care about us. They want us to feel happy and will do all they can to see it happen. Having this kind of support will make the grieving process that little bit easier, which will make all the difference.
Remember the good times
Seeing our dogs in their final days is extremely painful and can have a significant impact on pet parents. Whether it was witnessing their cognitive decline or seeing them in pain, it's never easy.
However, once your pup has passed, remembering the good times with them instead of focusing on the final days is really important. The years of fun adventures and loving cuddles should be honored in your memory.
A great way of doing this is to invite some friends or family over and look through your photos. These will spark happy memories that people can share, and seeing your dog exploring, walking, and playing will remind you just how happy their life was.
FAQs
Do dogs try to run away when they are dying?
Old dogs may run away when they are dying because of their instincts and possible cognitive dysfunction. They may want to die alone because they feel vulnerable and weak. They may also run away when they are dying because they become disoriented and confused.
Why do dogs leave to die?
Old dogs may leave to die in a hidden place because they feel weak and more vulnerable to predators. Other dogs may leave to die accidentally if they become confused, disoriented, or lost.
Do dogs look for a place to die?
Some dogs will look for a hidden place to die alone. However, others may seek comfort from humans and find their favorite spot within their house to pass away peacefully.
What are the end stages of a dogs life?
A dying dog will often lose interest in humans, toys, and walks in the end stages of their life. It's common to see old dogs lie very still in one spot or even be more restless than usual. They may have a distant look and not completely focus on you, and a disinterest in food or water is also very common.
What are the behaviors of a dog before death?
A dying dog will often behave very differently before death. Old dogs will often lose interest in almost everything around them and choose to sleep or lie still for a very long time. They may not eat, drink, or play and may not even want cuddles from their favorite humans. It's possible they may also run away and hide if they want to die alone.
How do I know if my dog is near the end of his life?
You'll know when your old dog is near the end of their life because their quality of life may decrease. Older dogs will often lose interest in everything apart from sleeping. They may also run away to die if they become lost, disoriented, or confused.
What do dogs do when they are near death?
A dying dog can behave very differently when they are near death. They may hide, run away, or wander around the house with no real purpose. It's likely they'll stop eating and drinking, and most dogs won't play or engage with their owners.
Final thoughts
We know your dog is considered a family member, so if they do run away to die, it can break our hearts. However, it's important you don't give up hope if you still haven't found them. We've already reunited 8000+ with their owners. So, if you're a worried dog owner, unsure why your dog has run away, start a PetRadar search.
We care about your dog's quality of life, and this means we'll do all we can to find them. No one wants their pup to die alone. We'll make sure as many people as possible know that your furry friend has run away so more eyes will be on the lookout for your lost dog.
Written by
Lauren Jeffries
In this blog, I combine my two areas of expertise: pets and writing. I share my personal experiences alongside plenty of animal behavior research to help owners look after their pets. I have always lived with furry friends and am now a loving cat mum to two orange kitties.
