Why does my dog back away from me?

There could be multiple reasons why your pup is backing away from you. It could be that he's shy or scared - especially if you're a lot bigger than your pup and you're just establishing your relationship. Or, he could be trying to play "chase" and backing away as a playful gesture. The easiest way to tell how your pup is feeling is based on their body language. Are their ears perked + tail wagging? or are their ears pinned down + tail between their legs? Depending on the situation it could be about building more trust between you and your pup - or that your dog just wants to play :)