It's our responsibility as pet owners to keep our dogs safe. A big part of that is making sure that your dog always stays on your property. There are many ways to do that, and one of the most common is by learning how to train a dog to stay in the yard. Most pet parents like the idea of keeping their pup in the yard without having to tether him or put up an unsightly fence.
Just remember, when learning how to train a dog to stay in the yard there is still a large chance that he could wander off when you're not looking. Tethering a dog is not the best option either. Tying your dog outside can lead to many problems including injury and dehydration – not to mention the chance that he'll be stuck outside in inclement weather.
Although fencing is the best way to ensure that your Fido will be contained safely in your yard at all times, not all pet owners are able to install one. Your homeowner's association may not allow for visible fencing or you may not have the money to put a fence up around your yard.
In the event that you can't install a fence (or just don't want to) learning how to train your dog to stay in the yard can be easily done. It's no more difficult than training your pooch to obey commands or use the bathroom outside. With some time and a lot of patience, your dog will learn where his boundaries are.
How To Train A Dog To Stay In the Yard: A Brief Video Guide
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The key to training a dog to stay in the yard is boundaries – your dog needs to know where they are, and he needs to understand that there will be consequences if he crosses them. Consequences don't mean yelling or any type of negative action.
It simply means that if your dog cannot stay within his boundaries while exploring off leash, he'll end up back on one.
The easiest way to make a boundary crystal clear is to put boundary flags around the premises. These flags are cheap, and you can purchase them at any hardware store. They allow your dog to clearly see the line that he is not supposed to cross.
As I demonstrate in my video guide above, you can also use natural boundaries. A tree line, fence, rock wall or other natural boundary is great. Again, it shows your dog very clearly the line he is not allowed to cross.
To begin, you'll want to walk your dog on a leash all around the boundary line. Allow him to sniff and explore near the boundary, but not cross the line. If he does cross, use a firm command (I use “no”) to tell him that it isn't acceptable. Praise him when he comes back across the boundary line.
Obviously, your pet will need a solid training foundation before you can begin learning how to train a dog to stay in the yard. He'll need to know how to walk on a leash, respond to his name and come when called.
Finally…
You can also use this training to keep your dog out of unwanted areas in your yard. Maybe you have a pond, garden or compost pile that you want your pet to keep away from. Incorporate these areas into your boundary training. It's best to teach your pet where he can and cannot go all at the same time.
You'll need to work on learning how to train a dog to stay in the yard for quite a while. Like any dog training, it's not a fast process. Once you feel comfortable letting Fido off leash, be sure to stay outside with him in case he decides to wander. You need to be close enough to monitor him at all times and call him back if he crosses a boundary line.
It's also best to equip your dog with some type of tracking device during this training process. Although they are a little pricey, it can save you a lot of time if your dog does happen to leave the yard when you're not looking.
In the event that your pup takes off, you won't know which way he's heading. It also may take you a few minutes to realize that he's no longer in the yard. If you have a tracking device that pairs with a smartphone app, you'll be notified as soon as your dog crosses the invisible boundary.
For more information on products like this, you can check out the reviews that I've done on the Tractive GPS Tracker and the Spot Training Collar for Dogs.
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