The world is full of many interesting and exciting things for your dog to explore. Sometimes though, their curiosity can put them in danger. Dogs aren’t taught to look both ways before crossing the street, after all. You can help prevent an accident by training your dog not to run into the street after something such as a toy or treat – and instead wait for you to get it for them. It may be a slow process, but eventually, you will be able to throw a toy into the road and be confident that your pup will sit patiently at the side of the road until you retrieve it. Here are some tips to get you started on this important element of dog safety.
- Go on a walk! To start, go for a walk around your neighborhood. Be sure to stay on the sidewalk or grass next to the road — do not walk on the road.
- Move toward the curb or edge of the road. When you reach it, immediately stop and make sure your pup stops with you. When they stop, reward them with a treat. Repeat this step multiple times. This may be all you do for the first few walks of the training process.
- Next, have your dog sit after you stop at the curb. This tells them that not only do you expect them to stop at the edge of the road, but you also expect them to stay in place. Reward them as soon as they settle into the “sit” position. Repeat this throughout multiple walks. Be sure to vary the spots where you stop—at a curb, where a grass lawn meets the road, or at the edge of a driveway. Your pup needs to learn that every edge that meets the road is a boundary where they need to stop.
- Once your dog has the hang of stopping and sitting when you reach the edge of the road, it’s time to move on to the next step. After your pup sits, take a step into the street. If they try to follow you, step back and put them back into a sit position. Reward them heavily if they stay sitting while you step into the road! This will build a positive association with staying on the side while you enter the road. Over time, add more steps away from your dog into the road.
- Show your dog that they can only enter the road if they have permission from you. After taking a few steps into the road, call your dog to you. You can use their release command (be it “okay,” “yes,” “good girl,” etc.) or by calling them over with “come.” Reward them with treats when they join you after receiving permission. Repeat this process to make sure they understand that they can only get up and come into the road when you allow it and have gone first.
- This training process may take a while, especially if you have walked your dog freely on the road before. However, enforcing this boundary can save your dog’s life should a toy or other distractions enter the street — your dog will know to stop and wait for you to retrieve it instead of going after it themselves. That being said, one of the first dog safety rules still applies. A dog should never be left outside unsupervised, no matter how well trained they are. Keep a close eye on your pup as they play, and be ready to call them back if they forget the boundary.
Whether you need to train a puppy or reinforce the behaviors of a mature dog, Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training is your Sarasota and Bradenton expert.
