We all want to keep our pups as safe as possible. Knowing that your dog is staying on your large or unfenced property will bring you peace of mind and make letting them out for the bathroom or exercise much easier. It will take time, but training them to know the boundaries of your property is worth the effort.
Boundary training involves daily training in which you consistently show Fido the boundaries of your property, off-limits areas, and how close you expect them to remain. Multiple training sessions each day combined with patience will result in a trustworthy dog who won’t go running off onto neighbors’ property.
Before beginning, gather all the tools you need for successful boundary training. A pocketful of yummy treats is a must. Have your pup wear a secure collar or harness and attach their leash–it’s helpful to have both a short and long leash to use as you progress with your training. Marker flags are helpful (but not necessary) to visually mark the boundaries of your property in the early stages of your training.
For the first week, you’ll walk the boundary of your yard with your pup multiple times a day. Keep them on a short leash, and correct them by gently tugging on the leash or halting if they attempt to wander over the line. Tell them “leave it,” then continue. As you walk, point down at the boundary so your pup can begin to establish where it is.
After a week of walking parallel to the perimeter, change it up and walk directly toward the boundary. Stop once you reach it, and then walk alongside the perimeter for a few feet before walking away from it. Repeat this process multiple times per training session, and train multiple times each day for another week. You can even begin jogging directly to the boundary before stopping immediately once you reach it. Your dog will begin to understand that even when excited or running, they still have to respect the boundary.
Next, work on teaching your dog to resist temptations that cross the line. At the boundary, put your dog into “sit”. Tell them “stay”, then toss a treat outside of the line. If your pup attempts to go get it, pull them back and say “leave it”. However, if they did not move to get it, reward them with a different treat and walk further down the line before repeating this again. Once you’ve walked the whole perimeter, you could try having your dog sit and wait inside the boundary while you walk around retrieving the treats you threw. Each time your pup waits patiently, reward them with the treat you grabbed. Repeat this training method for many days until you feel your pup has mastered it.
For even more temptation resistance training, have a friend pet your dog then run across the boundary line. Hopefully your dog will realize they cannot follow and wait, but if they try to run across as well, correct them with a “leave it” and hold the leash so they cannot cross.
It takes hard work and slow progress, but it is so worth it to be able to safely let your dog out into the yard.
Sitting, staying and walking on a leash are all essential skills for your dog to understand. If you are having difficulty training your dog, call Gulf Coast K9 Training today. We have been teaching Sarasota dogs obedience basics for years.
