[yorkietalkjilly]

First thing I did was 3 regular training sessions with Tibbe each day indoors - teaching him to watch me for a treat, hold me eyes for a period of time, then get a treat. Over and over. Lots of praise and short sessions. We progressed to sit, lie down, shake hands, roll over, roll over and stay on back, sit up and beg, bark, growl and whine on separate commands. Once he got used to the idea of working one on one with me, learned to listen to my voice, watch me and that all of it paid him big, big dividends of using his mind, getting my instant approval and even treats and loads of positive praise(only a noncommittal "uh oh" if he got is wrong or failed to do it), then I started working on his learning "stop", "wait" inside.

Then we did all those things outside on the leash. I next trained him to respect the open front door the same way - not to approach it until permitted and then to relax and walk slowly to it, stop in the open door until released and come onto porch and wait. Worked on that part for 5 months(he was a natural door-darter)! Then started training him outside that when he approached yard perimeter, there I was with both hands held up like stopsigns and saying "stop"(use an official but not mean or harsh tone of voice), and then physically approaching him with an "uh on" if he decided to inch forward or one way or another, hands upraised in stop position, eyes boring into his, saying nothing, just using body language and attitude/eyes to control him. I would stare him down, engage him constantly with "watch me" hand signal and he would eventually back off advancing over perimeter. It is the staying with them when you give them a command, the not veering your eyes away from them, keeping your hands up in the stop position and maybe repeating the word again to "stop" - but I use words outside sparingly and mostly go with my eyes and body language, staying right with him, slow but purposeful. Once they have done it and backed away from the perimeter, a nice high-value treat, not very exciting praise(not outside - excites them too much at first) and then going back in house for a big praise party. Just keep repeating the perimeter walking with them - you keeping to the outside of them, so you can approach, hands up, stop them, engage them with eyes, and "uh oh" or treat and praise when they react appropriately.

Soon, if you undertake training seriously and persistently, it becomes second nature for a dog to respond to what you say. You have modified their behavior to respond only to your commands. It cannot be negative or militaristic or anything. Has to be a wholly loving, patient and very positive experience or the dog will not respond the way you want - they get shy, uncooperative, uninterested. Keep it fun, regular and short and engage your dog. Most people don't engage their dogs eye to eye very long during training and it is very important to use your eyes on him! So work with him inside to get him very used to responding to your voice and doing what you say, move it to front door respect of boundaries and then take it outside.

In all Tibbe's life here, he has yet to step foot out of his property, which includes (with permission) a small portion of my next door neighbor's front yard so he can take in and smell other smells than just our yard and not "go crazy". In the 12 mos. it took to go from a wild dog as Tibbe was when he came until he was trained to stay in his yard, we've bonded so closely, our partnership has bloomed, he's learned how much fun training is - using his mind and learning new things, and I love him so much for being my little buddy! He loves to train so much he baits me to train all the time!!! Will come and rollover and sit up and beg, etc., growling in such a cute way to get my attention. If I say, "Do you want to work?", he jumps all around and yips and yips and comes and sits, ready to go! Just be sure your dog's behavior has been modified enough so that he automatically responds to your commands before you move to respecting an open door and outside training. I hope you try it as it is such a fun and rewarding hobby and you have a wonderful, happy dog when you are done and he is a safer dog because he listens first and foremost to you. Good luck!