[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe is only off the leash outside of the house & backyard when I am training him not to leave the front yard. And I have plenty of treats, squeaky toys & am constantly aware of the environment watchful of anything that might incite his prey drive with an eye toward getting him scooped up & in the house once there is any activity in the neighborhood. I'm really really really cautious about that training time, hold it only in the early afternoon when there are the fewest people about & have the toys & treats to help should he see something to bolt toward. So far, he has never left the parameters I have set out for him, which are our front yard and part of each neighbor's front yards - as long as they aren't out there at the time. I figured if I didn't allow him some leeway to sniff into a portion of another yard, the draw of the different scents & surroundings would always be calling to him & it was best to allow him just a bit of leeway so he could experience being a bit off his property and still feeling he is under my control. Knock wood, I got him at age 9 mos. & Aug. 30 he will be 5 & he's never left the training area any time he's been out front. That's the only time he's off leash & he gets taken inside once there is any activity on the block - appearance of a squirrel across the street, a person coming down the sidewalk, a neighbor coming out their front door, a car coming down the street - anything.