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Originally Posted by ilovejoel  I think a lot of training should be done, not just to stay in the house but also what to do once they get outside. I think when gates are up all the time and a dog gets past the gate by accident or whatever that's when they run away because they'll always want past it and weren't taught what to do.
I taught Joel two different things, first thing, to not go out unless I say okay and the second thing is how to be outside without running away. I can take him outside loose to check the mail and he has NO want to run away even if he sees birds or a cat. When he was little I put a really long piece of yarn so he felt like he was "loose" but couldn't run away and took him in and out the door a lot so it wouldn't be a big deal to him, and of course a ton of treats and teaching him to come and when we were done I say "go inside" and he would get a lot of treats once we went inside.
Now the only time he goes out when he's not supposed to is when someone is right outside at the door and he's so excited to see them, which I'm working on now  |
Great job with Joel! Years ago I used to think that to train a dog well enough to go against its instincts from bolting outside or chasing outside critters would create a robot or cowed dog but did learn that if you train the right way and make it rewarding and fun, where the payoff is greater to do the "right" thing and always respond to its master, the dog will forego his instincts in most cases to respond to his trainer. Training them not to leave the yard is a stopgap
just in case all the precautions fail and they do get out somehow and at least they know how to act and have some basis for staying put from all the training they've been through.