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Something terrible that happened in my neighborhood last week spurred me on to write this article. A neighbor of mine had a wonderful chocolate Lab named Clyde, who has chased his last car. Everyone loved this dog, so we were all saddened by his death. If his master had taken a little time to train Clyde, this would never have happened.

You can use the following tips to train your dog to stay within his boundaries. Boundary training your dog is a great idea because you’ll be able to relax much more when he is outside, knowing he is not likely to run off and maybe get in some mischief or even get hurt. A dog that runs out into the street is not only at risk of getting injured  or killed by a passing car, but he could also get into a fight with an aggressive dog or bother some people.

With a few tips you can learn to boundary train your dog or puppy to eliminate the dangers from a dog that runs off. If your dog is still a puppy or perhaps doesn’t already have history of running off, boundary train him now before there is a problem- he will be much easier to train because there is no problem to correct yet. Of course, boundary training your dog is even more important if you don’t have a fence around your yard to keep him running off.

You can boundary train your dog by applying the tips below in a consistent and positive fashion.

  • Start the boundary training by marking the perimeter of the desired area with a marker of string or rope-something visible. Put him on his leash and walk with him around the inside of the new perimeter markers. Walk within the marker, so that the dog has no chance to cross the marker. If your dog tries to step past the edge of the boundary marker, just lightly tug on his leash, and firmly command “no” before he can cross the line. Reward your dog for listening to you when he comes back to your side with plenty of praise and a treat. In case he forgets himself and tries to cross the line, don’t yell or punish him-just focus on rewarding the times he does it right. Frequent repetition of the training is needed daily until your dog gets the right idea. After several days of this your smart dog will recognize the boundary you have set up for what it is supposed to be.
  • Use a longer lead, perhaps 20 feet long, so your dog doesn’t feel the same amount of control by you. If he tries to cross the boundary be ready to tug on the longer leash and say no to stop him from crossing. Keep repeating this exercise several times a day-being sure to give lots of praise and  treat rewards when he resists the urge to cross the line.
  • This next step involves checking to see if he has really learned his boundaries well. Put something on the other side of the boundary that will surely tempt him to want to cross over. Have a family member or a friend (or even a volunteer teacher’s aide dog) stand on the other side of the boundary. Walk near them with your dog on his regular leash and see he tries to cross the boundary- be ready to tug on his leash and say no if he tries to cross the line. Don’t worry if he still crosses the line, it only means you have to keep at it a while longer-be diligent. You just need to go back to the previous lessons and keep at it till he really has it down. If your dog does pass the previous test, try throwing a ball or his favorite toy across the line. If this strong temptation is resisted, your pet is doing wonderful, and is ready for the last test.
  • Now it is time to test him off leash. Take off his leash, and walk with him at the heel position, staying inside the boundary-be sure to keep praising and rewarding him for staying with you. Keep practicing the boundary training with short 15 minute sessions several times a day. In fact, every time you bring your dog into that area it is a good idea to refresh his memory with some boundary training exercises. If your dog hasn’t been boundary trained properly he’ll  try to cross the line and you’ll need to go back to the last step.~

So if your dog likes to run off the property, take the time, patience and effort required to teach boundary training to your dog. You don’t want to take the chance of your pet getting lost, hurt or killed, or causing some sort of trouble in the neighborhood.

To learn more about how to boundary train your dog, and more tips about solving any of the other challenges to successfully training you dog using positive reinforcement techniques please visit- www.BehaveDoggy.com.

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