How to Train Your Dog to Stay in the Yard

Thinking about how to train a dog to stay in the yard? We want our dogs to be in the yard so that we have peace of mind knowing that they are safe. No matter how important it is for the dogs, many pet owners feel like there is no hope and way of training their dog to stay in the yard.

If you are feeling the same then these tips on how to train your dog to stay in the yard might help you.

We all know that dogs love to walk, run and roam outside. All the dog owners are aware of the fact that they have to take their dogs for a run every day to keep them healthy and happy.

Smaller dogs and some breeds are okay to play indoors. But the larger animals need more space to play. If you know that your dog can escape easily or climb the fence, then you should know how to keep your dog from escaping.

Some breeds want to roam around in the streets. This may cause a problem for some people who find it difficult to keep their pets in their yard. This is why you need to train them well and keep them disciplined. Training your ESA dog needs dedication and knowledge and you will find ways to do it, here.

How to Train Your Dog to Stay in the Yard?

This does not mean that you have to construct something entirely new for your assistance animals or emotional support dog to prevent them from escaping.

A fence may come to your mind as a good option. But there are some other ways that can help you contain your pet in the yard such as electronic pet containment or electric fence and invisible fence. However, these methods are costly and require installation with the help of professionals.

If you don’t want to get into the hassle of installation and customization then you can train your dog to stay inside the fence of the yard.

Here are some of the important tips that can help you keep your dog in the yard

Decide Upon a Boundary

To train a dog to stay in the yard, it is important to teach him some basic boundary training lessons.

Decide the boundary line to help you keep your dog in the yard. Plan a boundary line and mark it with flags. Flags should be 3-4 feet away from the boundary line.

Teaching him the boundaries will keep him in the yard and out of trouble as well.

Teach Commands

This is the most important training tips to keep your dog safe and in your property line.

Spend some time daily to teach your dog Sit, Wait, No, Stop and Stay commands. These will help you teach him to stay in the yard.

Once your dog knows these basic commands, take him for a leash walk. If your dog tries to cross the line, tug the leash or stop walking.

It is also important to teach him when it is okay to cross the line and terms like “free” can be used for this.

Walk the Boundary With a Leash

Once the dog understands the basic commands, take the dog in the boundary line for the next few days and repeat this several times a day. Make sure the dog touches the flag and returns to you. Dog boundary training is important to manage and control your dog in many ways. It helps to keep the dog out of a garden fence, stop him from jumping the fence harness and many other things.

During the training sessions, never let your dog cross the boundary line. It is also important to make sure the dog has a long leash attached to it. After a few days, your dog will be able to recognize the boundary line.

Walk the Boundary Without a Leash

After a few days, let your dog walk within the boundary without a leash. Now your dog should be able to follow the learned commands.

If the dog tries to cross the boundary line, your commands should make him stop.

Reinforce the Boundary

Walk your dog to the boundary area regularly and never allow him to break the rules in any way.

Even a tiny step on the boundary line requires going back to all the lessons again. Do some exercises to reinforce the boundary.

Place some toys outside the boundary to distract your dog. Reward your dog when he ignores the distractions and follows your commands.

On the other hand, on your way back to your property line walk, go to the other side of teh line but do not let your dog cross it. Give him treats from another side of the line.

Now you know some important training tips to help you keep your dog in the yard. But, It is also important to understand why dogs escape. If your dog is digging for long in the yard or sandbox, that means your dog is bored.

How to Train a Dog to Stay in the Yard with a Shock Collar?

A shock collar is used to train aggressive dogs and correct any unsafe behavior. The shock that it administered is safe and makes your dog a bit uncomfortable. This way your dog will associate it with unwanted and aggressive behavior.

However, they still may not be a good idea and option when it comes to training your dog. Some of the key reasons why using a shock collar may not be a good idea are below:

1. Dog owners prefer positive reinforcement and using a shock collar means using aversive behavior correction.
2. A scared dog is dangerous and you cannot train a scared dog. In many cases, these shock collars instilled fear in the dogs and their behavior worsened.
3. Since you cannot be with your dog all the time, the bark or shock collar could administer the shock unintentionally and may confuse your dog.
4. Shock collars do not offer any affection, treats and approval. Training in personal includes all of this and this is why dogs do better when you train them personally.

Instead of using shock collars, we suggest that you train your dog with commands and encourage him with ample treats and affection.

How to Keep a Dog from Running Out of the Yard?

As a pet parent or an ESA owner, keeping our animals safe is one of our main priorities. Dogs are quite mischievous and no matter how well trained they are, they do have their ‘weak’ moments when they just break through the fence, and your cozy home. However, do not be disappointed by Coco, everyone has their weak moments, don’t they?

In order to make sure that Coco does not do any such things, follow the below simple ways.

1. Make the yard interesting and engaging for your pooch. Make sure that it has plenty of fresh water, ample shelter, and his favorite toys. Instead of making it look like a prison, give him enough space to play and run around.

2. Adding a double gate to the fence is another way of keeping your dog in the fence. Other than the main gate, add an additional gate after leaving some space.

3. Do not leave Coco alone for an extended period. Dogs love to have your attention and by giving it to them, you also ensure that they are safe and under your watchful eye.

4. Remove everything that could be used as a climbing aid. Things like chairs, benches, wooden piles and garbage cans. Having them lying around will only give him crazy ideas about using them ‘creatively’.

5. Add some plants and dense shrubs along the line of the fence to create some distance between the fence and the wall. This will discourage the dog from jumping and will add to the beauty also.

Running out of the fence is not only troublesome for you but it is also very dangerous for your dogs. Once out of the safety of your house, he is open to all kinds of dangers like being run over by a vehicle, attacked by a bigger animal or kidnapped.

How to Keep Dog in Yard Without Fence?

A fence provides safety to your dog and privacy to your house. While many people keep their dogs on leash, there are many that like to give them complete and absolute freedom. But, giving this training could be quite tricky as running away is one of the favorite acts of many dogs and dog owners know it.

If you are also thinking about how to keep your dog inside the fence then we have perfect ways of doing it safely and successfully.

1. 1. Give him Boundary Training

   Boundary training is important if you want to teach your dog about the boundaries that he needs to stay in. Training your dog could be time-consuming, but this process needs efforts and patience. Train him to understand the commands and act according to it.

2. 2. Give Him Plenty of Exercises

   Dogs thrive on physical stimulation. Take your dog on a daily walk or run sessions to keep him engaged and healthy. Where these sessions will keep you both healthy, it will also give him an outlet for pent up energy. Remember, a tired dog is a happy and content dog so make him tired.

3. 3. Train Everyday

   Instead of training the dog for one day and giving a break of two to three days, train daily and make a proper schedule for it. Train for ten to fifteen minutes and increase the pace week after week.

4. 4. Increase the Level of Challenge

   Add something new to your training each week. Do not try to add all the commands and obstacles at once, do it gradually and increase the challenge to train your dog’s mind and will.

5. 5. Be Firm but Gentle

   Do not go too hard on your dog. Animals are like kids and you cannot train them by being overly harsh and stiff. Be gentle and repeat the commands and steps until they memorize them successfully.

Dog Breeds that will Stay in the Yard

If you do not want to keep worrying about looking after your dog and keeping him from running away then the easiest way of doing it is to find a dog breed that is happy to stay with its owner. These dogs are extremely loyal and love to stay near their owners.

Below, we have enlisted some of such dogs:

• Doberman Pinscher
• Vizsla
• Shetland Sheepdog
• German Spitz
• French Bulldog
• Old English Sheepdog
• Golden Retriever
• Chow Chow
• German Shepherd
• Border Collies
• Labrador Retriever
• Boxers

All of these breeds are less likely to get lost or run away.

Moreover, to help your dog get a fun-filled time, you can arrange indoor games also. The indoor games for dogs will keep it busy until you are done with the training.

Instead of stressing over the fence and boundaries only, spend some quality time with your animal that it does not have to go anywhere else.