How to Train Your Puppy to Stay in the Yard
Training a puppy to do anything can be challenging for even the most patient pet owners. But with the right knowledge, even you will be able to train your dog to do what you want. Staying in the yard is one of those activities for which puppies especially need training. This important training will not only keep the puppy in your sight at all times, but will also keep it safe from wandering the streets and potentially becoming lost or getting in an accident.
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Instructions
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Start training with a good knowledge of basic obedience commands. Consider placing the dog in a class with other pups to socialize it at the same time. It needs to learn to at least stay, heel, sit and lay down. If the puppy does not know these basic commands, getting him to stay in the yard will be nearly impossible.
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Start the training inside the house. Go to the door that leads to the yard with your dog. Before you open it, take the dog by the collar, move it back from the doorway, look it straight in the eye, and say, "Stop," in a firm, commanding voice. Use your hand as a barrier between the dog and the door while continuing to say "Stop." Every time your puppy listens to your command, reward it with a very small treat. Never use big treats for training purposes. Dogs respond very well to small treats.
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Open the door a little as you see the dog understands your "Stop" command. Only open it wide enough that it cannot charge outside. If the dog tries to get out, quickly shut the door, grab its collar and correct it with a firm "Stop." When you can open the door without your puppy running outside, you are ready to head to the backyard.
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Walk the puppy on a leash around the perimeter of your yard several times a day. Do not remove the leash at this point. Each time the puppy starts to cross the backyard property line, firmly say, "No," and give the leash a little jerk to bring it correctly back to where it belongs. Reward the dog with positive reinforcements such as pats, treats and verbal praise every time it listens and gets back into step with you.
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Walk in a full circle around the yard without the dog trying to get away from you several times a day, for several weeks. Eventually, the puppy will come to know the boundaries and will stay within them.
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Purchase an invisible (electronic) fence to place around the perimeter of your backyard. The puppy wears a special collar that administers a tiny zap when the dog crosses the border of the yard. Because the dog dislikes this feeling, it will come to realize its boundaries. Eventually you should be able to remove the fence altogether when the puppy does not go near the boundary any longer. With some patience and persistence, however, you can train your puppy without this extra expense.
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Tips & Warnings
Be patient and kind to your pet throughout the training process. You will get a much better outcome.
Always correct bad behavior or your puppy will think it is doing something right when it is not.
Only practice for 10 to 15 minutes per day, so as not to overdo training.
Never reward bad behavior. You will only make your training harder and longer.
Invisible fences can be expensive.
Resources
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