[NurseLeslie]

I am so disappointed in my doodles. First I would like to say that my next door neighbors have 3 dogs. They work all day and when they come home they let the dogs out to go potty and run around. The dogs stay in the front yard. I KNOW for a fact that these people have NEVER gone to any training nor have they 'worked' with their dogs on commands like 'come' and 'stay', etc...
I decided to let my dogs out in the front yard today so they could hang out with us while we were doing stuff. They ran around the yard like crazy then off they both went straight up the road and to the main street. They had turned the corner and were on their way to God knows where when I cought up with them in the car. Luckily, they both jumped in the car without hesitation.

My question is this...How do I train them to stay in the yard? I know about shock collars but to be honest, I have mixed feelings about that. Calvin has always been good about coming when I call him, but certainly not when he is so excited and destracted. I see all these great pics of you guys with your dogs at the beach and parks and worry that I will never get to do that. Where do I start?

Leslie

 

[lmtoth2]

If I were you, I would work on recall in non-excitable situations. We work on it several times a day with ours...both in the house and coming back from the yard into the garage. Everytime they come when called I give them a treat. When we're at the beach...if they come when called I praise a lot and treat. I want them to know coming to me when they're called is a really really good thing.

Oh yeah - try to work on recall with them both individually and together. Kirby in general (non-excitable situations) is better than Dex so sometimes Dex comes just to follow Kirby

I'm glad your doodles weren't hurt!! Maybe could you try a tie-out for now until they are more reliable?

 

[MichelleB]

Sorry no help here, we have never had that problem. I'm so glad your doods are safe!

 

[Guest]

I am so glad they weren't hurt. And don't worry, you aren't the only one. Maya is good when she is in the backyard etc. But if she gets a chance she will run and she won't come when called back. It's so frustrating but all I can do is keep trainin and tryin. Maybe one day she will get it.

 

[gene]

I'm glad it turned out well Leslie.....that Calvin and his antics. Hope it wasn't me jinxing you by asking about Lizzie. I remember that escapade.

 

[MaxandMe]

Leslie you can try whistle training
or even try using either a 20ft or 5oft lead for recall

it's not easy...ours are good outback but once in a great while Max
explores the great outdoor backwoods then it's back to scratch on training.
they lose the fear factor as they get over the 18mos mark, feeling comfortable and can wander.

good luck and keep us posted

 

[sdrudge]

Cacao runs if she can. She like the attention the boys give her. But if i ask the boys to go inside she will come to me. IT IS A PAIN IN THE BUTT!!!! But she doesn't get out (FREE) that much. And with us getting some kind of fence soon that will help.

 

[seazr]

I don't know how hard it is to train a dog to stay in the yard. Dakota has no desire to wander but I have had dogs that we 'explorers' and the only fix for that was maturity.

 

[annabelles mom]

O how scary AB use to listen but now she is in the terrible 2's and doesnt listen very well so she gets on her lead if we are to be out front

 

[Cinsmom]

Cinnamon hasn't always been the best at recall. She still has her moments when she's pushing the boundaries.

She's a lot better at coming when called now days, but she is almost 3 1/2 yrs. I think maturity is the key here. We can walk our property and she's gotten used to our kid's places and knows the boundaries there. Very little running off now, and my DD lives in a 'burb where there are no fences. She's free to go out off leash, but I'm right there to correct her if needed. So far this year, no visiting the neighbors if I tell her no. I know, I'm bragging and next time we visit, she'll blow it! :roll:

 

[annieG]

We let Tanner off leash when we are hiking in an area where there is no traffic. We always give him something to tote as it keeps him focused. In that situation his recall is god.

I wouldn't let him off lead just in my neighborhood though. Too much chance that he would run across the street to meet another dog.

 

[KingstonTodd]

Its funny how differnet dogs are at learning to come. We changed Gus' name and he came to it 100% from the first day. Hershey took a long time to listen well. I started calling her in the dog park with a treat in my hand, and if she didnt come fast enough i gave her treat away. She now comes a lot faster.

 

[deepnite10]

i hardly let the dog s out front at all due to all the distractions..and if i do it s usually means we re going to the dog park.. :lol:

as soon as we leave the front door i call each of their names..i want them focused on me and not anything else that may be going on..

you know that look and posture when they get distracted?..as soon as i see that reaction again i ll call their name sharply and say *STAY*..and on go s the leash..

there are alot of young children at time s and it seem s like everyone on our street now has a dog..so it s important the dogs don t go running off to as you say *who knows where*..or jumping on little children..

 

[ChasP505]

I like the tie-out idea until they are reliable and they recognize the boundaries of the front yard---as of yet, they have no idea there should be some there....you can also work on training the perimeter--as in, you step out of the perimeter while training the doodles to stay within (they get corrected for stepping outside the boundaries and praise for stopping short of it)...

I fully agree with this. I gradually conditioned my last Lab to stay in front of the house and not run or roam beyond the sidewalk by tying him out while I was working out front... washing the car, raking leaves, etc. I always asked him if he wanted to "help" me do whatever I was doing and he associated that word with staying in my sight while I puttered around. Eventually (at about 2 years old) he was 100% trustworthy, with me or alone. I could leave the front door open and he'd stay just in front of the entry.