How to Train Your Dog Not to Leave the Yard

Training your dog to stay in a completely unfenced yard is possible, but very few dog owners have the training savvy, time or patience to accomplish this feat. A more typical and attainable goal is to keep your dog from bolting out the gate or dashing down the driveway when you̵7;re backing your car out or taking the trash to the curb. Training your dog not to leave the yard in these situations can save your dog̵7;s life.

Things You'll Need

  • leash
  • treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin training in the house where you have the most control. What you are aiming for is teaching your dog that he has boundaries and he is not allowed to wander at will. Every doorway in your house is a chance to teach this lesson.

    • 2

      Head for a closed interior door and invite your dog to follow you. Before you open the door, turn around and tell your dog to sit and stay. If he obeys, praise him.

    • 3

      Start to open the door. If your dog gets up, ready to dash through the door, drop your hand, turn around, and put him back in the sit-stay position. Open the door. If he jumps up again, close the door and repeat the sit-stay. Do this over and over until he is staying with the door wide open.

    • 4

      Put your hand out like a stop sign and say ̶0;Wait.̶1; If he gets up, close the door, walk toward him, using your body to maneuver him to his original sit spot, and repeat the sit-stay until he obeys while you open the door, tell him to wait, and go through the door. Stand on the other side of the door, hold out your hand, and give the wait command. Give him a release command when you are ready, something like ̶0;Come̶1; or ̶0;OK.̶1;

    • 5

      Repeat this process at every door inside your house for as long as it takes for him to get the idea that if you tell him to wait, he can only cross a boundary with your permission. Little by little, lengthen the time you make him wait at an open door with you on the other side. Turn your back on him, go into another room, sit down and read a book while he waits for you to release him. If he goes through the door, start over. When your dog is consistently successful, take him to an outside door and repeat this process.

    • 6

      Take your dog outside after he has mastered the "wait" at your front or back door. To avoid the possibility of your dog rushing into the street, put a long leash on him and either have a friend hold the end or fasten it to a post so your dog cannot leave your yard. Go to your gate or garage door and repeat the wait training.

    • 7

      Once you are satisfied that your dog will obey the wait command in every safe situation you can think of, try him off-leash. If you have practiced these steps often enough and in an authoritative manner, your dog will learn not to leave your yard, garage, front door, or any other boundary you set for him.