Can you train a dog to stay in an unfenced yard?

[Rocky's_mom]

Supervised/not supervised I don't really think it's possible. I know I wouldn't be able to catch my rott going full speed for a bird or bunny...And that is all it takes...one deadly time. I wouldn't risk it even if my dog did 110% of what I ask it to do! That is playing with fire.

[Patty1231]

Whether you can or can't, I would NEVER risk it.

[austin]

My trainer raises cattle dogs, and they are trained to stay within the boundaries of his yard. I also have a neighbor with an older wiemeraner (sorry, no idea how to spell that) who never leaves his yard.

I think its a terrible idea, but yes, it is possible.

[danyp1]

Originally posted by Patty1231
Whether you can or can't, I would NEVER risk it.

Ditto..
Also what about people comming into your yard or other dogs? To risky. Kids especially. You can hardly keep some out with a fence..
Sure you might be out with them but what if they decide to disobey only one time.. The results could be devastating. A dead dog or a bitten/dead adult or child or other animal.
(Its not worth it.. It seems to be more of a show off for the owner..)

[Brooke&Ryan]

I agree. Julius probably would have stuck around by us when he was 5 and a half months also....but now that the prey drive has kicked in & there are so many purrrrty squirrels....man, he could have been killed SO many times...possibly. I don't want to tempt fate. I would never be able to deal with myself if something happened to him.

I don't care where you live...it comes down to being a RESPONSIBLE owner. Julius is always on lead when we're outside.

Brooke

[Judi W]

If someone thinks this is a great idea, I hope they only do it with a dog they are willing to lose or see killed. If you have a disposable dog - fine. I don't have any of those. Getting injured by a car if a strong temptation comes along, frightening someone and getting shot, biting someone and being incarcerated or PTS and the dog's owner being sued are just a few of the things that can easily occur.

[Mick Trainer]

It can be done and I have done it for customers and the dogs have not left the property. However in saying that why risk it? One mistake may be all it takes for the dog and it's owner to pay a big price.

You can easily have it if you are there as long as you have a solid drop and recall. A good recall will easily call dogs off rabbits etc. A good recall will call the dog away from going to the toilet, out of a dog fight, and even off a bitch in season.

Mick.

[samanthac]

Yes, Mick, that is true, but most people do not have the fortitude or consistency to train that type of a recall. ;) :)

[spidey]

I think it can be done, but I don't think it'll give you anywhere near enough reliability if a strong enough temptation comes along. I think it's a false sense of security, and it provides the dog with no protection (just like invisible fencing), so I don't really see the point of it, myself.

[sumojeb]

there is a dog in my cul de sac that would stay in his front yard if told to

[Mick Trainer]

Originally posted by samanthac
Yes, Mick, that is true, but most people do not have the fortitude or consistency to train that type of a recall. ;) :)

Oh I totally agree.

Mick.

[Judi W]

It is the unattended dog of which I speak and particularly in an urban environment. I know that I would not be reassured regardless of the training if walking past with my dogs, an unattended Rottweiler were loose in an unfenced area.

[K-9Girl]

No matter how well trained my dog was I would NEVER risk it. It is so scary how fast a tragedy can happen. One minute everything is fine, the next minute they are running across the street after a cat....and then it's all over.

Sara

[Birdie'sMom]

If you have that much confidence in your training that you think it can be done with 100% guarantee, then go for it. But is anything in life 100% guaranteed? Would you want to even take a .1% chance that your dog will spook and go off and get killed? Don't worry - we'll be here to console you when you post in Rainbow Bridge. :(

[Colbydog]

My family's yellow lab when I was growing up would stay in the yard, and only leave it when a stray cat walked by. I grew up in a small town of about 300 people, so there wasn't much of a problem with a loose dog. My best friend (in the same town) had a rott, and a german shepard that would also not leave the yard. I know that now I would even entertain the thought, but I am speaking of my childhood, certainly not what I would do as a responsible owner now.