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

[Birdie'sMom]

Originally posted by 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.

That's the problem. If the dog would leave when there is a stray cat, there are a lot of things that could happen.:(

[ILoveRotts]

My Rotts are boundry trained! It works if done properly.

Of course, it should never be used when a human is not there.



"What's to stop them if they really want to go"

You! With good training - you can stop a dog on voice command only. But it takes a lot of work and constant reinforcement.

[jayneliz]

I would say this depends entirely upon the dog and the owner. My Ridgeback has an unusually high prey drive, and I'm certain despite how reliable his recalls were, how well he'd been trained, how many hours we spent reinforcing the "don't go out of the boundary" behavior, he'd take off like a bullet if he saw something he really REALLY wanted.

My Rott, Elsa, who I lost in September, would NOT step off my front porch, regardless of what was out there, who was coming, what she saw. The backyard was "hers" and she knew that. There were a number of times she'd step onto the front porch (like if we were carrying in groceries) but would NOT step off the porch. EVER. I had diligently trained her not to go off the porch, because we live on a major highway. Despite her seeming reliability, I would not ever leave her on the porch unattended or for any period of time for fear of her being stolen, having a temporary lapse in memory, or whatever.

That being said, I think it can be done in certain dogs, with certain temperaments, but I surely wouldn't risk losing a dog to traffic, or having it stolen, or having it take off after a bunny. Just too risky for me. JMHO... :D

[TrishB]

You could attempt to train it - could you depend on it? NO.

It's not worth the risk. It would be a very high price to pay for some little perceived amount of convenience.

- stolen
- hit by car
- lost
- chasing another animal and causing injury
- scaring people
- etc.