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

[rotts and roses]

Ok this question may seem silly, but I really would like to know.
I have never ever in all my 34 years seen a dog stay in a yard that has no fence what so ever.
Is this really possible?
Is it a safe bet to think you can just put your dog in a yard with no fence and expect it to know it's boundaries?
My opinion is No.
No matter how well trained you think a 5 month old puppy is, there is no way it is going to not cross an invisible line. especially if left unsupervised in a yard.

[Sharon Marples]

NO!

[fbkeays]

Yeah right! A dog will learn that everything they SEE is their property and will defend everything they SEE. So unless the property is a few hundred acres, I wouldn't even bet a dollar of that happening.
Dogs have free will, just like people. Would you expect a 2 year old human kid to stay in his yard without supervision?

[Jaegergirl]

i was told that you COULD train your dog to stay in your yard by walking around the perimeter with your dog on leash and correcting it if it tried to go "out of bounds." i never tried it, tho. i don't ever allow maverick in the front yard without a leash because i don't want to take any chances and our backyard is surrounded by a 6 ft privacy fence so it's not an issue there. BUT, i see plenty of people in my neighborhood who's dogs are loose and stay in their yards (they ignore the leash laws ) and the dogs will stop at the end of their property. for every dog that does stay in it's yard, there's always one that doesn't, tho.

i think that as long as the dog was supervised, you could probably train it. but i bet if you left it outside alone, it would wander off.

but i'd like to know what the experts have to say about this.

[Jaegergirl]

i like the example of the 2 year old. i know my son would be gone in a flash!! :D :D

[MOKASMOM]

Originally posted by rotts and roses
Ok this question may seem silly, but I really would like to know.
I have never ever in all my 34 years seen a dog stay in a yard that has no fence what so ever.
Is this really possible?
Is it a safe bet to think you can just put your dog in a yard with no fence and expect it to know it's boundaries?
My opinion is No.
No matter how well trained you think a 5 month old puppy is, there is no way it is going to not cross an invisible line. especially if left unsupervised in a yard.

Wait Wait Wait. I never said I left my dog unsupervised in the yard. I am always out there when she goes out. So we cant use that comment (especially if left unsupervised in a yard).

My opinion yes I do think a dog can stay in a yeard without fences or invisable fences. I have a relative whos dog has no fenced in yard and has never ever left the yard and his dog is now 9 yrs old and was trained from puppy on. I also have a co- worker who has a 1 year Lab which has no fenced in yard and has never left the yard and they live a highway.

In my opinion it can be done to any dog if it has been trained to do so.

[Jaegergirl]

but what's to stop the dog if it sees something it REALLY wants from darting off?? that's one reason i never took chances.

[RottiMomCT]

WHY take that chance to see IF the dog will leave the yard? If our dog even has a tendency (like the recently spayed pup) to wander...put a leash on it, or get the yard fenced. If your dog does not have 100% solid recall, it has no business being off elash in an unfenced area...regardless of it's age.

Can anyone guarantee that when they turn their back for a second, or go in the house to grab the ringing phone that the dog will not see something more enticing across the street??

[MOKASMOM]

Originally posted by Jaegergirl
i was told that you COULD train your dog to stay in your yard by walking around the perimeter with your dog on leash and correcting it if it tried to go "out of bounds." i think that as long as the dog was supervised, you could probably train it. but i bet if you left it outside alone, it would wander off.

but i'd like to know what the experts have to say about this.

I agree 100% on this. Yes my dog was trained on leash first and we walked around the boundries and every time she stepped out she was corrected back and now in obidience class we are learning off leash training on if you dog goes up to the boundry line we use the wait command.

But no way in heck would I leave my dog outside alone unsupervised 1st of all she is really young and 2nd she is a Rott which most people fear.

[MOKASMOM]

Originally posted by Jaegergirl
but what's to stop the dog if it sees something it REALLY wants from darting off?? that's one reason i never took chances.

Thats a good question and what we learned is that if the dog sees something it wants to go after I just say "MOKA FRONT" and she has to turn around and comes to me and sit in front of me.

[Miabella]

Originally posted by MOKASMOM
I also have a co- worker who has a 1 year Lab which has no fenced in yard and has never left the yard and they live a highway.

My question is, why would you want to take the risk? It only takes ONE time for your dog to be dead. A few years back, I was renting an apartment in a house in a small city in Massachusetts. There was a woman who lived upstairs from us who had a lovely, well-trained English Springer Spaniel, about 6 years old. She had owned this dog since puppyhood, it went everywhere with her. I never saw a leash on it, they walked all over the city and the dog never strayed.

Until that one fateful morning. :( She and the dog were in our driveway, returning from their morning walk. I don't know if the dog saw a squirrel, or was startled, whatever, who knows. The dog ran into the street, ignoring her calls, and was run over by the garbage truck. This dog was completely disemboweled, guts spread out all over the street. I will never forget the sight of this dog and her wailing, devastated owner.

And that is why my dog, who already has one obedience title and is training for another, is never off-leash in an unfenced area. I will not take the chance, I cherish my dog too much to risk her for my inflated opinion of my training program.

[rotts and roses]

Originally posted by MOKASMOM
IShe also knows her boundaries outside and she challenges me on it everyday now. She goes outside the grass to other peoples yards. I mean she was in puppy school and she passed that and is now in obedience school and we have 6 weeks left to go. It doesn't seem right. She is just not the dog I had be4 I spayed her and I hope this additude she has will change but I dont know.

Ok I must have miss understood, I didn't realize you were with her when she was going into other peoples yards.

For the sake of argument let's say fine, you can train your dog to stay in your unfenced yard.
What about people staying OUT of your yard? What is to prevent someone walking right into your yard, stealing or poisoning your dog. I don't see a problem if you are with your dog on a leash every single minute she is outside.
What I gathered from your post was you expect your 5 month old pup to know the boundaries of it's yard, which, in my opinion is simply not possible

[samanthac]

Originally posted by MOKASMOM
Wait Wait Wait. I never said I left my dog unsupervised in the yard. I am always out there when she goes out.

Ok, but say she decides to bolt. Do you really think you can catch a Rottweiler running at full speed? If you can then you are truly superhuman.

I have a relative whos dog has no fenced in yard and has never ever left the yard and his dog is now 9 yrs old and was trained from puppy on. I also have a co- worker who has a 1 year Lab which has no fenced in yard and has never left the yard and they live a highway.

Rottweilers are a WHOLE different animal. They are not your average dog that just says, "DOH, okey dokey, whatever you say'. These are smart, strong dogs that very much can have a mind of their own. They can be managed with TONS of ongoing training. Like Sharon said the dog is not going to be magically trained once it comes out of school. Its still going to require daily effort from you. And if you are not willing to do that you are quickly going to be dealing with an out of control adult Rottweiler who thinks they run the show. Bet your wonderful trainers did not tell you that, did they?

In my opinion it can be done to any dog if it has been trained to do so.

Well, you are entitled to your opinion, but a whole lot of more experienced Rottweiler people are telling you that you are incorrect in your assumption. Hmmm...maybe its for good reason.

It really worries me here that you may have picked the absolute wrong breed to own.

[Jaegergirl]

i say all the training the world isn't gonna help if the dog has a strong will.. if it sees something it wants, it's gonna take off. i have never and will never have maverick out in the front yard w/o his leash. it's not worth the risk.

and what about other dogs staying out of your yard. say one comes on your property and decides to go after yours. at least if your dog is on a leash, you'd have a better chance helping it and/or getting it away from the other dog, don't you think?

[Jaegergirl]

if she's already challenging you, i think that would be a red flag!!!