Canines can be a handful. They love to play and run and drag you along if they please. However, this behavior can be tolerated as long as your pooch doesn’t get himself in trouble. Keeping pets away from fast-moving traffic and preventing them from bothering the neighbors is a daunting task.
To overcome this problem, pet owners use many tools like special training collars and fences. However, both of these solutions are restrictive. You can use another method without the need for a fence or collar. This is a special training method called boundary training.
In this training, pet owners use natural or artificial means to mark a boundary and then teach their pet to not cross it on any occasion. It needs to be taken slow and is recommended in the early stages of your pet’s life.
When done correctly using proper treats and leash usage, your pet will remain in your yard without the need for an actual fence. This also saves you money, and your neighbors do not get annoyed by your furry friend.
Why Should You Keep Your Dog in the Yard?
Dogs need to be kept under protection. You need to have a constant watch over them to make sure your pet isn’t getting himself into trouble. When your pet is outside the house, there are all sorts of potential dangers and problems that need to be kept in consideration.
- To Avoid Traffic Dangers: It is dangerous for your pooch to be running out in the traffic, but you can also not keep a dog at home all the time. Pets can get severely injured in car accidents, and many even die. These cases have been increasing, and one of the major reasons is the lack of boundary training in pets.
- To Avoid Pet Fights: When you are living in a neighborhood, most of the time, you are not the only one with a pet. Other people may also have cats and canines; however, one thing that concerns many pet owners is when your pup does not get along with his neighbors. While training can help, small breeds like Pomeranians pick fights with larger dogs and get seriously hurt.
- To Keep Privacy and Boundary Respect: Last but not least, we have the privacy infringement issue. Canines live according to their instincts, and one of these is remaining free and near nature. However, when they are attending to their nature’s call in your neighbor’s favorite garden plants, you know there is a desperate need for a boundary.
To avoid that, your pet needs to know where he should go and what the limits are. It is also important to have a good relationship with your pooch. One of the obvious solutions for this seems to be a fence. However, it isn’t always a possible solution.
Pet parents have trouble fencing their lawns for all sorts of reasons, and one of these is the cost. However, there are methods you can use without the need for this fencing while keeping your pooch safe.
Different Ways to Keep Your Dog Yard without Using Fence
Dog fences have been used quite commonly since long ago. However, now pet parents also like to focus on their pet’s freedom and try to find a better alternative for protecting pets.
Following are a few useful and practical ways to deal with this problem:
Use a Training Collar and a Wireless Fence Combo
This combination allows you to create an invisible barrier around the yard that keeps your pet inside. Here’s how it works. You need to get both the collar and the wireless fence in a bundle. This set includes a long cable that needs to be set up as a barrier underground. Yes, that’s right, you’re going to need to do some digging.
You can start by planning what a safe radius is and then set it up accordingly. The setup is quick and invisible to the eye, which makes it very suitable for smaller places. Once that is done, you get your pooch to wear the training collar. This collar uses power sources like a battery connected to the fence cable via a wireless network.
When your dog approaches the boundary, the collar receives a signal which creates some noise to alert your canine that he is at the boundary. If the pup still chooses to proceed, the collar uses a very minimal electric shock which isn’t harmful to your pet but startles him nevertheless.
Many pet parents worry about their pooch’s health when they hear the words “electric shock.” However, be rest assured as these are designed carefully not to hurt the pet but alert him instead. That said, for such collars, it is recommended to always go with a trusted brand with tons of customer reviews.
However, these training collars should be the last resort, and you can combine commands and treats to promote good behavior instead of focusing on punishing bad behavior.
Train Your Pet to Stay on Command
Training collars can let your pet know when he has reached the boundary. However, if you use commands to get your pet accustomed to not leave the yard, it is more beneficial.
You can use words like stay and leave to teach your pet when he can move and where the boundary is. In such cases, it is better to clearly mark a boundary as your pet cannot spot an invisible barrier.
Once that is done, decide on particular commands and get your pet to obey these using treats and other incentives. This can take longer, but you can make the training fun for you and your pet by using the right commands, praise, and your furry friend’s favorite treats.
It’s a lot like getting scoob to do something with the incentive of Scooby snack. It is best if you start this training when your pet is young.
Take the Above Training to the Next Level with Boundary Training
Boundary training has become a very popular way of keeping pets in the yard without using a fence. While it is by no means an easy task, it is cost-effective and pet-friendly. This training involves the following steps:
- Decide the boundary: This is the first step and involves measuring your yard and the appropriate distance from the road and the neighbors. Since we are not using a fence, you will need to use some marking that your pet can recognize. Different people use different things for marking the boundary. If you are unsure, consider using flags and poles to serve as the fence limit.
- Use a leash and familiarize your canine with the boundary: Get your pet’s regular collar with a leash and bring him in the yard. Allow your pet to see the boundary marks and get used to them. You may walk your pet around the imaginary fence; however, no matter what happens, don’t let your pet cross this boundary. This is crucial to get your pet to understand the limits.
- Teach your pet to stay on one side of the invisible fence: Once you’ve gotten through the second step, continue using the leash and teach your pet to remain on one side. It is recommended to use commands like “stay” and give instant reward when your pet successfully complies with the command. This step needs to be done regularly for 2 to 3 weeks. Only proceed when your pet has mastered this step.
- Now extend the time and make your pet stay and stop: Unlike the previous times, in this step, you need to get your pet to stay in one place for around 10 minutes or more. This is a difficult step and will take time. However, don’t punish your pooch when he does it wrong.
- Test your pet with some incentive: When you see that your pet has learned to follow the commands, it is time to see how it works without the treats. Walk over to the other side of the boundary and see if your pet follows you. If he does, tell him to stop and stay before the boundary as you continue to move further and further away. Again, as mentioned in the previous steps, do not let him cross the boundary.
- Give your pet a harder test: This is the next level of the test. Use treats to lure your canine and, at the same time, tell him to stay. This can be challenging; however, once your pet clears this step, he is ready for the official test.
- Take the leash off and let your pet walk around: If the previous steps have gone smoothly, then this one will also be a piece of cake, and after this, your canine is ready for being on its own in the yard.
Advantages of Avoiding Fences to Keep Dogs in the Yard
Dog fences are one way of keeping your pet in the yard. However, this solution isn’t the most appealing for the yard or your wallet. Boundary training your pet has the following benefits.
- Saves you Money: Boundary training requires no extra tools while providing you the same benefits as a dog fence. You can start this training at an early stage in your pet’s life and use treats and training to get him familiar with the restricted areas.
- Does Not Restrict Your Pet’s Freedom: Dogs have a love for running around in the open, and when you put a dog fence, it automatically gives a feeling of being caged. While small puppies can be kept at bay, larger dogs try to jump over the fence when they feel trapped. However, with boundary training, your pet understands the boundary without feeling it imposed on him.
- Is Safe for Your Pooch: Traffic accidents and pet fights are some of the common dangers of letting your pet out in the open. To keep your pooch safe and protected, you need to train him to keep himself restricted in the safe-zone, which in this case is your yard. When your pet does not run into other unfriendly dogs, it greatly reduces the risk of a fight and possible injuries.
- Prevents Your Canine from Ruining Your Neighbor’s Garden: It isn’t always a pleasant experience when your pet is doing his business in your neighbor’s yard. While housebreaking is indeed essential, it should be restricted to the yard. You can combine boundary training with housebreaking sprays as it helps your pet remember the boundary mark by instinct, even without a fence.
Conclusion
Keeping your canine in the yard is essential for his safety and health. Dogs need their share of fresh air, but they should also know the safety limits. Wireless dog fences and boundary training are two great methods of training your pet without having to get a fence planted all around the yard.
This training involves various steps, including deciding the boundary, familiarizing your pooch with the new markings, and then making it his habit to stay within that area no matter what.
It is recommended to start this training when your pet is still a puppy. For best results, you can use treats, simple commands, and training collars.
