Introduction.
It is easier to prevent running away by teaching the puppy never to cross the property lines except when with you on a leash than it is to teach a grown runaway to stay home. A dog that has run away has learnt the joys of freedom and will be very tempted to run again when you are not there to stop him. You should try to find out where the dog goes when he is free. Is someone feeding him? Does he play with other roaming dogs? Is he taking uncovered garbage? A word with your neighbours may remove these temptations and make training easier. Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise so he does not have to bolt just to stretch his legs.
Prevention.
The best method of preventing runaways is a fenced yard. If the dog climbs or jumps the fence, remove footholds, install an overhang or, for jumping dogs, increase the height. Digging under fences can be prevented by laying hardware cloth horizontally inside the fence, buried by about 6 inches of soil. If the dog digs, the wire between its toes is a painful reminder not to dig.
A cheaper, but much less desirable method of controlling the dog is to tie him in the yard. A stout overhead rope with a smaller rope running along it on a shackle will allow the dog greatest freedom and the dog is less likely to get the rope tangled round its feet or bushes.
Least desirable is the single rope on which dogs often hesitate to move because of tangling in the rope and which does greatest damage to plants and bushes in the area.
Ropes of either variety are undesirable because they do not stop dogs and children teasing the dog by staying just out of reach, inhibit normal movement by the dog and, particularly with young animals, appear to punish the dog by a sudden jerk on the collar when they run up to greet a child or visiting dog. This often results in aggressive, barking dogs as they grow up. A fenced yard, by contrast, keeps dogs and children out, allows natural movement and is no more confining than the walls of a room.
Training.
With a puppy or when you move with an older dog to a new house, take the dog to the property line so you approach it at right angles. On the line, stop, say "No" and with your hand, palm towards the dog, sketch an imaginary wall at the line. Step over the line and pull the dog gently by the collar towards you, repeating the "No" and hand signal if he takes a step forward. Repeat until the dog pulls backwards when you try to pull him over the line. When this happens, praise. This training is much easier if you have some visible property line even if is just a rope or low border that the dog could easily pass.
Once you have trained the dog to stay inside the property line do not casually call him over it or allow anyone else to do so. If you always have the dog on a leash or at heel before leaving the property the training will not be broken.
Together with this training, work with the dog to get an instant, invariable response when you call him. If an excited dog is rushing towards the boundary and may forget to stop, you use the recall to stop him before this happens.
Dogs that have run away sometimes take the chance, when the door is opened for a visitor, to bolt outside and away. Fix a 20 or 30 foot length of nylon cord, available at Canadian Tire, to the dog's WIDE collar. Arrange for a friend to come to the house, ring the doorbell and be admitted while you deliberately leave the door wide enough open to allow the dog to escape. Before this happens, pick up the end of the cord and either hold it (small dogs), tie it round your waist and hold it (medium sizes) or tie it to something substantial (large dogs). As the dog starts to run, call it in a loud voice. Nothing will happen but when the dog reaches the end of the line he will be stopped and may go head over heels. This serves as a punishment both for bolting and for not obeying your call. Take the dog back into the house and your friend repeats the procedure. Continue until you can stand in the doorway talking, with the door wide open, and not have the dog try to bolt. If he does go out a little way slowly and returns to you when called, give him a lot of praise and a special treat. Even if you do not usually use treats when training, make an exception for the recall to give the dog the strongest possible incentive to respond immediately.
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