Ask the trainer: Giving your dog boundaries

How to teach your dog where invisible boundaries are in your home and on your property?

Boundary training is a great idea for all dog owners. The setting of invisible boundaries both inside the home and outside in the yard gives your dog a clear understanding of where they can and cannot cross without your permission.

It is a personal choice as to where you decided to enforce the boundaries in your home.

For my pack the main boundary is the front door which enables me to have my ranchslider open to cool the house in summer without the worry of my dogs dashing out and roaming the street.

Other boundaries include the kitchen and front gate. If you are fortunate to own land keep in mind that a 1/4 acre is plenty of space and all that is required as a sufficient guarding area for your dog.

To teach your dog where these invisible lines are firstly walk your dog on leash around your property.

When you reach the boundary you have set ask your dog to sit and stay as you move across the threshold. If your dog moves across this line correct it with a stern "no'' and move it back to the sit, stay start point.

Once your dog gets the idea, begin to make it harder for them by crouching down which will entice your dog toward you.

You can bounce a ball and do all sorts of things to make the other side of the boundary really interesting for your dog.

Once you can do this without your dog crossing the line you have succeeded in this training.

Keep in mind that you then have to teach your dog the release command such as "over'' or "okay'' to allow them to come to you over the boundary.

With all training there must be a two command combo one for the behaviour you want being sit, down etc and the other to let your dog know it can move off and go about its day.

Doing boundary training on a daily basis for only 10 minutes a day will have your dog reliably staying within your

desired areas in a few short weeks.

It is of course more difficult to teach your dog that it is no longer allowed in areas such as the kitchen or within your

property if it has previously not had a structured restriction but this training is well worth implementing as once your dog knows the house rules you can travel with your dog and set a boundary with the same steps at other people's homes.

Paw point of the week:

Keep in mind that you must remain consistent with what you expect of your dog. If the rules change daily in your household so will your dog's behaviour.

Contact me for the chance to have your question selected for publication at nadines@dogguru.co.nz for further information on Dog Guru visit www.dogguru.co.nz