How do you keep your dog in and around your home with no fence?

Question

We have a medium to large size dog with about 7 acres. He has more than enough room, but still insists on running off. He is an inside/outside pet. I'm a firm believer in not penning up or chaining up a dog, but sometimes we have to chain him in the yard to do his business or just to play with him. We don't want him hit by a car or stolen. I've looked into the electronic fence that is buried around your property, but it is expensive.

Answer 1

I'd recommend fencing a smaller area around your house. It's a lot more secure and safe for your dog than letting him run loose unsupervised on seven acres. And it's a lot more comfortable and humane than tying him up.

An invisible fence requires a lot of training time on your part and the dog IS getting an electric shock, no matter what those companies say. If the dog charges after a wild animal and runs across the fenceline, then he can't come HOME without getting a shock. Also, there is nothing to prevent a stray dog from coming on to your property and attacking your dog. And there's nothing to stop someone from stealing him.

Also, in many states there is an "attractive nuisance" law - suppose your dog is loose in your yard and being good. But some little kid seems him and comes into your yard to pet him. If he knocks the child down and injures him or bites him - YOU could be liable.

Answer 2

We used to live in a situation like this and we did have a very long tie-out that we used when we didn't want him to run off on a long field trip. Tie-outs should only be used when you can supervise the dog becasue of the strangulation risk, and never used in conjunction with a choke or prong collar. But if you can provide supervision and the tie-out is suitably long (I think ours was 20 feet), I don't see anything wrong with it. Just as long as the dog gets regular actual walks every day (and I'd say that for people with fenced yards too--a dog needs a structured walk every day, not just running around willy-nilly in a yard).

Answer 3

I would agree with those who say train your dog to stay near you when you are outside with him (keeping slices of cold hotdogs or other REALLY tasty things with you as treats helps a lot with this).
If you have to leave him outside by himself sometimes, build a fenced dog run, a tall chainlink fence will let him see whats going on. Always reward him when he goes in there and have toys for just the run so he will be less resistant to going in. It would be cheaper than an electric fence, and more secure.

Answer 4

DO NOT PUT A SHOCK COLLAR ON THE DOG PLEASE!!How would you like it if you got shocked just because you wernt trained to go too far.What if you were being potytrained and everytime you wet the diaper you got shocked?What you can do is you can tie the dog up with a long chain she he has room to run around and wont wonder too far.Or you can get an invisable fence.or you can just keep him inside all the time.

Answer 5

You need to either invest in the electric fence or spend time with your dog training him.

I would suggest that when you are outside with him you work on his "coming" skills and also try to establish boundaries. If he runs too far off, make sure to call him back and praise him when he does.

We had a similar situation to this. It just takes time, effort, and practice. Eventually the dog will know where he is allowed and not allowed to go.

Answer 6

Male dogs have that wander instinct so it's difficult. I think the easiest thing to do would be to teach your dog to sit and stay. That way when he runs off you could tell him to sit. Under the right circumstances you could use a shock collar for long distance training, but make sure it's used to reinforce behavior don't use to teach him how to sit and stay. Good luck

Answer 7

what about those "invisible" fences some people used to advertise a few years ago? but my best bet would be just to put up a fence even though you don't want to

Answer 8

know that if your animal gets off your property and kills another person's pet, bites/hurts anyone else, and/or causes any sort of damage or mischief, YOU are personally liable.

if i was your neighbor, i'd be pis$ed that you were an animal owner who didn't fence in your dog.

it is just plain irresponsible. fence him in immediately.

Answer 9

invisible fence and or obedience training the fence is not that much if you do it your self and you don't need to fench the whole 7 acres.

Answer 10

if the dog likes you, and is still runs away, you almost have to have some sort of training device like a shock collar.