new yard new boundaries

[MommasBoys]

Hi All,

We just moved from NJ to VA last weekend. We have to clear out our backyard and put up a fence. That realistically wont happen for at least a month due to work for us, and scheduling for the fence company.

Suggestions on how to train them on our yard boundaries?? I dont want to have to freak about putting them on a leash every single time we go outside. In the future I would love to be able to have them outside with us in the front or wherever for that matter and not be chasing them out of our neighbors yards. I recognize that the safest bet is to have them on leashes but I know with some training and help from y'all they can be taught.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!!

[emma_Dad]

Is your sig pic what your backyard leads into?!

[ZRabbits]

Congratulations for moving out of NJ, lol From someone who wish I could too. Wish I could help you with learning boundaries, as we did enjoy our Jake knowing his boundaries, but took a while to train. With it all being new to everyone, I'd feel safer having them leashed, but that's just me. Hopefully someone can help as you got a good month ahead of you regarding permanent fencing, and with everyone learning the new surroundings.

Again Congrats on the new move. Wishing you all the happiness in your new home. And also Welcome to the Board.

KAZ

[Labradorks]

There's no way to teach this to your dogs within a month. If you had one dog it would be easier but multiples, especially if they are good buddies, no way. If you want the dogs in the front with you without a fence, I would set up an invisible fence -- just remember that does not keep other dogs or people out and some labs will happily run through it to get to whatever is on the other side. I would not risk my dogs taking off or getting hit by a car. Nor would I risk them getting into the neighbors' yards, knocking down their kids on accident, destroying plants, etc. One of my dogs once went through the crappy fence that used to be at my house when I first moved in and went inside the neighbor's house. I was pretty mortified. I also know there are dogs that get walked by my house that could be aggressive and if my dogs ran up to that dog, they could be hurt. At the very least, it's super annoying when walking my dog and an off-leash dog comes up to us getting them all riled up. I have seen that happen and people get pulled down and/or scared. I have seen people react to lab-type dogs who are overly friendly by picking up their small dog and kicking the big exuberant dog because they and their dogs were scared and didn't understand the dog was not trying to maul them. I also used to run into a guy who walked his very large german shep and carried a club with him at all times. So, yeah, not worth it, IMHO.

[CraftHer]

I think a solid recall would also be essential, too. We have 5 acres and we let Mocha roam. He almost always comes when we call. When he starts getting lax about it, we put the eCollar on to get his attention and let him know that recall is not an option. Once the grass comes in, we'll put in an invisible fence, too.

What's a little peculiar with Mocha, is when both DH and I are in the yard and call him, he will come to either of us. We were working in the yard, I'm on one side of the house and DH was on the other and whistles for Mocha. Mocha ran straight to me. It's vice versa, too.

[Snowshoe]

Invisible fence? Still takes some conditioning and training and it won't protect yours from other dogs or critters.

[Meeps83]

But still it takes a while to be reliably trained on an invisible fence.

[ZRabbits]

Lots of great advise. Might not be what you want to hear, but there's really no quick fix to keep your pups safe. How are the pups, now being in a new place, at recall?

KAZ