The front door opens. Faster than you can say “stop”,the dog has squeezed between your legs, the crack in the door and is down the front stairs charging down the walkway and on his way down the street. No fun. No fun, that is unless your the dog.
No fun for the family members that now have to figure out where the dog’s going and the best way to get the kids corralled and safe then head out to find the roaming family member. What can you do to prevent an escaping dog? Well there are a few things you can do to keep your dog safe and from escaping.
Here are five things you can do to prevent or significantly minimize your dog from escaping-
1) I realize it may sound too simple but it works.Lock the doors so folks can’t just walk in and create an instant opening for your dog to free himself.
2) When the dog is in the house have him drag around a leash so that you can step on it when someone comes to the door or you need to open it
3) Train the dog that down/stay means DOWN/STAY. NO letting the dog decide when to get up. Stay means stay UNTIL he’s released. Its on your terms not the dogs.
4) Leave by invitation. Always! Train the dog that in order for him to pass through the door you must go through it first THEN invite him. Train this and you’ll have a dog that respects you as pack leader and is well behaved.
5) Create an outside boundary outside that prevents the dog from leaving the yard. Physical fences or Electric Dog Fences when properly installed and the dog properly trained will significantly reduce the dogs interest in catching an open door. At least if he does get through the door to the yard he’ll be contained by the Dog Fence.
The time to start training is as soon as your dog gets to your house. No need for ‘adjustment’ time.. Animals; both the two and four legged ones respond well to ‘new house, new rules’ and the sooner you establish where your dog can go the faster he’ll be trained, the safer he’ll be and the more he’ll respect your family as the pack leaders.