Testing Compliance
Now the dog needs to be tested using temptations on the other side of the wire. This is done to make sure that the boundary rules are followed, even when the dog becomes excited. The dog learns that the boundary rules need to be observed, even if there is a reason for him to want to run to the other side of the boundary.
During the last few days of training, the dog needs to be tested to see how well they have learned their boundary rules. This is important to do, so that the dog stays contained even when there are temptations for him to go across the boundary. By doing these tests in a controlled setting, we are able to make sure that the dog will stay in the yard even when we start letting them off of the leash. This allows us to further reinforce any weak spots in our training. It is important to teach this now, before the dog makes a habit of breaking through the fence.
Testing temptations on the other side
Before You Begin
Think about what the biggest temptations would be for your dog when you take him off of the leash. These are the temptations that you need to test your dog on. These temptations may include squirrels (or other wildlife), people, other dogs, and food. Other triggers may include a delivery person or chasing a tennis ball. Dealing with these issues upfront may be easier than trying to change it after a pattern of breaking the fence has been established.
Training
Compliance training is very like the correction training that was performed in Step Two. The only difference is that now we are adding a temptation on the other side of the fence. Begin by leading your dog out on a long leash. Next, let the dog see some kind of temptation on the other side of the fence.
Should the dog stop at the boundary, reward him with a treat and lots of praise for following the rules. You should be proud of your pup.
Should the dog cross the boundary, he will receive the correction. Say, “no” in a firm voice, and pull him back. When the dog retreats, briefly praise him.
The next time, you can begin to drop the leash, so that it is dragging on the ground when you do the training. Because the leash is dragging on the ground, the dog will perceive it as being off of the leash. However, you can still grab the lease to control the dog, if the need arises.
When the dog is consistently resisting all temptation, you can begin introducing Supervised Off Leash time, in Step Four.
Temptation: Toys
Does your dog have games or toys he likes to play? These can be used to get the dog excited, so that you can test their compliance to the boundary. For example, perhaps your dog loves to play fetch with a tennis ball, you could begin the session by doing this in the safety zone. Try to get the dog more and more excited playing with him. Next, throw the ball slightly over the boundary to see how the dog reacts.
A dog that is well-trained will quickly see the flags and not chase after the ball. You may notice that your dog’s gaze will switch from the ball to the flags. The dog may show that he is tempted, but should not cross where the flags are planted.
Temptation: Family Members
Most dogs feel a very strong connection to their family members. They may feel a bit of separation anxiety when they leave. This would create a strong will to follow family members who are crossing the boundary. It is a good idea to test this by having a family member walk past the dog and over the boundary line. It is important that the person you choose does not call to the dog, or pay the dog any attention. To increase the amount of temptation, you can have the person play with the dog for a few minutes before they cross the boundary.
Other Dogs
Most dogs really appreciate the opportunity to play with other dogs. You can test this by having a friend walk another dog near the boundary. Now you can see if your dog attempts to cross the line. To take this one step further, you can have your neighbor bring their dog over beforehand to play inside of the containment area for a few minutes, before they walk over the boundary line. If your dog passes this test, be sure to give him lots of praise and a treat.
Other Animals
Many breeds of dogs possess a strong prey drive. Because of this, they are instinctively inclined to chase critters such as squirrels, rabbits, birds or deer.
When wildlife is the temptation, this may be a little less easy to plan. What you can do is purchase an animal scent from a hunting store. This is particularly useful for dogs with a strong instinct, such as bloodhounds.
Delivery Driver
Does your doggie always want to follow the Fedex truck? Here is what you can do. Try to find some way of simulating that temptation during the training period. Try to go out and train when the delivery driver arrives. Another idea is to have a friend drive up to the house. Then they can walk up to the door and then leave, to create a similar experience. Then you can test the dog to see if he or she is tempted to run through the boundary.
When testing using any of the above distractions, if the dog runs over the boundary, move back to Step 2 and work with the dog a little more.