Safe Confinement
You can confine your dog any number of ways, but it's important to pay careful attention to details so that he can't escape. Keep in mind that no dog should be left unsupervised outdoors unless you have an absolutely escapeproof, locked, chain link run. You can call a fence company to come and design a dog pen to fit your needs, but keep in mind that dogs that are confined outdoors tend to develop barking problems.
A Homemade Pen
If you build your own pen, you must keep several things in mind during design and construction. Ideally, you should bury ¼-inch mesh wire about three to four inches under a gravel base; if your dog decides to dig, he can't dig out. Watch your dog carefully to make sure he doesn't eat the gravel. Consider several options for the bottom surface of the pen. A cement slab may be a good choice if there is adequate shade, but it is not the most comfortable surface to lie on in extreme weather conditions. One very effective solution is concrete patio block (or pavers) surrounded by crushed stone. The size of the stone can be whatever you feel would be best for your dog.
Depending on the size of your dog pen, you could put some kind of doghouse or shelter at one end, use patio block for half the length, and leave the rest just plain stone. This arrangement makes it easier to disinfect the pen, keeps the smell to a minimum, and is attractive to look at. A locked gate is essential to prevent anyone from stealing your dog. It is not a good idea to leave your dog unattended, but in circumstances where you need to be gone for an extended period, a pen will at least give your dog a chance to relieve himself in an appropriate place.
Your first job is to teach your dog that looking back at you is the best way to gain access to the things he wants. If he has this basic foundation, your chances for a successful recall will be greater.
Invisible Fences
An invisible fence is a buried wire around the perimeter of your property that provides an electrical barrier that discourages your dog from leaving your yard. To keep your dog within the confines of the yard, your dog wears a collar that gives him an electrical correction if he crosses the barrier. The biggest problem with these fences is that they do not prevent people or animals from coming onto your property, which is why you should never leave your dog unsupervised in an invisibly fenced area. There is some controversy regarding invisible fences, the type of correction they give the dog, and whether that correction is humane. The bottom line, regardless of opinions, is that you must do what you feel is best for your dog.
Invisible fencing lets you restrict your dog's access to certain areas, like swimming pools, driveways, or decorative gardens. For this kind of fencing to be used humanely, your dog must be taught to respect the barrier. Hire a qualified professional dog trainer to help you teach your dog where the boundaries are and how to avoid getting corrected.
Although this book promotes positive training methods, if you can't afford to fence your yard properly, an invisible fence is much better than doing nothing. Not using preventative measures increases the risk that the dog may get lost or killed. Keep in mind that some dogs are not bothered by the electrical correction and will run through it. A physical barrier in the form of chain link or solid wood is a better choice for dogs like these.
Front Door Safety
Making sure your dog doesn't slip out the front door is essential to keeping him safe. Try to prevent front-door escapes by thinking ahead and perhaps denying access to the door through which your dog is most likely to escape. Tighten your screen door so that it closes more quickly, or put a baby gate that locks in the doorway to prevent escapes. Teach your children to be mindful of where the dog is when they are coming and going. Put your dog in a crate or gated room when there are a lot of kids and adults coming and going. Family parties and holiday gatherings are notorious times for dogs to escape and get hit by cars. When you have less control of the home environment, pay special attention to your dog's environment; prevention is half the cure.
Prevention begins in puppyhood. Start taking your nine-to twelve-week-old puppy to every safe place you can find outdoors and let him off his leash. At this age, most puppies are not confident enough to take off on you and usually stay within range and check in often. Reward each check-in with clicks and treats.
Spend some time teaching your dog appropriate door manners, like sitting and staying without going through the door (even if it's wide open) until told to do so. This requires lots of on-leash setups with a helper to hold the leash in case your dog tries to make a break. You'll want to practice at first with the door shut and then gradually build up to your dog holding the Stay while you open and close the door. You can even increase the difficulty by actually going through the door and leaving the dog in a Stay. The key point to remember here is to reinforce the dog for holding the Stay, not coming through the door. Make sure you practice often and provide a high rate of reinforcement for the right behavior.
Teaching your dog reliable recall is probably a more complicated task than you ever imagined. It is not strictly a training issue but a relationship and management issue as well. Teaching a strong foundation for Come is essential to getting your dog to realize that you are worth paying attention to even in a new environment. Once you have accomplished this reliably, your job will then be to change the variables and get your dog to perform the basic task of looking back at you around all different kinds of distractions. In addition to investing the time it will take to teach your dog a reliable recall, take the steps necessary to create a safe and limited environment that he can enjoy.
