Fido is no longer the energetic puppy that spent his days tearing around the house chasing kids and playing with other pets. Now he’s getting on a bit. There’s grey under his chin and you sometimes have to call his name that bit louder to catch his attention. But it’s fine and normal, everyone gets old, even humans! However, now that his hearing and eyesight aren’t so good, you’d like to keep him close by where you can keep him safe.
Training your older dog to stay inside could even save his life. He could escape the yard, head for a road and end up in a traffic collision. A collision, which in the worst case may take his life, but if not may still land you with substantial vet bills. Training him to stay inside could also mean you don’t have to leave the kids unsupervised while you track him down.
Fortunately, trading Fido to stay inside is pretty straightforward. The focus of training will be to get him into a consistent routine of staying indoors. Part of that will also entail enticing him in with food and toys. You will also need to take steps to prevent him going outside in the first place.
If Fido is still fairly receptive, he could get in a habit of staying inside in just a matter of weeks. However, if he’s less interested in following instructions and no longer playing with a full deck of cards, then you may need a couple of months to train him to stay indoors. If this training is successful you won’t have to worry when you lose sight of him. It also means if you’ve just had work done in your yard that he won’t go out and trample all over it.
Before you get to work you will need to gather a few bits. For one of the methods, baby gates and a long leash will be needed. You will also need some mouth-watering treats. Alternatively, you can break his favorite food into small pieces. Toys and food puzzles will also be required.
Then just set aside a few minutes each day for training. Try and find a time where you can practice in the house without distractions.
Once you have collected all that, just bring patience and a positive attitude, then work can begin!