How to Train Your Dog to Stay on Your Property

Make sure your pup fully understands and follows the basics: 'sit', 'stay', 'come', and walking on a leash.

Take your pup on his normal short leash around the yard, going close to, but not up to, your boundaries. If he pulls on the leash, don’t yank back, instead turn and start to walk away, saying "come". When he responds, be sure to praise him and give him a treat.

Repeat this until he no longer pulls on the leash, then put him on a long leash, giving him enough slack to go over the boundary.

Have a member of your family run through the yard and over the boundary. Let him get close to the boundary without crossing it. If he does so willingly, shower him with praise and give him lots of treats. If he doesn't, keep practicing.

Add a few more people to the test but don't make it seem like a game. Each time he runs towards the boundary be sure to use the 'come' command if he gets too close to the boundary and reward him when he gets it right.

Continue working with him like this until he will play in the yard off-leash without making an attempt to escape and he should stay in your yard when no one is watching. Be sure to try this while you are watching from inside first to make sure he knows he can't get away with sneaking off.

Run out to your local hardware store and pick up a few of those cheap marker flags that can be used indoors or out.

Show your pup one of the flags. When he touches it with his nose, give him a treat and praise him.

Move the flag a couple of feet away so your pup has to walk over to touch it. When he does, be sure to reward him and give him a treat. This teaches your dog that he gets a reward for touching the flag.

Create a boundary around your yard using flags set at 8 to 10 feet apart. Using an extending leash, continue the same training method you were using inside.

Keep doing this, adding time off his leash in intervals. Keep an eye on distractions that might cause your dog to step outside his boundary. Be sure to praise him and give him treats for staying inside his boundaries. If he does step out, don't get mad at him, reward him and praise him for coming back. Keep it all positive and your pup will want to stay inside his boundaries.

Dogs understand what it means to claim territory, they use their own body language and natural energy to let others know they mean business and that this is their space. Start out by claiming your space; do things like stand in a doorway you don't want him to go through.

Once your dog understands who the "Alpha" is in his pack, he will be more amenable to training. Time to put him on a leash and head outside.

Take your pup for a walk around the boundary of your yard. Don't yell at him when goes to step across the boundary. Instead gently pull on his leash and say "No!" Remember to remain calm throughout the training process. If you are calm, your pup will be calm too.

Start out walking him around your boundaries gently distracting him in the above manner until you feel he understands what you expect of him.

Speed up the walk, making it more tempting for your pup to get excited and try to go over the boundary. If he does, remind him again and give him a treat when he complies.

Take the leash off your pup and work with him for few more days, keeping a close eye on him. By now you should be able to let your dog play in the yard without worrying that he will try and run off. He understands the concept of whose space he is in and where his boundaries are.