For a little dog, he’s got plenty of energy. He seems to be tear around the house all day and evening, without ever needing to catch his breath. He gets a decent walk and plenty of exercise each day but he’s still always fully charged. You could put him the yard, but you’ve spent a considerable time getting the garden in top shape, so you don’t want him trampling on your new plants or freshly laid lawn. The problem is, the kids often leave the door open and he gets out there anyway. Also, because he’s small, he seems to be able to sneak under or jump over any obstacles you put in his way.
Training him to stay out the garden will protect it from canine ruin. If you live near a main road, then keeping him out of the garden may also mean he doesn’t escape onto the road and cause an accident.
Training any dog to stay out of a garden full of fresh air and interesting smells can prove tricky. However, with small dogs, the challenge is heightened. This is because their size allows them to fit through gaps normal dogs simply couldn’t. He may even be able to sneak through the cat flap to get outside! So, you will need to use a number of deterrence measures to keep him firmly out of the garden. Obedience training will be required to increase your control. Then you need to find an effective motivator to keep him away from the garden.
If he’s a puppy, he should be receptive and eager to please. You could see results in just a couple of weeks. If he’s always had free rein in the garden, you may need up to six weeks to fully break the habit. Succeed and you may never need to worry about him escaping from the yard and getting into trouble with other pets or traffic.
Before work can start, you will need to gather a few items. A deterrence collar, baby gates and a water spray bottle will be required for one of the methods.
A generous supply of treats will be needed. Alternatively, break his favorite food into small pieces. Some inside toys and food puzzles will also be used for one of the methods. Set aside 10 minutes each day for training, but remain vigilant as much as possible.
The only other things you need are patience and a pro-active attitude, then work can begin!