How to Train Your Small Dog to Stay Out of the Street

Small dogs cannot always be seen by drivers, whether on slow neighborhood streets or busier state roads out in the country. It doesn't take very long for a small dog to run out into the street and get hurt or worse by a vehicle. Teaching your small dog to stay away from cars and stay out of the street could save his life. 

This is boundary training as much as safety training. Even if you live in a safe neighborhood where your children are allowed to ride bikes and scooters or play football games in the middle of the street, you will want to teach your small dog to stay away from cars and out of the street because he won't always recognize when a car is coming and which direction to go, as people do. Accidents often happen on small neighborhood streets because a dog gets scared by a vehicle and runs in the wrong direction. Training your small dog to stay out of the street completely will keep him safer.

You have a few options while training your small dog to stay out of the street. You can train your dog basic boundary training, so he does not leave his boundaries rather than only understanding what the street is in to stay away from it. You can also teach him what a vehicle is and how to stay away from any vehicles, moving or not. Your small dog does not belong in the street, even for playtime, because he won't always know the difference between when a street is safe and when it is not. Training your dog to pause before he crosses the street or to wait for your command will be key in keeping him safe around streets. You can train an older dog as well as a younger dog how to stay out of the street and to recognize the dangers of vehicles. Remember, your small dog may be so small drivers may never see him coming.

Bring lots of high-value treats to your training sessions when training your small dog to stay out of the street. Be sure for the first several training sessions your small dog is on a leash. Really small dogs such as Chihuahuas might also need to be harnessed. If you need to yank your little guy back to safety, a harness is always better than a leash and collar. Yanking on a small dog's leash and collar could hurt your pup. If you are clicker training your small dog for other commands, bring a clicker for all of your training sessions as well.