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Dear Adam:

Hello! I only bought your book a few days ago but have read it cover to cover and reread certain things all the time. (To read about the book she's talking about, please take a look at http://www.dogproblems.com/newvideos.htm)

I printed out the whole book so it was always handy. I have an 8 month old Collie. I want him to stay in our yard without having to fence and I believe he will never learn to stay in the yard. Please give me some tips as to how to do this.

I do believe this is and will always be my biggest problem. I love my Collie and want him to be able to run in the yard without being tied, as I really hate seeing a dog tied up.

Thank You,
Bobbe

P.S. I have quite a large backyard.

Dear Bobbe:

I'm nuclear of your intentions. I hope you're not expecting the dog to stay in an unfenced yard, when you're not home?

Here's the deal: You really need to keep the dog in a confined enclosure when you're not home. A big yard is nice, but it's still your responsibility to exercise the dog, yard or not. I recommend a kennel run, for when you're not home. This is as much to keep him safe as it is to keep others from taking him or from causing trouble.

Now, maybe I'm misunderstanding your question, and what you're asking is: How do I keep the dog in the yard area, when I'm in the back yard with him, doing gardening?

And my response is that you can do one of two things:
1. Use the boundary and perimeter training techniques in the book, and use either a natural boundary (like rocks, or teaching the dog not to go beyond a tree or bush section of the yard), or you can use the little flags that real estate surveyors use, to denote an area. Your dog has to have some idea where the hot zone is. The clearer it is for the dog, the quicker your dog will learn. Keep a long line on him until he shows you he understands. Correct him if he goes into the hot zone and only let him pass through if you've first given your release command (ie, take a break).

2. Use the technique in my book to teach your dog a reliable recall/come command. If the dog starts to wander too far off, then just call him back to you. Within a couple of days, he'll start to learn the general area that he should hang out in.

That's all for now, folks!
Adam