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Do you have a dog that just loves to race out of your yard at the first opportunity? It's common that many dogs will want to explore all areas of your neighborhood with or without you. Here are some tips that can help you spend time with your dog instead of chasing him or her down the street.

1.If you have a puppy they are much easier to catch, so during the time that they are puppies, spend as much time as you can in your front yard so that you can train them to stay in your yard and they can explore while they are young. This way you can train them to recognize their name, recognize their boundaries, and possibly get experience with other passing dogs as they are walked by their owners. Also by exploring the front yard while they are young, when they get older, the front yard is old news.

2.Teach your dog to come to you when called. This is helpful because you can stop your dog when he or she is heading in a direction you don't want them to. This helps you to keep them out of trouble. Teaching your dog any commands will be helpful as well, as it will allow you to put a temporary pause, on their paws.

3.Exercise your dog. Dogs will usually run because they have so much energy to expend. If you walk or run your dog, it gives you the chance to bond with and teach commands to your pet while in a changing environment. Also it gives your dog a chance to explore and become familiar with the surrounding neighborhood thus making it 'old news' and give them less incentive to see what's going on two houses down.

4.Spay or neuter your dog. An unaltered dog should never be allowed out. Also when a dog has been fixed, they are less inclined to want to be the center of attention and less likely to want to leave the yard.

5.Play with your dog. Most of the time, a dog will leave the yard because they think there are more interesting things somewhere else. Make your yard a fun place for your dog with toys and treats and spend time with them there so they know this is the best place of all.

6.Contain your dog. It's important to put up a fence and keep your dog contained for their safety and the safety of others. This way your dog also feels like he or she has a place of their own. If you have a dog that you think may dig, put rocks at the base of the fence or bury chicken wire about a foot or two down.

7.Work with your dog. It is your job to show your dog what its boundaries are. Spend time with them. Watch them and when they head for the fence or the street call them back and reward them with treats and praise for responding. After a while they will get tired of always being called back and learn to stay in their own area.
Be consistent and your dog will soon learn the right thing to do. The rest of your time will be full of fun filled memories. A little work and T.L.C. will go a long way.