Boundary - something that indicates bounds or limits; a limiting or bounding line.
The term boundaries is a hot topic these days; but in terms of dog training it has been important for years and years. There are all sorts of boundaries: physical, mental, healthy, personal and material. What I want to discuss today are physical boundaries with regard to our dogs.
Setting physical boundaries are very important when educating your dog. There are physical boundaries to adhere to everywhere and most are safety measures. Some boundaries are set up as a personal preference like keeping your dog out of the kitchen, living room or other room. The really important ones are areas that your dog should never breach, not on there own.
The decision surrounding crossing a boundary should always be YOURS. It is often a dangerous boundary, like a front door, side gate or garage door. An area if crossed could end in result in your dog being hit by a car, running away or endangering others. If and when a boundary is to be crossed it should be very official. A sit, leash on and/or release word given. This is the only way across.
It is extremely important that everyone in the house be on board with boundary training. If one person allows your dog to cross the boundary on their own decision, it will weaken the boundary line. It is important to understand this. The boundary must be taken serious and there has to be a very “official” sense about it. You know “cross it and die,” idea? ;) If you don’t have a very seriousness about a boundary, your dog surely won’t.
Teaching boundaries is easy but they must be enforced and proofed. This means that there can never be a slackness about them. If there a lapse in the seriousness of a boundary, even for a moment then training must be upped to a more intense degree to reinstall the boundary. Boundaries are not taught with a verbal cue, they just are boundaries. If someone leaves the side gate open and you are not there to tell your dog not to go through it, will they go?
A boundary is set by physical repetition. It is done in baby steps for success; each step done successfully before moving onto the next more difficult step. Once the boundary is set then proofing must be initiated. Adding “real life” situations and adding the “I’m not looking” scenario to it.
To set a boundary you must let your dog know that they are not to follow you through it. This means that you must approach it and have a clear boundary line in mind. If you have a physical boundary line like a carpet area, lower floor or gate it is easier for your dog to understand. If you take one step over that line and they do not follow you; throw a treat back past them and praise. If they do follow, turn abruptly and move them back on the right side of the boundary. I use a error marker sound usually when they attempt to come over the boundary.
With consistency you can draw clear boundaries that must always be adhered to. But this is serious training and you must be serious about it.
Questions?