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Training : Escape Artists First things first, neuter your male dog, and spay your female. Roaming is often caused by the canine's instinctual urge to find partners and to have an unaltered dog is only asking for this behavior to occur. The results are often over-population and/or the possible catastrophic event of your dog being hit by a car, stolen or euthanized at a distant animal shelter. Build an enclosed area that is escape-proof. If your dog can climb or jump, put a roof on your dog run. I get so many emails from folks who let their dogs out into their yards and, just because they have lots of land, assume their dogs will know to stay on the property. This is simply not a reasonable expectation. Never let your dog outside unless it is confined or supervised. Electronic (invisible) fences are a good example of your dog's ability to become conditioned. I know the thought of your dog, or any dog for that matter, being shocked sounds horrible. (I don't advocate the use of shock collars for training or excessive barking.) But the reality of a dog being hit by a car is worse, so we must do what we can to prevent our dogs from leaving our property. With proper training, (taking the time to teach) a dog's understanding of the invisible fence boundaries is usually accomplished in one day - most often in one session - and with a high rate of success. The owner or trainer must always introduce the dog to the boundary lines and the dog will most likely be shocked once and sometimes, though rarely, twice. The dog learns where the fence line is by the warning sound of the buzzer, and knows to move away or it will receive a shock. (Bell rings, dog salivates - buzzer sounds, dog backs off.) And again, be responsible and have your dog neutered or spayed. This may be the reason it feels compelled to roam in the first place. Another answer is one we highly recommend. The VirtualFence by Animal Behavior Systems works much like invisible fencing but without the electric shock. Instead, a burst of citronella is sprayed towards the dogs muzzle when the boundary is crossed. As with the Anti-Barking System this product is available on our website along with another product that works to keep your dog from entering certain rooms. The SprayBarrier Transmitter dish uses the same concept but for use inside your home. Again, citronella is used as the correction so it is harmless, humane and very effective. Dogs that like to take off as soon as the front door is opened can be humanely and effectively re-conditioned through the use of these products. They can be a little pricey but I believe the cost is justified if we can keep our dogs from running away or getting hit by a car. « back to top 
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