Hello, First post newbie here.

I'm begining to use boundry training on my 11mo GSP. He has responded well to other obedience training thus far and we're close to training off leash. There is still an issue of his not coming when called when he is not in collar ( in fenced back yard).

I decided that it would be a good idea that he not leave the back yard, so I started boundry training on him. He has, thus far, responded very well, the only problem is releasing him so we may leave the area on leash for a walk.

I made up a command to release him, but he isn't responding to it. He will not go out the gate.

Am I missing something? Or should I just continue with praises even if I have to drag his ass out after the release command? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I take it you are using some compulsion to boundry train?

How exactly have you been doing it?


BTW, what exactly is the reason for "boundry training"?

Sounds like the he's striving for an invisible fence type situation. Depending on how your doing it you're going to have to ultimately set the dog up for discrimination trials. You've obviously made it punishing enough for the dog not to want to challenge the boundries. You will probably have to walk/ drag him through it so he can get some discrimination trials without the collar (if it is an invisible fence collar).

Actually, it's a privacy fence. I was having problems with him not coming when called,while off leash. To avoid him taking off out of an open gate (I have 3 gates) that I may have left open or is opened buy a neighborhood kid (I have 9 nearby), I wanted to train him not to exit through a gate unless I told him to.

I started by walking him to a gate, showing him the opening (on the ground) and saying "no,no,no!"
I would then back up, walk him thru the gate and give correction if he crossed.

He caught on quick and I would go thru w/o him and call or try to coax him thru to no avail. He refused to cross thru the gate at heel and if I wanted him to cross, I would have to drag him.

Theoretically, I would them be able to give him a release command and he should come to me or ignore the "restricted opening" and use the gate, say if we were going for a walk.
Unfortunatly, I'm not sure how to teach him that there is a release command and that it is ok to exit if I tell him it's ok.

Does that make sense?

Oh, some background could help. Coco is a 11mo. male German Shorthair Pointer. I've been taking him to obedience classes for the last 15wks or so.
He is really good on leash with a prong collar and will soon be ready for off-leash training.

The wife and I don't have any intentions to show or do trials or anything, we just want a well trained dog that doesn't run for hours if he gets loose (like the neighbors dog).

I did plan on hunting with the dog, but wanted to get the obedience out of the way first before getting into other training.

Unfortunatly, I'm not sure how to teach him that there is a release command and that it is ok to exit if I tell him it's ok.

Do you have a generalized release command for other behaviors, such as releasing him from the down? If not, teach that first, using other behaviors - not the one at the gate. Release him from the sit, the down, etc. Then teach the behavior you want at the gate, but do it using your front door. The reason for that is cuz your dog has a very strong association with the gates - which actually is kinda a good thing that you don't want to tear down too much. Dog on leash in the house, front door open, walk towards the door, he starts to cross threshold, no and correction (don't kill hime). But this time, after he stops, perhaps even shrinks back from the door cuz of his previous training at the gate, you cross the threshold while praising him for waiting, perhaps also giving him a food reward for waiting, then release him with your release word so that he comes out the door to get his reward (have something good for him - whatever he really likes). So right on the first iteration, you are teaching him both the wait AND the release. Once you have practiced this enough that he appears confident about stopping at the door but also confident about the meaning of the release, then take it outside and repeat it at the gate. It should generalize, tho expect some unsureness/wariness on his part cuz he's obviously got strong emotions/fear about coming thru the gate.

Thanks Lee.

I guess I was lacking in the "release" area. When we're training I usually give multiple commands ie. from sit to down to sit to stand, stay to come and almost always continue with heel.

I will start to impliment a release command when I give him 5 min lessons thru-out the day and before our formal training in the evening.