Gracie, the two year old lab/boxer mix who recently joined the household is smart and sweet and obedient in all things except one. She had spent her life, until she came here, crated during the day and at night, and had apparently never been out except on a leash.
She adjusted remarkably quickly to our household, including to being uncrated. She comes when called, she drops things on request, and basically understands everything that is asked of her and complies. She is, of course, full of energy and very playful. She has no phobias or hangups, is even tempered but not timid. In short, as perfectly balanced a dog as I have ever met.
The only one of the other three dogs who is completely trustworthy off leash is Jack, the little JRT. He accompanies me on all my chores, gardening, etc. Tascha and Toby have to be on leash if they're not in the dog yard. Here we come to the issue with Gracie.
Gracie, when properly motivated (i.e., she sees me out and about), will bend down the fence and climb over it. This has happened several times. She then runs around like mad and does her best to elude capture. The behavior is not unexpected, considering her previously extremely constricted lifestyle and her youth and high energy level.
I need to train her to come when outside the dog yard. (She comes like a gem when in the yard.) Any tips, other than using a long line?
(BTW, I'm working on reinforcing the fence entirely. She only climbs it when I'm outside of it. I've been dealing with that temporarily by keeping her in the house when I'm working outside, but for her own safety, I need to be able to catch her more readily if she does manage to get outside the fence.)
She adjusted remarkably quickly to our household, including to being uncrated. She comes when called, she drops things on request, and basically understands everything that is asked of her and complies. She is, of course, full of energy and very playful. She has no phobias or hangups, is even tempered but not timid. In short, as perfectly balanced a dog as I have ever met.
The only one of the other three dogs who is completely trustworthy off leash is Jack, the little JRT. He accompanies me on all my chores, gardening, etc. Tascha and Toby have to be on leash if they're not in the dog yard. Here we come to the issue with Gracie.
Gracie, when properly motivated (i.e., she sees me out and about), will bend down the fence and climb over it. This has happened several times. She then runs around like mad and does her best to elude capture. The behavior is not unexpected, considering her previously extremely constricted lifestyle and her youth and high energy level.
I need to train her to come when outside the dog yard. (She comes like a gem when in the yard.) Any tips, other than using a long line?
(BTW, I'm working on reinforcing the fence entirely. She only climbs it when I'm outside of it. I've been dealing with that temporarily by keeping her in the house when I'm working outside, but for her own safety, I need to be able to catch her more readily if she does manage to get outside the fence.)