What a social guy

[vincenzo7]

I am trying to get Gabe to spend a little more time outside on his own. I have a front yard and a backyard. i started by leaving him outside for short periods of time in the front. the frontyard is raised and he can see a lot of things going on (people, cars, etc) and i know he likes it. he just likes to watch. i got it so he would just sit on the porch/front and relax for upto an hour or two. i am very close during this time. his droppings started to become an issue, so i wanted to move him to the backyard (not much activity going on compared to the front) where the mess wouldn't matter right off the bat (people stepping in it). he will not stay in the backyard there without barking. and he will not stop. and his barking is the loudest and most desperate i've ever heard. i tried leaving him out there, but he does not relent.

 

[Krikkit]

Sounds like the barking may be seperation / boredom related in the backyard. Ruben likes certain areas of the yard better as well. He far prefers the eastern side as he can see more (such a sticky beak), but could not really be botherd with the western side as nothing much happens there.

Would a compromise be taking him out the back to go to the toilet (stay with him and treat and praise when he does go), and letting him have the front yard for R&R? Another option might be to be super vigilant about picking up after him straight away when he is out the front.

Another option my be to leave the back door open (or put in a doggy door) so in can come and go to the backyard as he pleases.

Good luck

Sharon

 

[vincenzo7]

those are some good ideas. our backyard isnt fenced in enough for him to come and go as he pleases. when i let him loose, he ends up all over the neighborhood and running all over the street. that's no good. i was just wondering if anyone had this issue. i agree it's some for of separation, but it's wierd, when he is in the crate or something like that, he doesn't bark like this.

we were planning on fencing in a good area of the backyard just for him, but i can't go forward with that unless i know he isn't going to bark like that.

 

[LeahR]

Mason went through is puppy years with me in an apartment style condo so unless we were at a park or a friends fenced in yard, he was on a leash with me on a walk. So when I bought a house and fenced in the yard for Mason and he refusedto play outside by himself... boy was I mad LOL. I figured that he just didn't know what to do in a yard by himself, I bought tons of toys and balls for him to h ave outside, still just sat by the sliding door wanting in. Finally, my husband got him a puppy and now he loves to play outside. I guess he just needed a reason to learn that his backyard was a great place to be.

 

[vincenzo7]

for now, i put him back in the front yard. he is such a different dog in the front yard.