I think posts alternately talking about large dogs and smaller ones is causing confusion. Doreen, I've had a quick read back and I honestly don't think Theo used an abusive tone. He was suggesting that walking your Lab around the perimeter might encourage him to stay in the garden better as he would know the terrain and then he could be let off the chain when he's outside. I have the same problem with my big boy, Hugo, who has complete wanderlust and leaps 7 feet high (literally) fencing. Where the fence extends to 8 feet, he simply ram raids through underneath it. Sheesh. So he, too, is on a length of rope when he's outside. It's not ticed off at the other end but at least if he does get out he's much easier to follow if he doesn't get tangled up first!
I love this thread as perceptions of different dog breeds are of interest to me so could we keep it happy please? Oh, and the most terrifying foster dog we had here was called Gino, about 8 inches tall and really, really mean - he scared the crap out of big dogs, cats and people alike. He had to go back after six weeks because my lot became so stressed I couldn't bear it.