Some dogs are great escape artists and know exactly what to do to make that jump or escape over your fence. Experts tell us this is called “self-rewarding behavior,” and is much the same as a pooch stealing a piece of food from the table: action = reward! So what can you do to stop your dog from jumping the fence?
Read on to find some helpful tips and information on ways to keep your dog from escaping.
Tip # 1 – The Canine Companion
These tips are things you can do for your canine companion that will help with fence-jumping and escaping.
- Spay and Neuter. Unaltered dogs are more likely to want to leave the yard, as the drive to procreate is strong. Spay or neuter your dog to keep the urge for wandering at bay.
- Burn Off Excess Energy. Bored dogs are more likely to seek mental and physical stimulation outside of their home range. Taking your dog for long walks or runs, playing fetch or going hiking are all great ways to burn off your dog’s excess energy
- Obedience Training. Work on your dog’s obedience skills, with commands like come, stay and drop. Also, be sure he understands the word “no.”
Tip # 2 – Control Your Dog’s Yard Environment
There are ways to make your dog more relaxed and eager to stay in her own yard. These include:
- Make It Enticing to Stay. Provide your canine with everything she needs on her own side of the fence: water, food, toys, and a comfy spot to sleep.
- Block Out Stimulus. If you know what is enticing your dog to escape, block it out. This may include building a higher fence or putting up a “blind” so your dog cannot see it.
- Move the Stimulus. If your dog is being bugged by the mail-carrier, move your mailbox to another area where your dog doesn’t see it.
- Build a Separate Pen. Set up a separate run or pen for your dog to be outside in. These can be made as a DIY project or supplied in a kit. Just be sure not to leave your dog in it for too long.
Tip # 3 – Do Some Repairs/Renovations
Some yards are just easier to escape from than others. These tips will help you find, repair, or renovate those easy-access points.
- Wireless Dog Fence. This is a good way to keep your dog within its boundaries without having an actual barrier. Wireless dog fence units come equipped with a censored dog collar that will emit a tone or a static reminder when it approaches the boundaries of the yard.
- Block Those Holes. If there are any spaces or holes in your fence, mend them. This also includes the peek-holes your dog may be using to view the stimulus.
- Stop the Climber. Some dogs can get a foothold in areas of the fence. Stop this from happening by using chicken or aviary wire on the inside of the fence or on the ground at the bottom of the fence (dogs tend to hate the feel of this product). Another tip is to also use a clear plastic sheeting. This looks better and is too slippery to climb.
- Use Another Inside Barrier. Plant hedges or use a smaller fence inside and out a couple of feet from your existing fence. This breaks the momentum most dogs need to make a big jump.
Keep ‘Em Safe and Sound
Follow these helpful tips to help stop your dog from jumping the fence. This will keep your dog safe and sound in your own yard and he will be healthier and happy for your efforts. You will also have peace of mind every time you let your dog out the door.
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Author Bio: Sandie Lee is a regular contributor to the ThePetGod.com. She enjoys writing informational articles to help pet parents everywhere. She hails from a small town in Ontario Canada, with her three rescue cats, two goldfish and a hubby of 20 years.
Her own animal experience is vast, having raised and rescued Alpine Goats, Chickens, Turkeys, Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, Turtles, Raccoons, Cats, Dogs, and even an Opossum and Bearded Dragon.
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I can’t believe these simple trick can do such a great job. No more worries about the dog damaging stuff around the house.
Thanks for stopping by, Joseph. I just visited your site too. Wow. Lots and lots of good reviews. All the best!
We have a real problem on our hands with a rescued boxer. He can leap right over our 4 foot chain link fence. I am looking at all the stuff out there and its hard to know what works and is worth it. My husband found this curved fence extension thing from a company called Dog Proofer. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Hi Aimee. I had a look at the Dog Proofer site and no, I do not have any thoughts about it without seeing it firsthand. It seemed like the curved extension would do the job nicely, though. I don’t know how long it would hold up if a dog was to continuously try to climb it. It might distort and eventually wear down. Good luck! I hope you find a solution.
These tips are all very useful and informative though the Wireless dog fence units may seem expensive and not available to those with limited money. Otherwise all the tips are very good points. Leashing you dog inside your yard is another method, though this move has mixed results good or bad.