Tips to Stop Your Dog Jumping the Fence

It is one of the most frustrating events that can happen when training a new dog – at some point in every day it jumps over the fence and gets away. While you have to be amazed at the levels of skill in escapology that some of these dogs display, it is nonetheless infuriating and can result in many lost hours trying to bring the poor thing back. It can also be dangerous for the dog itself and others, depending on the breed and disposition of the dog. So how can you stop this from happening in the first place, or make sure that it does not happen again? Here are some tips on keeping your dog from jumping over your fence and making away.

It is not necessarily an easy undertaking and certainly cannot be done overnight. To keep the dog away from the edge of the yard, you will need to build up a series of positive associations with staying within the fence. Effectively, the trick is to reward good behaviour and punish bad. This training is the most important and effective part of stopping your dog jumping the fence. As with all worthwhile work, it takes time and effort. Teach your dog to come to you, particularly by using food, and associate this with the word ‘come’. Soon, they will come without the food – use this to keep them away from the fence. There are many other methods readily available that can keep your dog away from the fence. Correction collars are very popular and give out an unpleasant smell whenever the dog goes outside an acceptable zone. Shock collars are also available, but can be painful and cruel for your dog, and are just likely to make a scared and miserable dog. A hose can also be used as a punishment for straying too far in a pinch.

Of course, behavioural training is the best way to keep your dog from jumping the fence, but there are other things you can do as well to stop them getting over the fence. The first thing to do is to get rid of anything that the dog might be able to use as a boost to get over the fence. These could be boxes or garden furniture left nearby the fence, or indeed almost anything. A tall fence with a strong gate is naturally a good way to stop the dog getting out. Some dogs are ingenious at escaping, and will use their paws to dig their way out of any situation. If this becomes a problem, use some chicken wire at the bottom of the fence to make it unpleasant for them to do this.

Of course, at the end of the day, you don’t want to rely on collars or fences – you want a dog that would stay at home without them. When it comes to this, it is all about finding the right mix of attention and discipline in training your dog.