You ensured that the fence was high enough to keep your dog to the fenced area, but no, she managed to escape this time too!
A dog might jump, dig under the fence or just break it. She was feeling lonely, anxious and bored, so she tried to escape and succeeded. The escape is more likely to happen if your dog has made her way out before, so the best way to prevent it, is to stop it before it happens.
If your dog has already escaped, figure out how your dog got out last time, and read on for creative tips to keep your dog safe.
For Jumpers and Climbers
It might be better to extend the fence than making the fence higher. A lean-in fence will do the job. When a dog tries to jump the fence she will try to grab and hold the top of the fence to climb over it. But if you extend it inward from the top, she will not be able to jump over it and escape. You can attach farm wire or chicken wire fence to the existing one if you don’t want to replace the whole structure.
Put yourself in your dog’s shoes. What would you use as a climbing aid to jump over the fence? Look for any climbing aids and remove them from the yard. Even a bench, boulder, or a chair can help her get out of the confinement.
Depending on where you live, Coyotes may be an issue. it may be worth considering Coyote rollers which are metal bars that attach to the top of the fence. When a coyote tries to grab a foothold on it to climb over, the roller rolls and she won’t be able to get in. The same can be used for your pup to keep her to the fenced area.
Lastly, grow some shrubs inside the fence near its periphery. This will make jumping and climbing tough for your dog, but it will also make the yard look beautiful. All in all, adding some landscape is a good idea.
For Diggers
Extend the fence from the bottom in L-shape. This will keep your dog from digging out the soil to get out of the confinement. Many people hide it under the layers for aesthetic purposes. But it’s fine if it is visible or simply let it lay on the grass and cover it with small rocks, gravel, mulch, or even planters.
A motivated and determined digger would not stop even if you incorporate the L-shape fence. You can ensure she will not dig out her way by making a concrete footing. Pour some concrete near the periphery of the fence and sink the bottom of the fence into it.
For Border Patrollers
If your dog roams around the periphery and would want to escape at the sight of things outside the fence, you can insert opaque plastic slats if you have a chain-link fence to block the view. You can also use bamboo rolls or reed fencing as an inexpensive alternative and unlike chain-link fence, these can be used with any type of fencing. One more way to block the view is to use zip ties with plants, climbing shrubs, and vines along the fence.
General Tips:
These were some particular tips based on what kind of escape artist your dog is. Here are some more tips for all the dogs.
Ideally, you should not leave your dog alone for more than five hours, whether it be in the yard or a dog crate. It’s important to break up the day for dogs for both mental stimulation and elimination. A bored dog is more likely to break out.
Spay and neuter your dogs. Intact males are known to roam and chase down females in heat. A male dog chasing a female in heat is instinctually motivated and it can be very difficult to control. Neutered dogs are less likely to indulge in sexual roaming, and the same goes for females. In the time of heat, female dogs will have a strong urge to get pregnant.
Rotate your dog’s toys, so that she won’t get bored. One of the reasons dogs escape confinement is boredom and lack of entertainment in the yard. That said, toys get old and dogs get bored playing with them all the time. Don’t give your dog free reign and access to all the toys you have. Instead, give them one or two at a time and keep rotating the toys turn by turn so each time she will get a chance to play with new toys.
Some dogs are super active and when they stay alone for a longer time, they might have an urge to spend their pent-up energy on escaping the yard and do something else. Make sure to walk or run with your dog enough to make sure they are properly exercised. There are many walking tools, but if you like harnesses, check out these no pull harnesses if your energic doggie has a habit of pulling!
Final Thoughts
Training always falls above all the other ways to keep your dog confined. A disciplined dog will control their urge to break the fence or even not have the urge in the first place. Between exercise, training, mental stimulation and the proper equipment you can keep your dog happy and safe in your absence.
It is still worth taking precautionary methods to keep your dog identified. For example, make sure they are wearing an identifiable collar tag which includes your name and multiple phone numbers to make it easier to be contacted. It’s also worth getting your dog microchipped as collars can get lost, or taken off. You can learn more about microchipping your pet here.
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