8 Ways to Stop Your Dog From Jumping the Fence

Does your dog keep jumping the fence?

There’s nothing more nerve-wracking than going to let your dog in from the yard and finding that he is no longer there!

Whenever you let the dog out into the backyard, you want to have the peace of mind knowing that he is going to be there when you check on him.

Some dogs are expert escape artists, and it can be incredibly frustrating trying to get them to stay inside of a fence.

Here are some reasons why your dog might jump the fence and escape, as well as some tips you can use to help keep them inside.

Why Is My Dog Jumping The Fence?

There could be a number of reasons your dog is jumping the fence.

The simplest answer is likely that your dog is bored.

A familiar yard can only hold a dog’s interest for so long unless you have a large property with lots of room to roam and interesting smells to sniff. If you leave your dog outside unsupervised for long periods of time, it is likely that he will want to go exploring elsewhere.

Another potential reason that your dog could be jumping the fence is that they are looking for a mate. Dogs that are not spayed or neutered will instinctively go in search of a mate, and this could be the reason that your dog is getting out of the yard.

If your dog is getting out to search for a mate, an obvious solution to this issue is to spay or neuter your dog so that they will calm down and hopefully stay put.

That said, fixing your dog isn’t necessarily a fix for this problem – escaping and roaming can be started by hormones but maintained as a behavior even once the hormones are reduced.

If boredom is the cause of your dog’s escape antics, you will have to put in a bit of work to ensure that your dog is getting all the mental stimulation and physical exercise they need.

Before letting your dog out into the yard, especially if she is unsupervised, make sure that you have exercised her. A tired dog will have less energy for escaping and will be more likely to sleep in the sun than try to jump the fence.

Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise for dogs and will help keep your dog from getting bored and seeking entertainment outside the fence.

Dog training sessions are a great way to keep your pup learning and steer her clear of boredom.

Teaching your dog a new trick before leaving her in the yard will keep her tired and content to stay within the fence much like physical exercise will. Puzzle toys, such as a [amalinkspro type=”text-link” asin=”B0002AR0II” associate-id=”canineweekly02-20″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true”]KONG[/amalinkspro] or other treat dispensing toys, can also keep your dog mentally challenged and entertained while in the backyard.

Solutions to Keep Your Dog From Jumping the Fence

Here are 8 additional solutions you can try at home to help prevent your dog from climbing or jumping the fence:

#1 – Restrict your dog’s view

If your dog can see what is going on on the other side of the fence, especially if you live on a bustling street, he will be more likely to want in on the action and try to get out.

A busy street on the other side of the fence is pretty irresistible to a curious pup!

Solid wooden fences are a good option, but there are a number of ways you can alter an existing fence to restrict your dog’s view of the other side.

Slats can be put into a chain-link fence to partially obscure the view.

Solid screens can be put up against most fences to block vision. If you have the patience for them to grow, vines can climb along a fence and obscure the line of sight.

#2 – Eliminate jumping aids

Look around your yard with your dog’s eyes. Is there anything that could help you get over that fence? Trashcans, woodpiles, compost piles, and even trees near the fence could be giving your dog the boost he needs to get over the fence.

By getting rid of these escape aids, you will likely eliminate or deter the possibility of him jumping or climbing over the fence again.

#3 – Coyote Rollers

This is a product that you could buy or make yourself that will make it difficult for your dog to get over the fence.

A coyote roller is a bar that sits along the top of a fence that rolls if a dog or coyote tries to clamber over it, causing them to lose their grip and fall back down.

You can make one yourself using some strong rope and a round PVC pipe or something similar. Pull the rope through the pipe and string it along the top of your fence.

#4 – L-Footers

An L-footer, or post extension, is another fence modification that is designed to keep dogs from digging under or jumping over a fence.

Post extenders for a chain link fence consist of a length of fencing material in the shape of an L that attaches to the top of the fence and then extends out from it, making it difficult for a dog to jump over.

This same device can be used along the bottom of the fence, with part of it attached to the fence, and the other section extending out along the ground to keep a dog from digging under the fence. The part on the ground can be buried or planted over.

#5 – Plant Trees

Think about planting trees or other obstacles, such as a low fence or some bushes, within a few feet of the fence. These obstacles will make it nearly impossible for your dog to get a running start to jump over the fence.

#6 – Leashes and Crates

Leashes or crates can be used to keep your dog within a fence, but only as a last resort. A dog that is unsupervised on a leash could end up tangled and injure itself. However, leashes can be a helpful training tool to keep control over particularly good escape artist hounds.

Crate training your dog is a good idea if he continues to escape. It is best to locate the crate inside the house, however, because an outdoor crated dog is subjected to cold and the magnified heat of an enclosed space.

#7 – Supervise your dog outside

Your dog will be more likely to remain inside the fence if you are in there with him. If you see your dog trying to escape, call him over to you and be sure to reward him for following your instructions.

# 8 – Make Your Dog Want To Be In The Yard

If your dog sees the backyard as a fun place and a sanctuary, he will have no reason to try to get out. Making the backyard an entertaining place can keep your dog from getting bored and trying to escape to look for entertainment elsewhere.

Here are a few ways to make your backyard your dog’s favorite hangout spot:

• Hang out with your dog in the yard. Your dog loves your company! Have playtime in the backyard to help teach him that it is a fun place to be, and also a place where he gets to spend time playing with you. You can play fetch, play tug, work on some training exercises, or simply sit around in the grass. Your pup will enjoy the company, and you can keep him entertained and keep an eye out for escape antics.
• Hide treats around the yard. This will likely keep your dog busy for a while if you must leave them outside unsupervised. Your dog will be challenged in sniffing out the treats, and they act as positive reinforcement to keep him inside the fence. If you do this for your dog frequently make sure you switch up your hiding spots to keep the game from becoming too easy for your dog; it will end up becoming boring and he might look outside the fence for better entertainment.
• Puzzle toys can keep your dog busy for hours. Kongs are a popular choice, but there are many different versions of treat-dispensing puzzle toys to keep your dog busy. Like the treat search, these toys reward your dog for staying inside the fence, and also keep them busy and entertained. This mental stimulation will help prevent the boredom that often drives dogs to look for means of escape. Try introducing a new toy every so often to keep things fresh!
• Plant some interesting scents. You can buy all sorts of fun scents for your dog on Amazon, like synthetic coyote urine or fox pee. Luckily, your human nose probably won’t pick up on these scents if you use them sparingly. Your dog will love sniffing these and he’ll be much more interested in exploring the yard with this “scent TV” turned on!

Final Thoughts

If you make your yard an area of fun, your dog will be unlikely to want to leave. Remember that both mental and physical exercise is very important to keep your dog content and tired. This means that they have minimal reasons or drive to jump the fence.

If everything they need is in the yard with them, your dog will no longer be looking to the other side of the fence for entertainment or distraction.