Dogs Who Jump the Fence
1. The following is an excerpt from an article by King County Animal Services in Seattle, Washington:
“If your detective work has told you the "where" of your dog's jumping, then the best solution is to do one of the following things. Increase the height of the fence in that area. Erect an inner, shorter fence two feet from the outside fence. This will interrupt a running start. Plant a three foot shrubbery moat in front of the fence. Nail one-foot-long strips of wood to the fence posts at a forty-five degree angle into the yard and tie a rope all along the tips of these angled strips. Dogs will usually balance on top of a fence and push off from there. The rope barrier will stop that. Finally, you can fit your dog to a harness that loops around his rear legs and inhibits jumping.
If you know the "when," then you can prepare to interrupt his preparation for jumping by blasting a horn or blowing a whistle followed by a firm "NO JUMP!" Remember to praise him when he stops. If he is in mid-jump, try spraying him with water from a hose. Hide outside the fence and try not to let him see you with the hose. The goal is to let him think that the environment, not his loving caregiver, gave him the squirt. The hosing-down will put him on alert for what might happen every time he attempts a jump.”
The full article is available here:
http://www.metrokc.gov/animals/dogtips/dog23.aspx
2. Here is a suggestion from the Humane Society of the United States:
“For climbing/jumping dogs: Add an extension to your fence. It's not so important that the extension make the fence much higher, as long as it tilts inward at about a 45-degree angle. Be certain there are no structures placed near the fence, such as a table or chair or dog house, that your dog could use as a springboard to jump over the fence.”
Read more tips from The HSUS at:
http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PFL_PDF/Canine_Escape_Artist.pdf
3. An article on how to install fence extensions for jumping dogs is available at UnchainYourDog.org:
http://www.unchainyourdog.org/FenceExtend.htm
Dogs Who Dig Under the Fence
1. The following is an excerpt from an article by King County Animal Services in Seattle, Washington:
“Praise your dog when he is not digging! Punishment for digging will create more stress and result in an increased rate of digging as a means of alleviating tension. Corrections, such as tying your dog to a stake in the hole, or filling the hole with water and pushing his head in it, are abusive. These often-mentioned tactics serve to break the bond between you and your dog.
A dog left alone all day in the yard will be bored. Give him plenty of exercise before leaving and, if possible, ask a neighbor to take him for a walk during the day. Better yet, give him access to the house through a pet door.
To redirect a dog's digging to a more appropriate place, you must be prepared to spend some time on training. First, create a "sandbox" or an area where it is okay for your dog to dig. Next, soften the soil and bury a food treat in your dog's presence. Say, "Dig!" and praise him for finding the food treat. Do this several times until he gets the idea. Then, take him in the house. Go outside and bury a food treat. Release him from the house with the command, "Dig!" followed by praise for finding the treat. Repeat this until the behavior is learned. After this, if he digs someplace other than his "sandbox," go out into the yard and firmly say, "NO DIG" and immediately take him over to the "sandbox" and say, "Dig," followed by praise if he does so. You may have to continue this training schedule for several days and reinforce his digging in the "sandbox" by burying a food treat a few times each day. Do not give up! Your dog is intelligent and will figure this out.”
The full article is available here:
http://www.metrokc.gov/animals/dogtips/dog17.aspx
2. The following are suggestions from the Humane Society of the United States:
"We recommend the following to keep your dog in the yard while you work on the behavior modifications recommended on our tip sheet, The Canine Escape Artist.
Bury chicken wire at the base of the fence. Be sure to roll the sharp edges away from your yard.
Place large rocks, partially buried, along the bottom of the fence line.
Bury the bottom of the fence one to two feet below the surface.
Lay chain link fencing on the ground (anchored to the bottom of the fence) to make it uncomfortable for your dog to walk near the fence.
Regardless of the reason for digging, we don't recommend:
Punishment after the fact. This will not address the cause of the behavior, and in fact it will worsen any digging that's motivated by fear or anxiety. Punishment may also cause anxiety in dogs who aren't currently fearful.
Staking a dog out near a hole he's dug or filling the hole with water. These techniques address neither the cause of the behavior nor the act of digging.
Finally, if you've tried all these suggestions and you still can't solve your dog's digging problem, then keep him indoors with you, and be sure to supervise your dog during bathroom breaks."
The full article is available here:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/digging.html
Dogs Who Chew Through the
Fence
1.
A steel mesh fabric or welded wire can be added to the inside of an existing
fence to discourage chewing. Click on the following links for examples:
http://www.bestfriendfence.com/prod_acc_chewguard.asp
http://www.unchainyourdog.org/FenceMesh.htm
2. Heavy-duty chain link can be used to deter chewing. Click on the following link for an example:
http://www.inetdesign.com/wolfdunn/containment/materials.html