How do I stop my dog jumping the fence?

Why dogs jump fences

Dogs jump fences for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons are:

• Boredom – Dogs that are left alone for long periods of time without enough mental and physical stimulation are more likely to develop behavioral issues like fence jumping.
• Exploration – Dogs are naturally curious animals that like to explore. Some dogs jump fences to go on adventures and explore the neighborhood.
• Prey drive – Dogs with high prey drives may jump fences to chase animals like squirrels and cats on the other side.
• Separation anxiety – Dogs with separation anxiety may jump fences to try and find their owners.
• Fear – Dogs may jump fences to escape things that frighten them like loud noises.

Understanding why your dog is jumping the fence is key to stopping the behavior. If your dog is jumping out of boredom, he needs more exercise and mental stimulation. If he’s jumping to chase small animals, you’ll need to work on training a strong “leave it” command.

Risks of dogs jumping fences

Allowing your dog to jump the fence comes with many risks including:

• Injury – Dogs can injure themselves jumping over fences if they catch a paw or land awkwardly. This is especially dangerous for puppies and older dogs.
• Getting lost – Once your dog gets out, he may wander off and get lost. Without ID tags, it can be very difficult to reunite lost dogs with their owners.
• Getting stolen – Dogs left to roam may be picked up by people with ill intentions or dognappers looking to resell pets.
• Nuisance complaints – Neighbors may get annoyed by a dog that roams into their yard to poop, dig, or chase cats.
• Fights with other animals – Loose dogs sometimes get into fights with other dogs, cats, or wildlife which can lead to serious injuries.
• Getting hit by a car – This is one of the most tragic outcomes of a dog escaping the yard. It only takes one time darting into the road to end in disaster.

For the safety of your pet and those around you, it’s crucial to stop fence jumping behavior right away. The risks to your dog’s wellbeing only increase the longer he is allowed to practice jumping out.

How to stop a dog jumping the fence

Here are some effective methods to keep your dog from jumping over the fence:

Identify triggers

Pay close attention to figure out what prompts your dog to jump. Does he always do it when a neighbor dog walks by or a squirrel goes into the yard? Keeping a log of times and situations when your dog jumps can help pinpoint causes.

Secure existing fencing

Check for any gaps or weaknesses in your existing fence that allow your dog to get through or get a foothold. Repair holes under or in the fence. Trim vegetation that may be used as climb assists.

Install preventative fencing measures

Add backup measures to make jumping impossible or undesirable:

• Add height extensions – Extend fence height at least 24 inches above original height.
• Install coyote rollers- Rolling tubes along the top of the fence spin when a dog tries to gain purchase.
• Try anti-jump spikes – Spikes that poke up from fence top can deter dogs without injuring them.
• Add hot wire – Run a hot wire along inside fence line to deliver a safe but unpleasant shock.
• Angle fence in or out – angled fencing removes the launching point to jump.

Supervise and interrupt

When first training, don’t allow the dog loose access to the fence line unattended. Keep them on a long lead so you can interrupt and redirect as needed.

Train an emergency recall

Teach a solid recall command using a long lead, rewarding with high value treats when they comply. This emergency recall can save your dog if they do get out. Never punish for coming when called.

Increase exercise

Make sure your dog gets at least 30-60 minutes of vigorous exercise daily by way of walks, runs, swimming, or playing fetch. A tired dog is less likely to jump simply from boredom or excess energy.

Provide mental stimulation

Give your dog productive outlets for his mind like food puzzles, training sessions, stuffed Kongs and chew toys. A mentally enriched dog is less likely to act out of boredom.

Train a ‘spot’ command

Teach your dog to go to a designated spot on command and reward him for staying there. Practice this in areas he’s likely to jump from like the fence line or front door.

Use correction and distraction

When you catch your dog about to jump, interrupt with a loud “eh-eh!” or other marker. Call them away from the fence and redirect their energy with a game or training session.

Practice obedience near triggers

Work on reinforcing sit, stay, and heel commands in fence line areas with potential triggers present like balls, other dogs, squirrels etc. This improves impulse control.

Address underlying issues

If your dog is jumping due to boredom, anxiety, or fear, address those issues with training, socialization, and management. Medication may also be needed in extreme cases.

When to get professional help

Some dogs have fence jumping habits that have been practiced for years. Extreme cases of separation anxiety or obstinate breed tendencies may require professional intervention to overcome.

Consider hiring a certified dog trainer or animal behaviorist if your dog’s fence jumping becomes dangerous or you’ve had no success with the above methods. They can assess your individual situation and tailor training programs to fit your dog’s needs.

How a dog trainer can help

A professional dog trainer has the advantage of evaluating your dog’s behavior in person while bringing a wealth of educational background to identify issues. Trainers can provide:

• Personalized training regimens tailored to your dog.
• One-on-one supervision and correction while your dog practices problem behaviors.
• Tools like citronella spray collars, electronic boundary flags, and head halters that aid in modifying fence jumping.
• Guidance on adding physical deterrents to your fence if needed.
• Help identifying and addressing underlying motivations like fear, anxiety, prey drive.
• Support throughout training challenges that increase your chances of success.

Investing in customized training plans from professionals can greatly accelerate your progress over attempting to fix fence jumping on your own through trial and error.

How an animal behaviorist can help

For seriously entrenched jumping behavior or cases rooted in psychological causes, an animal behaviorist may be needed. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAAB) or Veterinary Behaviorists (Dip ACVB) have advanced education in the science of animal behavior and psychology.

These specialists can provide services like:

• In-depth behavior evaluations to pinpoint motivations for jumping.
• Custom behavior modification programs using desensitization, counterconditioning, and positive reinforcement.
• Recommendations for environmental management and lifestyle changes.
• Prescription of anti-anxiety medications or pheromone therapies as needed.
• Follow-up consultations to monitor progress and adjust treatment plans.

Animal behaviorists work closely with veterinarians, trainers, and owners to develop complete treatment plans. Their medical and behavioral expertise makes them ideal for resolving complex, chronic canine behavior issues.

Preventing fence jumping

The best way to stop dogs jumping fences is to prevent the behavior before it starts. Here are some tips:

Start training early

Begin obedience training, boundary awareness, and impulse control work with puppies early on for best results. Dogs are most receptive to training between 8 weeks and 6 months old.

Set boundaries

Use gates, exercise pens, leashes, doors and crates to restrict access to fence lines and exits until recall skills and boundary training is solid. Don’t allow rehearsal of jumping behavior.

Meet needs

Make sure your dog gets sufficient physical and mental exercise. Tired dogs with an outlet for their energy are less motivated to jump fences.

Manage triggers

Eliminate or reduce access to stimuli that incite your dog to jump – balls, toys, animals, people etc. Strategic fencing can help corral barking trigger dogs.

Supervise outsider time

Closely supervise your dog whenever they are freely in the yard – especially during high temptation times like mail delivery, kids playing nearby, yard work being done.

Install preventatives early

Add physical deterrents like coyote rollers, wire mesh, angled overhangs on top of fencing right away with any new dog. It’s easier than trying to retrain dogs later.

Investing time and effort into proper training, containment, and supervision from a young age will help avoid entrenched jumping habits in dogs. But it’s never too late to correct the behavior in adult dogs through patience and consistency.

Conclusion

Dogs who jump fences do so for a variety of reasons ranging from boredom and curiosity to prey drive and separation anxiety. While the behavior may seem harmless at first, it poses many dangers to dogs and frustrations for owners. The key to stopping fence jumping is identifying the underlying cause and using a combination of training, management and reinforcement to correct the habit through positive behavior modification techniques. With time and consistency, most dogs can be taught boundaries and become reliable members of the household, even in the company of strong temptations from the outside world. But professional help from trainers or behaviorists may be needed for difficult or high risk cases. By stopping fence jumping, owners can ensure their dogs live long, healthy, safe lives while remaining good neighbors in their community.