Do you have a dog with escape tendencies at home? If so, you might be nervous about allowing him to spend time in the yard unattended.

Many dogs like to escape their environment to explore their surroundings, but this can be dangerous for your pup and potentially for passersby, too.

This guide highlights how you can stop your dog from jumping a fence without needing to completely remodel your yard.

Before you try to mitigate your dog’s Houdini act, you should first spend some time analyzing what is triggering this behavior.

Why Is Your Dog Jumping the Fence?

There are many reasons why dogs try to jump fences. These are the most common:

Your dog might be jumping the fence at home for one of those reasons, or for a combination of reasons. The more accurately you can determine the reason for his Houdini act, the more effectively you can counter those behaviors.

How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping the Fence

Once you have established why your dog is trying to escape, you should aim to tackle this issue at source.

If you determine that your dog is being spooked by garden equipment like a lawnmower, you should start to desensitize him gradually. This type of training might take time, but the results should be worthwhile. If you find that doesn’t work, take steps to keep him away from the equipment while you are using it.

Mating drive can be managed through neutering or spaying your hound at an early age. This will also prevent those behaviors from becoming ingrained and harder to fix later down the line.

9 Easy Ways to Stop a Dog from Jumping a Fence

1. Start with obedience training
2. Remove all objects from the yard that your dog could use to climb
3. Ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise
4. Install some top railings on the fence
5. Extend the height of the fence
6. Incorporate some fence rollers
7. Consider perimeter landscaping
8. Set up a dog run for Rover
9. Invest in an invisible dog fence

1) Start with obedience training

You may be able to stop your dog from climbing if they can understand some simple commands.

If you notice your pup becoming overly enthusiastic and starting to dig under the fence or try to climb over the fence, “Stay” or “Come” might be enough to stop him in his tracks. If your furball complies with the command, be sure to praise them. Incorporating positive reinforcement into all aspects of dog training typically yields the most favorable outcomes.

The more you work on these commands and compliance, the more control you will have over your dog, up to and including preventing him from leaping the backyard fence.

2) Remove all objects from the yard that your dog could use to climb

Remove the following objects from around the fence:

Moving objects like these away from the fence can make it more challenging for your dog to scale.

3) Ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise

Tired dogs are happy dogs. Even if you have a small breed with lower energy levels, all dogs should have some exercise each day. Consider the following:

You should make sure that the duration and intensity of exercise you give your furball matches his size, age, fitness level, and natural energy levels.

If you make sure that your dog is not pining for exercise, he will be happier, healthier, and much less likely to try jumping the backyard fence.

4) Install some top railings on the fence

There are many approaches to installing a cheap dog fence in your backyard.

Do you have a chain link or wire fence without a top railing? If so, you may find that your furry friend finds it very easy to escape from this type of containment system. Try installing some top railings to the fence and it should make it much more challenging for Spot to leap over.

5) Extend the height of the fence

If you feel that your existing garden fence is too low to contain your mutt, you could consider extending the height of the fence.

Adding a two-foot lattice topper or trellis to a wooden fence will enhance its visual appeal while also improving privacy and preventing your dog from escaping.

If you have a chain link fence, you can buy an extender kit to further dog-proof the barrier. If you find an extender kit that angles inward, this can make it almost impossible for yoru dog to escape.

6) Incorporate some fence rollers

Fence rollers are otherwise known as coyote rollers. These can be added to almost any fence.

All you need to do is install some tubing which can spin on supporting pipe or cable. If your dog attempts to get up onto the fence, he will not get any purchase, spinning around rather than leaping over.

7) Consider perimeter landscaping

You may find that you can alleviate some problems that cause your dog to jump the fence by taking care of the perimeter landscaping.

Think about planting the following dense shrubs:

Shrubs like these grow quickly and they are resistant to drought. They can also form a dense screen that stops your dog from easily accessing the fence.

You can achieve the same effect with bamboo, another fast-growing option that could be 10 feet tall within a couple of seasons. Each year, new shoots will grow, strengthening and thickening the fence screen. Check that the bamboo you are considering is not too invasive, though.

If you have a chain link fence, add some reed rolls or bamboo rolls. These are readily available in most DIY or home improvement stores, serving to block the view that a chain link fence offers your dog, at the same time removing the temptation to flee.

8) Set up a dog run for Rover

A dog run is an extended doggie playpen that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit.

Using a portable dog fence provides your furball with a safe and enclosed space. Add some of the following for best results:

Installing a dog run can work well for anxious dogs and aggressive dogs, giving them their own personal space and a disincentive to jump the fence.

9) Invest in an invisible dog fence

If all else fails, you might consider an invisible fence, also known as a wireless dog fence.

While these fences can be highly effective at keeping your dog within his boundaries, you will need to put in some time and effort training him to respect the boundaries and to comply with correction from the collar.

Conclusion

If you have been doing everything right as a pet parent and find that your dog is still prone to jumping the fence in the backyard, this can be remarkably frustrating. Even if you appreciate that your dog is only engaging in natural behavior, he may easily come to harm if he breaches the boundaries. Traffic, animals, and other potential threats lurk outside. In the worst scenario, your dog may even be dognapped!

Today’s guide should help you to make some simple tweaks to your yard and your lifestyle, keeping your furball happy roaming in his own area rather than being continuously tempted to flee.

Before you go, we suggest bookmarking Rabies Challenge Fund. We have a busy content calendar as we edge into spring, so pop back soon and don’t miss out on more informative guides and reviews of all the best pet gear.