|
"Our dog jumped the fence and ran away!"
Over and over the Hillside receives frantic calls
concerning dogs who jump fences. Sometimes the dog is even an
adoptee from the shelter who is returned because of their
fence-jumping. Frantic owners who think they have a safe area
for their dog find that their dog scales the fence, creating
havoc in the neighborhood or worse, is hit or killed by a
vehicle.
Fence jumping can be cured, but it takes diligence on the
part of the owner and a willingness to do what it takes to
solve the problem. It won't happen over night, but with
patience and perseverance, you and your dog will be the better
for it.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as installing a higher
fence, but for animals intent on getting out (like Siberian
Huskies, for example), it may take something more. But isn't
the safety and security of your dog, your family and your
neighborhood worth it?
To cure fence jumping your dog will have to have a negative
effect associated with it. In other words, something
unpleasant happens when he tries to jump the fence.
In order for you to start correcting it, you must not allow
the dog to be out by himself where he can jump the fence
without instant correction. In other words, you cannot
leave the dog outside to try his tricks when you are not
around. This is where crate training
comes in handy.
One way to attempt to cure you dog's fence jumping is to
leave the dog out into the yard, but you or someone else will
be hidden from him with a hose handy. When the dog
attempts to jump the fence, you give him a blast from the
hose. A humane way to make the dog think twice about his
actions. Every time he goes to jump the fence - he gets
a blast from the hose.
Whatever you try, it must be bad enough in the dog's mind
to get him to stop trying to jump the fence. If you know
your dog really doesn't like loud noises, an air-powered
hand-held boat horn might do the trick (explain your attempts
at training to the neighbors first and don't try this if you
know you're in a neighborhood where you really shouldn't...)
If your dog doesn't mind being hit with a blast from the
hose, you'll have to try Plan B... and everyone's Plan B will
be different. The bottom line is that you need to do
something associated with the dog's attempting to jump the
fence that the dog doesn't like. You know your dog better than
anyone, so you need to figure it out. NO physical abuse
or hitting - ever. There is ALWAYS something else you
can try other than that.
You can try an electric collar. These have adjustable
settings. Put it on your dog and watch for him to jump.
When he does, use the collar. If he doesn't like this
form of punishment for jumping on the fence, it may work for
you.
Bottom line is that you must find something the dog
dislikes enough to act as a deterrent to his attempting to
jump the fence. Plus, the dog cannot be left out by
himself while you are training. He cannot ever be
allowed to make an attempt and not be corrected.
|
