Brain Storming

[catnapper]

Hey all, I have a dog in my class who is fond of leaping over a 5' high fence (he swears she does)

I have my own ideas as to what might work, but I wanted to see what everyone else might offer as a way to keep his golden from leaping over the fence.

A little background:
He rescued her a few months ago and she was basically chained in a yard her whole life til he got his hands on her. He will NOT chain her in the yard since he feels that since she was abused that way, he doesn't want to remind her of her past owners. She's 4 years old, spayed.

Thats about as much as I know right now since we haven't really gotten to talk much yet. He'll be in class in two weeks, so I have some time to figure out what to do to help him and his dog.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

[pitc9]

Sierra is my leaper
Before I adopted Buddy she'd jump the fence the split second I'd turn my back to her!! Once I added Buddy to the family she stayed in the yard more. But still will jump over when provoked. If I come home from work and let them out, then walk to the mail box... and she hasn't had her fill of welcoming mommy home she'll jump the fence in search of me but her tattle tail of a brother sounds the alarm the SECOND she leaps over. He barks his full head off! I tell her to get back in the yard and she jumps right back over!

Because of zoning, we couldn't put up 6' fencing all around our yard like we wanted to... so half of the yard had to be 4'. (I'm pretty sure I heard Sierra laughing at us as we were putting the fence up!)
We knew it was going to be a problem, but were not allowed to make it 6'.
So once we had it up, we added 3' of Plastic Lattice to the fence to make it taller. Because it's not "Permanent" it's okay according to the zoning laws.
Before the lattice, I had double shepherd hooks with hanging baskets along the fence to deter her from jumping. We only have one place in the yard that she can jump over, and it's the gate. The latch is on the inside of the yard so you have to reach over the gate to open the gate. So we can't make it taller.

[borzoimom]

Considering that getting out of a fence could cost the dog its life, I would just get a antijump harness. They learn real quick they cant jump. Used over time, this staying in the yard becomes habit. However- having had a fence jumper ( a shepherd that could clear 6 foot with no problem), I just kept the harness on the dog in the yard. It only takes seconds to put on. I use to lay it on the floor and step the dog in it- outside , back in the house, and unclip it so it would drop to the floor. An accident with a car, or a lost dog can happen so fast.
Usually a dog that is a real fence jumper is hard to train with any other method. Mostly because they learn unless you are out there, you dont have total control, and the urge to jump is a strong one. I would try the harness. Petsmart sells them as well as other sites.

[mruffruff]

When I first brought Samson home, he was a jumper too. I have 6 foot wooden fence all around and he could sit on one side and propel himself over the top from a sitting position. I attached some chicken wire to the top, but didn't stretch it tight at the top. It sagged into the yard a bit. When he would try to jump, he would hit the chicken wire and fall back into the yard. After a couple of weeks, he gave up trying.

This worked on a chain link fence of 4 feet too. They cant climb the chicken wire because it just flops int the yard.

Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be.