How to keep your dog from jumping fence (Complete guide)
Written by Tim de Jong
To keep your dog from jumping the fence, first figure out why he wants out (boredom, loneliness, fear, excitement, or hormones) and fix that, then make the fence harder to clear: remove anything he can use as a launch pad, raise the fence or add an inward-angled extension or roller bar along the top, and supervise him in the yard while you train. Below, we go through each cause and solution step by step.
Address the underlying issue on why your dog is jumping the fence
Before you take measures to keep your dog from jumping the fence, you should first identify why he is doing this. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as:
1Boredom
If your dog is bored, he may be trying to find ways to entertain himself. This includes jumping the fence to explore what’s on the other side.
Solution: If so, you’ll want to provide your dog with more stimulation throughout the day. This can be in the form of toys, walks, runs, or even puzzle feeders.
2Loneliness
Another common reason dogs jump fences is because they’re lonely. If your dog isn’t getting enough attention, he may try to escape to find companionship.
Solution: Spend more time with your dog. This includes playing with him, going on walks together, and just sitting down and petting him. You may also want to consider getting another dog if you’re able to provide the proper care for both animals.
3Anxiety or fear
Some dogs may jump the fence out of anxiety or fear. This can be triggered by a number of things, such as loud noises or unfamiliar people or animals.
Solution: If your dog is experiencing anxiety or fear, you’ll want to find out what is causing this and work to address the issue. This may include behavior modification training or working with a veterinarian to find the right medication for your dog.
4Excitement
Dogs can get excited when they see people or other animals walking by. This may cause them to jump the fence in an attempt to reach the person or animal.
Solution: If your dog is getting excited when he sees people or animals outside, you can try to desensitize him to this stimulus. This can be done by slowly exposing him to the stimulus while rewarding him for remaining calm. We also cover how to block your dog's view through a fence. You can also build a fence where the slats are close together so your dog can’t see through it.
5Hormones
Unneutered males (and females in heat) can be extremely motivated to get out and find a mate, and a male can smell a female in heat from a long way off.
Solution: Talk to your vet about spaying or neutering, which usually reduces roaming. Until then, keep an intact dog supervised or on a leash outside, especially when there may be females in heat nearby.
General solutions to keep your dog from jumping the fence
If your dog still jumps the fence after you’ve addressed the underlying issue, there are a few general things you can do to keep him from doing this. These include:
1Building a taller fence
If your dog is able to jump over the fence, he may be able to do this because it isn’t tall enough. To remedy this, you can build a taller fence. For athletic medium and large dogs, around 6 feet is a common recommendation, and extensions can be added to an existing fence.
Just as important: move anything your dog can use as a step. Trash cans, patio furniture, woodpiles, planters, and dog houses placed near the fence often turn a fence that’s tall enough into one that isn’t.
Make sure the fence does not have any holes as your dog can get stuck and hurt himself if he tries to jump over and gets caught.
2Adding a barrier to the top of the fence
Another way to make it more difficult for your dog to jump the fence is by adding a barrier to the top of it. Make sure it is done with safe materials that will not hurt your dog.
Our recommendation is using PVC pipes as they are durable and will not harm your dog. Run a pipe along the top of the fence over a wire or rod so it spins freely; when your dog tries to get his paws over, the pipe rolls and he can’t get a grip. Another option is an extension angled inward toward your yard at the top of the fence, which makes it much harder to climb or jump over.
3Training your dog not to jump the fence
You can also train your dog not to jump the fence. This can be done by teaching him a cue such as “stay” or “wait.” Once he learns this cue, you can then put it into practice by asking him to stay while you walk away from the fence.
If he starts to jump the fence, calmly interrupt him with a cue such as “ah ah” and call him back to you. A long leash can help you with this in the early stages. Once he is successful at staying put, make sure to give him a treat as a reward. Rewarding calm behavior works much better than harsh punishment, which can increase anxiety and make some dogs more eager to escape.
Although this can be a great method to keep your dog from jumping the fence, you have to keep an eye on him at all times as he may try to escape when you’re not looking.
What to do if your dog digs under the fence?
Maybe your dog is not a jumper, but a digger. If this is the case, there are a few things you can do to stop him from doing this. We also list cheap ways to keep dogs from digging under the fence and test whether coffee grounds stop dogs from digging.
1Use chicken wire at the base of the fence
You can try putting chicken wire at the base of the fence as this will make it more difficult for him to dig. An alternative to this is putting rocks or bricks along the base of the fence.
2Bury the fence deeper
Another solution is to bury a portion of the fence underground so he can’t dig under it. This is best done with a metal fence as it will be more difficult for him to dig through.
If you have a wooden fence, you can add an “L-footer”: wire mesh attached to the bottom of the fence and laid flat along the ground on the inside, extending a foot or two into the yard. When your dog digs at the fence line, he hits the wire and gives up.
3Pour concrete along the base of the fence
Another solution is to pour concrete along the base of the fence. This will make it more difficult for him to dig and will also serve as a weight to keep the fence from moving.
This is a great solution, but can be very time consuming compared to the other solutions.
Final thoughts – How to keep dog from jumping fence
There are a number of ways you can keep your dog from jumping the fence. You can try to address the underlying issue, build a taller fence, add a barrier to the top of the fence, or train your dog not to jump the fence.
If your dog is a digger, you can use chicken wire at the base of the fence, bury the fence deeper, or pour concrete along the base of the fence. Whichever method you choose, make sure you still keep an eye on your dog.
