dog keeps getting out of yard, help!

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Hello everyone, I am at my wits end. My dog, one year old mutt from the pound which we have had since he was a baby, will not quit getting out of the yard. He will stay in sometimes, the place is fenced, but when he gets the urge will just find a way out. He dosn't go far, even will lay outside the gate, but he chases cars and I want him to stay in the yard. I've tried scolding, and leaving him inside when I go to town, no luck, he just has his own mind. I think he is akita and husky cross, not a very large dog, about 45 lbs. I thought maybe if I chained him up (something I abhore) it would help teach him. Anyone got any ideas? We love this dog and keep him inside at night, he would be a perfect dog if he would just stay in the yard. Thanks

-- Tina (clia88@newmexico.com), October 30, 2000

Answers

If the dog is young enough, you may be able to train it to a perimeter within the fence line by marking off a "stop line" and use a lead and rolled newspaper. Walk the dog to the line, as it crosses the line, draw it back with a verbal reprimand and a light hit with the paper on the chest (The chest area is where mother dogs push a pup while giving a disciplinary growl to keep them from doing something dangerous.). Try this in 1 hour sessions, twice a day . Reenforce with praise when parimeter is reconized. If the dog is too old for this, a shock collar, electric fence, or sonic barrier may work.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), October 30, 2000.

We are having a similar problem. Jurdan suddenly started tunneling out of his fence about 6 weeks ago and has now escaped three times! Luckily he stayed away from the highway in front of our house and basically stayed in the pasture or garden area but I don't want there to be a next time.

I spent much of a morning repairing places in his pen fence and placing concrete blocks (cap blocks primarily) inside and outside so it will be harder for him to tunnel! There's a large mixed breed dog in with Jurdan and Ace could jump the fence if he wanted to because he's so tall and huge but he never tries to get out!!!

If all my work on the fence doesn't help we may try an electric fence or something later.

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), October 30, 2000.


I have good luck using the 50 foot dog runs (a cable overhead with a 12 foot lead attached to it), gives the dog plenty of freedom to roam about. I've only had one to break loose of them, my moose of a German Shepard, so they are fairly safe. We have 5 big dogs and all are confined this way but the Shepard, I trained him to stay in the "yard" area, but he is unusually smart, and learned fast. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 30, 2000.

We got a roll of woven wire,used for cattle or horses, and attached it to the board fence,bending it intowards the yard abt a 8",like an L, at the bottom & burying this part under a little soil or gravel.

When they start to dig,they hit wire and don't like it at all. If the dog is a jumper, and electric fence at the top of this setup is suggested. This has worked for our two dogs.Our border collie mix has trained herself on what's the yard, and doesn't leave it, even if gate is open.The coonhound isn't as smart,as expected.

Hope this helps.I hate to see people's pets hit on the highway.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), October 30, 2000.


If he isnt nutered have it done, makes them stay home more. Huskys are notorius wanders, maybe buildx him a kennel for when your not there.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), October 31, 2000.


Dear Tina,

We have three dogs. They think they own the place and we just live in it. Ours don't stay on the place perfectly, but they have got to where they know the boundaries of the place pretty well. They don't bother anyone. I guess they could conceivably get run over, but we live way off the main road. They bark a little sometimes at night, but it's only when they are telling the varmints (coyotes and the like) to stay away. We have got to where their little barking is music to our ears, because we know they are taking care of us and of their place. I'm afraid I did spank Twinkie pretty much once years ago for running a car. Now she stays on the side of the road (at least when I'm looking). Any other way besides spanking, though. I always regretted it the few times I ever spanked any animal.

Wanda

-- Wanda King (wanda7@edge.net), November 05, 2000.


If the dog is digging out take a 12 to 15 inch piece of broom handle type wood, install an eyescrew and hang it from his collar with equal parts sticking out each side. When he tries to dig his front feet keep hitting the wood and this discourages digging.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), March 31, 2001.

I don't have answer, I am looking for one also. My Alex is a 2 year old german shepard and just recently started digging out of the yard. The electric fence doesn't work, I have poured cement in his favorite spots but he just moves further along. When I resort to chaining him up with about 30ft of lead he won't go to the bathroom! I am at my wits end. I have already had to rescue him from the pound once. Thank God I have good neighbors who will chain him for me in the front of the house. So any help would be great. Do the shock collars really work? Thanks Cindi

-- Cindi Anttila (cla1ara8@aol.com), March 25, 2002.

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