Any ideas on keeping my dog in the fence?

Question

I just moved into a new house with a 4' chain link fence. My 5 yr. old rotty can literally leap over it from basically standing still. I fear for his safety if he runs the roads. I looked into a larger fence but money is an issue. He has had extensive training but when he gets a scent there is nothing that can stop him from wandering. I looked into 'invisible fence' but it is just way too expensive. I want to be able to install a doggie door in the house and just let him come and go as he pleases. Anybody have any creative ideas that would work very cheap and on the fly? The yard is about a 1/2 of an acre, pretty square and the chain link goes all the way around with a double gate up front.

Answer 1

There's a few good ideas. You can purchase fence extensions that will add another few feet or so to your fence. You can also buy ones that curve inward, so it's harder for the dog to get out.

You can make fence extensions yourself from chicken wire. As a matter of fact, it helps if they aren't that sturdy. If they are a bit flexible, the dog can't get any traction to get over. It won't look pretty, but it should work.

You could build a new fence to line the old fence, out of welded wire. Welded wire is pretty cheap, and the highest I've been able to find it is six feet.

You can also purchase a jumping harness for your dog. Basically, it restricts the extension of the back legs. The dog can move around well; it just can't jump up.

Another option might be to fence off a smaller portion of your yard with higher fencing, to make a kind of a large doggie kennel. You could still put in a doggie door, and he could still get out when he wanted to, but he would be confined to a smaller area with a higher fence.

If you can help it, don't tie him out, except for short periods of time. Dogs that are tied out can develop behavioral issues, and become hard to approach. Some can even develop aggression!
They invaribly find something to get tangled in, and it's very upsetting to the dog to be restrained in such a fashion.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

If h is not neutered, you should have it done right away. He is going to wanser looking for female companionship as long as he is unaltered. We had the same problem with our chihuahuas. No they didn't jump the frnce but they would dig out or climb the fence. We finally put up a wood privacy fence and it works great at keeping them in. You wouldn't have to do the whole yard, just a space big enough for him to get plenty of exercise.

Answer 3

You could dig a moat on the inside of the fence and put little goldfish with sharp teeth in there! ... Maybe this isn't along the lines of what you were wanting, but when I built my fence, we had to go with lattice board b/c chain link is so expensive. It looks pretty good, too. Don't know how much it would take to cover 1/2 acre, but it would be way less than chain link or invisible fence (I think). Good luck!

Answer 4

I agree with "Something". The only thing you can do at the moment is keep him indoors and let hm outside ONLY with strict supervision. Also, getting him neutered might help with the "scent" thing. However, once a dog learns how to jump a fence, unless the fence is altered or something is installed he will probably try to jump for other reasons, in addition to scents.

Answer 5

You would have to be seriously dedicated to training that big boy everyday with a leash and walk him around his perimeter sometimes whether a dog is fixed or not the smell of a female or even another animal can push their chemical level past the hope of ever being able to train against it. Have you considered one of those 6by6ft kennels till you work out all the bugs some are only a hundred bucks

Answer 6

you can put a top to the fence that bends to the inside of the yard, how to do it is to take chicken wire and some wood attached to the top of the fence so it is pointing inward. look around at yards that are trying to keep people out it is the same thing just turned around.

Answer 7

Get a tie out chain and stake. This will keep him in the yard and it makes cleaning up after him easier. he can run in circles all day long and with the right one it won't get tied around itself. this should work for awhile although you will still need to exercise him some so that he doesn't get too bored. You can use more than one chain too, check the dollar stores in your area, I have found several varieties there. If he is a chewer then check the chain often and replace it if he starts to get though it. Cables and chains for dogs are usually coated with plastic.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

why don't you have him desexed. my dog was doing the exact same thing, but only 6 ft high, he was climbing over it. he is a staffy x mastiff. i got him desexed, problem solved. if you can't afford desexing from a vet, sometimes animal shelters, rspca places like that will do it cheaper for you. if you aren't going to breed with him, then he doesn't really need his balls.

Answer 10

Neuter him and bring him inside. That will cost you about $30. Dogs are pack animals and being left outside alone is not good for them. Especially an intact male.