Michael Baugh CPDT-KA, CDBC
Dear Trainer:
Our dog, Zora, keeps climbing the fence! We live in a rented house so we don’t really have the option of changing or upgrading the fencing. We’ve lived here for over a year and she has just recently started doing this, since mid July. How can I prevent or change this behavior?
Cynthia D.
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Dear Cynthia,
Don’t fence me in! The old Cole Porter song is a bit dated now, but your dog obviously has a case of old fashioned wander lust.
The good news is, this falls squarely into to the category of “dogs will be dogs.” Left to their own devices dogs will do doggie things, and that includes busting out of this place (wherever this place may be) to do a little exploring. Here are some things to consider.
Manage the behavior. If you’re not already, you really need to closely supervise Zora in the back yard. That means that you never leave her out there unattended. You have to be there with her to make sure she’s not up to no good, or up and over the fence. If she’s hopping the fence right before your unbelieving eyes, take the extra measure and put a leash on her for potty breaks out back. We don’t want to leave anything to chance here.
If Zora is an “outside dog,” might I suggest you make her an “indoor dog” in a hurry? It’s not as hard as you might think. Most of the time, it’s just a matter of teaching potty training and some basic doggie manners. The effort is well worth it. Backyard dogs get in trouble; they get out, and sometimes they get hurt (or worse). Don’t take that risk.
(Read more on All Things Dog Blog)