Do You Have A Fence Jumping Dog? Learn Five Reasons He Wants To Leave

Are you frustrated with your dog jumping the fence all the time?  Are you worried he'll get hit by a car, or get lost or stolen?  The safest place for your canine is in his own yard.  But how can you keep him there? 

Why Is He A Fence Jumping Dog?

Fence jumping is one of many dog behavior problems.  This is a self-rewarding behavior, which means that when he sails over the fence and escapes, he's getting what he wanted, which is to get out of the yard.  The reward of being loose guarantees that he'll do it again and again. 

Canines want to escape from their yards for many reasons.  Here are five of them:

1. Boredom
2. Attention seeking
3. Lack of exercise
4. Sex drive
5. Separation Anxiety

A Bored Dog

Canines are social animals who need lots of mental stimulation.  If your pet is left by himself all day with nothing to do, the chances are that he'll try to find a way to occupy himself.  Fence jumping may be his answer, since he can then go off and do whatever he wants.

Make your yard an interesting place for your pup.  Make a digging pit in the corner for him, and provide him with toys to play with when you're gone.

Attention Seeking

The chances are good that a fence jumping dog gets LOTS of attention.  You're chasing after him, trying to catch him.  Your neighbor is probably out in his yard yelling at your pet to go home.  This is exciting for your pup, and it's a lot of fun for him. 

Take a look at how much time you're spending with your pet.  If the only time he gets attention is when he misbehaves, he'll do whatever it takes to get your attention.

Lack Of Exercise

Many people don't realize how much exercise a canine needs every day to burn off excess energy.  A long walk morning and evening goes a long way towards using up all that energy.  If there's a dog park nearby, take him there so he can run and play with other canines.

Sex Drive

It's a dog's nature to roam around, looking for females.  Prevent this behavior by having him neutered before he's a year old.  Spay your female dog to keep male dogs out of your yard.  This also prevents all the problems associated with pet overpopulation.

Separation Anxiety

He may be escaping in hopes of finding you when you're gone.  Don't let your pet get too attached to you.  Have other family members walk and feed him, too.  Avoid making your homecoming the high point of his day.  Once again, be sure he has lots to do when you're not there.

Dog Obedience Tips - Prevention Is The Best Cure

It's best to stop dog jumping fence behavior before it starts, since it's hard to stop afterwards.  Spend ten minutes a day training your pet.  It doesn't take much time each day to teach him "come," "sit-stay," and "off," and it will prevent a lot of dog behavior problems in the future.  A good dog training course is essential to give you some structure, and to prevent accidentally teaching him bad dog habits.

Look for a good dog training course today to end the problem of a fence jumping dog.