Your Fence Jumping Dog -- The Truth About Why Dogs Jump Fences

Are you frustrated with your fence jumping dog?  Are the neighbors constantly complaining that he's in their yard again?  Has he been picked up by animal control?  Fence jumping is one of many dog behavior problems.  In order to stop your dog from jumping fence, you need to understand why he's doing it, and then take steps to address the problem.

Why Dogs Jump Fences

There are several reasons why dogs jump fences:

1.  Boredom and lack of exercise
2.  Separation anxiety in dogs
3.  Sex drive
4.  Attention seeking behavior

Boredom And Lack Of Exercise

A bored dog is a recipe for all kinds of dog behavior problems, including a fence jumping dog.  If there's nothing to do in his own yard, and there's a lot of fun stuff going on over the fence, he'll soon figure out how to get over it.  Take him for a long walk morning and evening.  Make a digging pit for him to play in while you're gone.  If you give him a toy stuffed with food in the morning, he'll happily spend several hours getting the food out. 

Make his own yard an interesting place for him, and you'll remove the temptation to look for fun elsewhere.

Separation Anxiety In Dogs

A dog with separation anxiety may try to escape from your yard in an attempt to find you.  Try to avoid having your pup get too attached to you by having other people in the household feed him and take him for walks too.

Don't make a fuss when you come home.  You don't want your return to be the high point of his day.  In fact, ignoring him for fifteen minutes when you come home is recommended. Once he's calmed down is when you give him attention, not when he's jumping around in excitement.

Sex Drive

If your pup knows there's a female dog in the area, he'll make it his business to find her.  Have your pet spayed or neutered.  Not only will this cut down on the escape attempts, but it will prevent unwanted litters of puppies, and all the problems that go with animal overpopulation.

Attention Seeking Behavior

Let's face it, a canine who's an escape artist gets lots of attention.  Either you or the neighbors or the animal control officer are after him.  For a pet who is otherwise ignored most of the time, this is a lot of fun. 

Spend time with your pup every day.  A daily ten-to-fifteen-minute training session is a great way to do this.  Your pet loves to learn new things, and the training provides mental stimulation for him, which is another antidote for a bored dog.  It's also important for you to teach him commands like "off" to keep him away from the fence, and "come" so that you can get him to return if he gets out.

A good dog training course that includes a consultation with an experienced dog trainer is worth its weight in gold.  Don't wait any longer to stop your dog from jumping fence.  Take steps now to keep him safe at home in his own yard.