The ASPCA reports that around 710,000 dogs in the U.S. enter shelters and are returned to their owners. That’s a small percentage of the 3.1 million dogs that end up in animal shelters.
Some dogs run farther than expected during thunderstorms or fireworks. Others are picked up by people who take the dog home without thinking that someone is looking for it. Some dogs run into the woods and can’t find their way back out.
Keep your dog safe by making sure your dog’s fence is secure. Many fences have problem areas that make it easy for a dog to escape. Take time each week to walk your dog’s fence and look for these issues.
The Dog Jumps Higher Than the Fence
When you have a dog that can jump five or six feet, there’s a chance your dog will build up some speed and leap over your fence. If your yard is sloped, it’s easy for a dog to build up enough speed.
Your dog may not even need to build up speed if you have a wooden or chain link fence. Your dog can use the chain link or wooden slats like a ladder to get over the fence.
You put in a four-foot fence because your town requires permits and approval to build a fence higher than four feet. Your dog is now able to jump over it. You need a higher fence. If you put up flexible fencing, your town may not require a permit as it’s not generally considered “permanent” fencing as it’s easy to move it or take it down.
Gaps Are Too Wide
What kind of fence did you put up for your dog? If you built your own wood fencing with vertical and horizontal boards, you have to be very careful that the boards are properly spaced. If there is a narrow gap, your dog might be able to squeeze through it.
Holes Abut the Bottom of the Fencing
You have a digger. If your dog loves to dig, find out where the dog is digging. If it’s close to the fence, you could have a dog escaping before you know it. Walk the perimeter of the fence regularly to look for holes.
If your dog does love to dig, try this tip pros recommend. Purchase some boards and build a sandbox in an area of your yard that isn’t in your way. Fill the sandbox frame with sand and show it to your dog.
Purchase a selection of toys and nylon bones and bury them in the sand. Your dog has a new game to find where he’ll go on quests to find these toys while also satisfying his urge to dig.
Furnishings and Trees Are Too Close to the Fencing
Your outdoor furnishings shouldn’t be near the fence. While you might prefer to put tables and chairs on the edge where you can view the center of your yard, it can become a problem. If a picnic table is against the fence line, it shortens the height a dog needs to jump over the fence.
If you have a five-foot wood fence and a picnic table that’s three-feet high, the dog only needs to put his paws on the top of the fence and leap over. You’re making it way too easy for the dog to escape.
Make sure chairs and tables are placed in the center of the yard and away from the fence. Trees with low, sturdy branches can also help climbers, so you should be aware of that when placing a fence or young tree.
Storms Have Knocked Down Trees or Branches
If there’s a storm in your area, it may knock down trees or branches. This can easily take out a section of fencing. It’s important to always check for damage after a storm.
As a broken wooden or vinyl fence can be expensive to fix, you should consider flexible fencing. If a tree falls on it, it may knock down a post, but once the tree is cut up and removed, the fence is easily restored to its original condition.
Even if there are no signs of fallen trees or branches, you need to walk around the entire fence line and feel the fence. Wind gusts may have broken fence posts or loose boards. Fix that before your dog is able to get away from you
Posts Are Rotting in the Ground
Wooden fences often have the posts driven into the ground. Exposure to water throughout the year will start to degrade the wood. A treated pine post can 20 years or longer, but many pet owners do not want to put in treated posts as a chewer could get poisoned. Untreated pine posts may not even make it to 10 years.
Powder-coated galvanized steel posts are durable and withstand the weather without rusting. They’re one of the best choices for dog fencing.
Your Dog Chews Everything
Some dogs love to chew. If you have a wood fence, your dog could chew through part of a slat. This will create a hole that’s just big enough to crawl through. Fixing this requires boards for now and new sections of fencing.
Make sure you’re checking your fence for signs of chewing. If your dog is chewing the fence, you need to look into a type of fencing that dogs cannot chew. Extra-strength mesh fences with a triple layer of mesh and coated steel wiring are extremely difficult to chew through. It’s better at keeping a chewer from escaping.
Breaks in Wire Fencing
Some pet owners prefer underground fencing. If someone digs in the yard and doesn’t realize there is underground fencing a wire can break. You need to walk the fence line with a dog fence transmitter or ohm meter and check for breaks to ensure the fence is working properly
If you find breaks, you need to get that fixed ASAP. Until you do, your dog should not be allowed outside off a leash. It’s a good time to consider upgrading to safer fencing that’s hard to escape.
Pet Playgrounds Fences Challenge Escape Artists
Do you have a notorious escape artist? Pet Playgrounds fences stand up to jumpers, chewers, diggers, and gap slippers. With our flexible fencing, there’s a dig-proof barrier at the bottom of the 5’, 6’, or 7’ high fencing. The fencing is continuous, so there are no gaps between the boards. Best of all, it’s strong mesh fencing that has two or three layers of mesh to stop chewers or climbers.
Just about everything you need for your fence, including the dig-proof posts gates, tools, and fencing is included in our DIY fence kit. If you want a professional installer, we’ll arrange to have a professional installer go to your home. Visit Pet Playgrounds and get a free estimate using our online fence designer. If you’d rather call to talk to a fence expert, we’re here for you.
