How do I stop my dog from crawling under the gate? Simple and Effective Tips

Creative Ways to Keep Your Dog in the Yard

Extend your fence. You don’t necessarily have to make it higher, but adding a section to the top that tilts inward will deter your dog. A lean-in or L-footer will do the trick. You make a lean-in by taking some farm wire and attaching it to the top of your fence so that it creates a sort of awning on the inside. Your dog will see fencing above them and that should deter any climbing. An L-footer extends horizontally from the top of the fence and also creates an awning-type deterrent.

Remove climbing aids. Walk around the yard and take note of anything close enough to the fence that can be used to climb on, such as wood piles, garbage cans, playground equipment, benches, chairs, or boulders.

Buy a coyote roller. These are long, metal bars that can be attached to the fence to prevent your dog from getting the foothold he needs to get over. When an animal tries to use it to gain footing, it rolls like a rolling pin. Designed to keep coyotes out, they’re equally effective for keeping a beloved pet in. They do require mounting brackets and end caps, but you can find complete kits online.

Add landscaping. Plant a hedge of dense shrubs along the inside of the fence line. Not only does this make for a more difficult jump, it looks great, too.

How (and Why) Your Dog Is Making a Run for It

Your dog may decide to roam because they’re lonely out there. As nice as it is to have all that open space, they may prefer your company, or may just be looking for a friend. A territorial dog may see something outside their boundary that they think threatens the home, so they need to get out there and ward it off.

Maybe they’ve found “treasure” on the other side: a new friend to play with, food, an enticing stream of water, or a big field to run in. And, of course, there are the prey-driven hunters. A mere fence won’t keep them from chasing a squirrel or rabbit that just ran through the yard. They may just be a puppy or an adolescent who requires more outlets for his incredible energy.

Different dogs have different ways to escape. Some are jumpers; they take a running start from the ground and over they go. Some use whatever is near the fence to climb up, and then over they go. Other dogs are diggers, burrowing tirelessly on their way to freedom. Then there are the chewers who can make a hole in the fence large enough to slip through. The deep thinkers may figure out how to actually open a gate. Some dogs rush the gate whenever it is opened and dash out before you can catch them. Especially determined dogs will use a combination of these techniques.

Although it may sound counterproductive, you should take your dog for a walk every day, even if you have a nice fenced-in yard. The great physical and mental exercise that comes with a walk may help your dog use up some of their energy and keep them from being bored when out in the yard.

Clubs Offering:

For lots of dog owners, a nice fenced backyard where your pet can roam, sniff out interesting things, and snooze in the shade is a must. It’s perfect — except when your dog believes the grass is greener elsewhere, and they become a master escape artist. One minute you see them from the kitchen window, the next, they’re gone.

Thanks to technology, now there are even more ways to keep track of your pup. A GPS-enabled device like the new Fi Smart Dog Collar is a top-notch tool for continuous tracking of your canine, including alerts when escapes occur. And if a successful escape should happen, devices like this collar make tracking down your dog much easier with features like a live map on your phone.

Along with worrying about their safety, it’s frustrating to feel like you can’t trust your dog even in your own backyard. Don’t despair; there are some relatively simple things you can do to keep your canine from escaping the yard — or find them if they succeed.

Solution to Dog Escaping through Fence