Behavior Tip of the Month
Escape - 2
QUESTION:
My male dog is jumping the fence. The vet prescribed medication, but it's not helping. Thus, we have to chain him. Can you help us?
ANSWER:
Last month's Behavior Tip discussed why dogs escape. As Dr. Hetts says in her book, "Pet Behavior Protocols", "always remember that unless the motivation for the behavior is addressed, the dog will often keep trying to escape or display other problem behaviors".
This month's tip deals with making your yard more secure. To do this, you first have to understand how your dog is escaping.
Dr. Hetts discusses four ways dogs escape and appropriate suggestions for each one.
1. Does your pet dig under the fence? You can try putting cinder blocks or large rocks all along the fence. Other options include chain link fencing or chicken wire placed on the ground and extended a foot up the side of the fence.
2. Is your dog climbing the fence? What about attaching a border of inward facing chicken wire at the top of the fence. Bend it at a ninety degree angle. This prevents your dog from gaining a foothold at the top. A new product called a Coyote fence will do the same thing.
3. Is your dog chewing through the fence? Try spraying your fence with liquid Citronella or Listerine. However, this isn't practical if you have a huge fence.
4. Is your canine jumping and clearing the fence? You can try making the fence taller. Alternatively, add a second fence a few inches next to your existing structure. This will make it hard for your canine to take off. Also, remove any objects near the fence that act as launching pads.
Hopefully, if you follow these suggestions and those of last month, you will change "The great Escape" to "Homeward Bound".
Good luck.
Carole Schatz
Best Friend Behavior Counseling and Training
San Diego, Ca.
619-460-6888
"Positively teaching pets and their people since 1977"
Do you have a question for Carole? You can reach her at this email address - cbschatz@webtv.net Perhaps she will use it in an upcoming article on this Web site.
The information contained on this site is in no way intended to replace that of proper veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment.
It is meant to provide resource, so that we can better understand canine health related issues.
