How to Keep a Puppy From Jumping Over a Gate

If your puppy jumps a gate, it is putting its safety and the safety of other animals at risk. If your puppy gets out and kills your neighbor̵7;s chickens, your relationship with those in your neighborhood will be damaged. Escaping by jumping over a gate also puts your pet at risk for being run over by a car. Stop this behavior while your dog is a puppy by making it impossible to jump the gate, which will prevent problems throughout your pet̵7;s life.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Drill
  • Zip ties
  • Correction collar device
  • Leash and collar
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cover gaps in your gate to prevent your puppy from gaining footholds and using them to jump or climb over the top. Nail a piece of plywood that matches the width of your gate to the inner side of the gate, if it is made of wood. If your gate is made of plastic, drill holes in the plywood and connect these holes to the frame of the gate using zip ties. Use a piece of plywood that is taller than your gate if the gate is currently short enough for your puppy to jump over.

    • 2

      Stack two indoor gates on top of one another to prevent a puppy from jumping from one room to another, or place one or two heavy plastic coolers under a removable indoor gate to add height.

    • 3

      Attach a long leash to a secure object in your yard or living room, such as a tree trunk or doorknob. Keep your dog on the leash. The puppy may struggle and strain for some time, but soon it will grow tired and settle for playing contentedly in your yard or living room instead of trying to jump over the gate.

    • 4

      Position gates far from furniture or decorations your puppy might use to climb. For example keep indoor gates several feet from sofas and do not place outdoor gates next to benches or large potted plants.

    • 5

      Train your puppy not to jump over the gate using positive reinforcement. Place your puppy in one room and put a bowl of food in another, separated by a gate. Reproduce the same training activity with an outdoor gate by placing a desirable toy outside your gated yard. Every time your puppy attempts to jump, tell it ̶0;no̶1; firmly. If it stays in its designated area and ignores the gate, reward it with a treat.