I Can't Keep My Dog in the Yard

Keeping a dog in the yard is critical for the safety of the dog. Dogs who escape from their yards can get hit by a car, beaten up by another dog or not be able to find the way home. Dealing with the causes of the dog's escape behavior may help, but a properly built fence is the surest way of keeping a dog in the yard.

  1. Causes of Escape Behavior

    • Some dogs simply like to roam. These dogs need to be contained either in the house or in a fenced yard. Other dogs escape from their yards out of fear triggered by people, sounds or even the weather. Identifying and removing the source of the fear, where possible, may help to keep the dog in the yard. Dogs seeking social contact with other dogs might be appeased by the addition of another dog. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety need to learn that it is okay to be alone in the yard.

    Separation Anxiety

    • Some dogs suffer from separation anxiety or a fear of being alone without guardians. This anxiety can lead to escaping behavior. Separation anxiety develops as a result of a change in ownership, schedule, residence or household membership. Mild cases of separation anxiety can be treated with counter-conditioning training. The dog needs to learn to associate being alone with good things, such as food. Leaving the dog in the yard with a puzzle toy stuffed with food or a bone may help the dog learn stay in the yard. More severe cases require a more complex desensitization and counter-conditioning program (see Resources).

    Fencing

    • Many different types of fencing keep a dog in a yard. A brick wall is the most expensive, and farm fencing is the least expensive to build. In between are wood, rail and chain-link fences. Laying chicken wire at the base of the fence and covering it with soil helps prevent dogs from digging under the fence. Adding a layer of tilted wire to the top of the fence helps prevent dogs from climbing over the fence. Another alternative is the underground wire or wireless electronic fence, which shocks a dog trying to leave the yard. This fence only works with proper training from the owner.

    Training

    • Dogs can be trained to stay in the yard, but in the face of strong temptation, training does not always hold. Clicker training may be effective for teaching a dog to respect the boundaries of a yard and to stay within them. Without a proper fence though, the only sure way to stop a dog from escaping is to never leave the dog alone in the yard.