I have a 10 month old yellow Lab who is quite large. I love her to death, but unfortunately the neighbors are not so fond of her. I can't put her on a chain, because there is too much in our yard for her to get tangled up on (basketball goal, five cars, steps, trees, etc). I have an electric fence which works pretty good except for when she gets really excited and runs through it, at which point she won't come back through it.
She's driving my neighbors crazy, because she will steal pillows off of their porch. I just bought her three new toys and I got a new puppy for her to play with in hopes that she would stay home. However just this morning she escaped. Any suggestions short of giving her up and or moving to Alaska?
By Meagan from NC
Those electric fences cause more problems than they are worth (except to a dog trainer like myself who can then charge you a good sum to retrain your dog to be willing to go into your yard and your vet for when a roaming dog attacks your unprotected dog). You should put up a real fence or get a dog run. Do not chain your dog, that can be deadly and will encourage aggressive behavior.
If you cannot afford to fence your yard in (or rent), consider getting a kennel for your dog. Ours is 6x12 feet--we paid extra for a panel for the top. It is really heavy duty chain link and extremely sturdy. While you shouldn't keep a dog in one constantly because they need to be walked daily, they are great for allowing a dog to be outside without you for periods of time. We have it ours on a covered porch for our cat. He has a dog house in it, a litter box, food bowls, and ramps to climb and lie on.
We recently adopted an approximately 2 year old neutered male miniature Australian Shepherd. I am about at my wit's end with him! After coming home to find chewed things and poo a couple of times, we decided to let him out into our fenced back yard while we were away from the house.
He has consistently managed to get out of the back yard every time we've been away. We've plugged up every hole in the fence we could find. There is another dog out there with him (an older, much larger dog that he has known pretty much all his life). We make sure he has food and water before we leave.
As long as someone is out there watching, he's a perfect little angel, but the minute we have our backs turned, he escapes somehow. I don't want to chain him up, as there are days we're gone 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. I can't leave him inside or he chews everything up and leaves messes on the carpet. I can't let him outside because he escapes. I don't know what to do!
Glad that you care because this can be resolved in time. For now, sounds like he really needs to be with you at all times. He has been uprooted from everything he knows. He is afraid and trying for familiar things. It will take time for him to adjust. Do not tie him as this often results in hanging death.
For less than 30 dollars you may wish to buy an electric fence. Little more for wire and stakes. Normally avoided method but if he is unsafe out there, he must stay home. If only he could stay at your side all the time, that would fix the problem.
Another thing he desperately needs is exercise. He is a herder by nature and high activity animal. Jogger in the family? Play ball. swimming. Any physical activity would help, especially if he is with family. You get to wear him out then love him to pieces. He will then be very happy to relax at home, safe and warm.
Ah, you have a Houdini. So do I, so you have my sympathies. How is your dog getting out? Over or under the fence? Either way, I suggest running an electric wire at the top of the fence, and the bottom. That should catch the dog however he tries to get out. The top wire you might want to put a bit above the fence, not right at the boards.
Also, does he have toys to play with in the yard? Shade and water, perhaps a dog house for upcoming cold weather? What about hiring a pet sitter to come play with him for an hour or so during the day? Good luck, I know where you are coming from with this. <--signed, the owner of a very aggravating, sneaky Houdini.
I am looking for some advice. At the moment I own a lovable black Lab. We have two parks in either direction not far from my home where we walk and she has a fair sized back yard to play in. We attach her to a chain only long enough for her to go outside and do what she has to do and comes back in.
I'm considering adopting her a companion in the future, but unsure as to how I can manage both outside. There are busy streets surrounding our house where it would be too easy to wander off without a chain, if I attach another chair to our doorstep it would be impossible for either not to become tangled amongst each other.
I'd hate to put them in an outdoor cage, that would be cutting off less space for them, any advice on how I can manage two dogs outside on some sort of chains? I would like to let them roam as freely as possible without causing any danger to their well being, a large fenced in area is a possibility, but would would be somewhat expensive I imagine, but still a possibility.
By Jo
Is there a tree or a pole of some kind that you could attach a wire run to? Or could you install a pole? With the dogs' chains attached to the wire, it is more difficult for them to get tangled, and they could have some freedom to move around safely. With the swivel type attachment on the wire, and a regular leash type catch on the other end to attach to the collars, it should work. Hope this helps.
We have 2 dogs, a brother and sister who are both fixed and a little over a year old. They're medium sized mixed breed dogs that we got from our local shelter. We've had them for almost a year now and in the last 3 weeks they are trying to escape the backyard. It is fenced.
They are let out when my husband goes to work in the morning around 4am sometimes earlier and then come back in around 7-8am. We've brought them back in after they have a potty break before my husband goes to work, but then they bark wanting to be out. I have 2 young children who I do not want up that early so I let them back out.
They are not jumping the fence or digging under it they are jumping, clawing, scratching, biting at the boards, and breaking them to get out. I'm at a loss and now my husband is getting as mad as am I because it's causing issues with my dumb neighbor. We're ready to tie them up for those few hours. Any other suggestions? They spend almost all the rest of the day inside playing with my kids. Help!
I have two half brothers. Mother is a Boston Terrier and dad is unknown for one and a Lab/mix for the other. The past two-three weeks they have become quiet the escape artists! They've dug and pushed the fence out. The Lab/mix has either jumped the fence or climbed on to a table that was leaning against the fence. They usually only do this at night, but here lately it doesn't matter if I'm gone or home. They go roaming the neighborhood.
I love my dogs! One of them I've had since 2012. They are about to drive me and my neighbors crazy. My husband wants me to take them to the local animal shelter or put them on Facebook, but I can't bring myself to do that. I love them both. Plus we have three kids and the Lab and the kids don't get along well. My kids are 5, 3 and 9 months, and the Lab is about a year old and he knocks the older two down all the time. The middle child doesn't mind, but the older one is now terrified of all dogs. Thanks in advance.
My 6 month old Lab puppy jumps over a 4 feet concrete planter barrier to visit my neighbor's back yard. How do I stop this? I need some advise.
Its going to take training....Either you have to be with him 24/7 to stop him each time, or possibly a shock collar. The bigger he gets, the higher he can jump. I have a 10 foot fence around my chicken yard, and our adult lab can get over it.
How do I prevent my Rott from breaking his leash? I live in a trailer park and he has broken his leash. I put him on a chain and now he is breaking my shed.
I don't know what to do to fix this problem. He gets excited when he sees people and is pulling on his leash.I don't mean to sound like I am scolding you but what is your dog doing on a chain in the yard when you aren't out there with him ? If he is too active for your home and doesn't listen, your next call should be to find a local training class. Big dogs can cause serious property damage if left to their own devices and generally bigger lawsuits will follow if you don't take steps to correct his behavior immediately. Rottweilers are on the aggressive dog list, don't become a statistic to it.
Rottweilers cannot simply be chained outside your trailer. They are strong, active dogs. You can tire him out, but not by walking him. You'd have to bike or rollerblade while running him.
Are you allowed to put up anything like a strong, wood fence? You need that more than you need a shed right now.
Lois Lane is a 9 year old Cocker Spaniel and she has been with me since she was a puppy. I have had several grandchildren since she came to me and because she sheds I have recently been keeping her in the backyard which she resents tremendously. If she is not on a leash she crawls under the gate. If she is on a leash she barks all day. Can you suggest an inexpensive fix to keep her in the yard and my sanity?
By Pandora
You might want to try a Puppy Bumper to keep your dog from going under the fence. Puppy Bumpers are stuffed collars that keep dogs from squeezing through small spaces.
With you dog being 9 and being with you since a puppy, is it really fair to put him outside because of grandchildren? For one, how often are they at your home? You mention his shedding. If you brush him daily that is not a problem. Why have a dog if its going to constantly be outside? If I were him I would leave too.
How can I train my 11 month American Pit Bull to stop running out the gate when someone comes in or out of the yard? She has done it twice now and got attacked and injured really badly.
