Can someone please help me with my dog - I'm at my wit's end!?

Question

I have a 5 year old yellow Labrador. Our yard has a 6 ft. privacy fence and she climbs and jumps over it! When she gets loose, she doesn't come back on her own; usually a neighbor finds her and then calls us. I'm so scared she's going to get hit by a car. She is spayed so that's not the problem. I just can't get her to stop! If I catch her in the act and tell her "NO!" she just looks at me, gives a doggy-laugh and takes off! I don't know how to discipline her when she gets back home because she'll think she's being yelled at for coming home rather than for jumping the fence.

Someone please help me! Thank you :)

Answer 1

I recently read an article on shock collars, and how they are humane and work! I was surprised. The amount of dogs and cats killed each year on the road far outweigh any risks to the shock collar, even though there have been 96% success rates and happy customers.

I will probably get TD for suggesting a shock collar, but look at this. -- http://vets.tv/video.php?vid=118&cid=10

It's long to listen too, but if you have that bad of a problem, do the shock collar!

ADD-- Animal Lover, my husband has tried it on himself! He protested to his sister about the use of it on her dog, but after seeing how well it worked to train him, and feeling it himself, he agreed that it was useful, humane, and worth it! I have never used it on my dogs, but I have used a number of different collars to try and control one of my new adopted dogs!

Answer 2

You could try a company called invisible fence. They put a life time guarantee on their fences and will help with training the dog to the fence.

http://www.invisiblefence.com

You may also want to look into a behaviorist/ trainer to help you figure the problem out. Basically, this is a dominance issue and your dog does not respect you as the "leader of the pack" or she wouldn't dare take off without your permission. She should also come when called by their pack leader rather than think it was a game and run off.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Don't leave her out there unsupervised.  Take her out on a leash.

Answer 4

You need a break away fence attached to the top of your fence so that when she gets that high it just dumps her back into her own yard.

Get some 2 ft. wide chicken wire & attach it to the top of the fence in a manner that when she gets that high it will just dump her back into her own yard.  You may have to readjust the wire after she has made an attempt to escape so that it will continue to do it's job.  It needs to be somewhat loose & not rigid so that her weight will pull the fence (chicken wire) down.

Answer 5

You should definitly get an invisible fence. You can run the wire underground along the fence line or you can run it along the top of the fence. Put the collar on her and watch the magic she will get the idea pretty quick. Stay away from the fence or you get zapped. And no this will not harm her try it out on yourself if you want. You should do this before your dog gets hit by a car or otherwise injured.

Answer 6

how does your dog get out of the harnesses?

if the harness fits the dog and is secured properly then it shouldn't be possible!

Answer 7

Get a higher fence.  Try tying your dog up whenever she's in your yard.

Your dog thinks that you're playing a game of chase whenever you go out to catch her and a dog should not be harshly treated once you get a hold of it after it's run away, because why would it want to get caught if it knows that it's just going to get in trouble once you have her.  It would rather keep the game of chase going.

Answer 8

Try an invisible fence.  It may seem cruel as it inflicts a minor shock to your dog each time she passes the line, but not as cruel as letting her get away and possibly injured.  Once she has learned not to pass the limit and run away, then you can remove the invisible fence until she starts escaping again, but I doubt that she will try it again.

Answer 9

Don't let her outside unsupervised. Each time she does it, tell her "NO".

If she can get out of a harness, it's not sized right.  

Answer 10

This may be to the extreme, but you could get her one of those zapping collars that shocks her if she goes out of your yard. After being zapped a few times you could probably take the collar off and she wouldn't run away.

Answer 11

Hehehe... Not to laugh at your predicament but I was just thinking of the "labrador laugh". My 6 year old black lab does the same thing, I can't resist her cuteness.

Anyway. It seems as though you're going to have to make sure she's not outside unsupervised. You don't want to do anything drastic like getting an electric fence or putting anything sharp at the top of the fence as that will undoubtedly harm your dog.

For awhile, make sure you're outside with her and give her a correction when you catch her about to attempt climbing. Maybe even keep her on a tie out long enough to run around but not long enough to get to the fence. You need to associate a negative experience with jumping the fence without harming your dog but enough to make her not want to do it anymore.  

Answer 12

Had the same prob with my Lab....I would only let him outside when I was with him..if he jumped the fence, I went and got him and put him on a chain.  He hated it..freaked out...BUT, I still did it every time, until he finally made the connection in his mind.  When he didn't jump the fence, I praised him and gave him a treat.  I could tell when he was getting ready to jumo the fence,,,,would immed. get him and put him on the chain.  Doesn't take them long to make the connection. I still cannot let him out by himself.  I have to be there.  Good luck..HUGS!!

My sister had to use the shock collar..worked.

Answer 13

Hello hun.

I know how scary it is thinking your dogs out there on its own.

When shes in the yard go out with her on her lead and see what she reacts to. E.g if she doesn't like water when she try to climb up spray her with water. Don't hit the girl though although i know you wouldn't.

Okay so the next step is trying it with out the lead on in the yard (make sure someones standing behind the fence in case) And when she doesn't climb praise her. If she does then just do what she reacted to and then she should get down. If she doesn't then stop then maybe get in touch with a pet behaviorist.

Best of luck

P.s and DONT GET A SHOCK COLLAR! THERE DISCUSTING AND ANYONE THAT WANTS TO USE IT CAN TRY HAVING ONE THEMSELFS!

X