Fence jumping problem

[mollysmom]

I am pulling my hair out. Gracie has been jumping the 4 ft. fence. It's a game to her, she runs to the front door thinking she's won the prize. She really has me worried because she does it every time we let her out, yelling etc, makes no difference. We have installed a run for her so she can run the length of the yard, but it doesn't reach the fencing.

Tonite Emma escaped over the fence. I can't install 2 runs, they'd tangle. I could let them out one by one, but my problem with Emma is that she's so strong she will make mince meat of the cable in no time.

Here's a solution my hubby and son came up with. This is where I would like input. They want to run a low current electric wire for sheep on the inside of the top of the fence, held in about a foot from the fence top so that when they try to jump, they will learn not to.(zapped) I know nothing about this and if it's cruel, I would never do it.

We have a nice sized yard for the girls to run in and it would make me unhappy to take it away from them. They romp and play out there often.

If you have any ideas for this problem, please please let me know !!!! my girls' safety depends upon being able to contain them safely.

[ 01-03-2003, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: mollysmom ]

 

[torydog]

Hello Molly's mom we have a similar issue. But Tory is going under the fence. I recectly looked into wireless fencing. The dogs wear collars and you don't have to run any wires. If you know anything about these fences let me know.

Cheri and Tory

 

[mollysmom]

Hi Cheri, I do know a little about the wireless fences and they won't work in my case. My fear is that if they get through the field on their way out, they will not want to come back in. It isn't an option for us. Our neighbor has it and did the entire training for his dog with it and all I can hear from his house is "Well there she goes.... this fence is worthless". They did extensive training and she just bounds through the "zone" not paying any attention to where she is. Then he can't get her to come back in voluntarily.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Elizabeth]

Just my two cents.
Yes, an electric wire should do the trick. Set it on a low setting and see how it feels to you.
I would do it if I had that kind of situation and couldn't afford to install 6 foot.
My neighbors did it with their dogs and it worked.

As for dogs pushing out wire on the bottom, I stated my solution in another thread, but can't remember which one....
Run guy wire through the bottom holes of the fence and tighten it with the bolts.
We did it with our dearly departed rottie and have never had a problem since. Cannot push out that fence.

I would never do invisible fencing. You cannot keep things out, the dogs can and do escape, and sometimes they won't come back because of the shock they recieve. Plus, you'd have to keep a section of hair shaved so the collar is touching the skin in order for the shock to work.

Elizabeth

 

[brady]

Brady was also trying to get out the bottom of the fence. My husband was going to put in the wire at the bottom, but we got snow so that will wait until spring. I am afraid the snow will get so high in the back yard, the boys will just be able to walk over the fence. I don't think Brady would (you never know) but Tim is the one that may try it. Our neighbor at the end of the street has a wireless fence. It seems to work for him, but I am afraid of the animals and people coming in our yard and walking off with our babies. We have a dead end street that ends in our back yard. They are so friendly they would probably just go.

 

[ROM Newf]

A friend has had to use the snowblower inside the fenced yard so the snow wouldn't get high enough for the dogs to walk over the fencing.

As for going under the fence, I've got 2"x8" boards attached to the bottom of the chain link using u-shaped bolts which fit around the upright poles. Sure stopped the dog from going under. Have also used the vinyl-covered wire shelves (for closets and storage areas) that you can buy in Walmarts, Home Depot, etc. Attach these to the bottom of the fence with cable ties. Makes it hard for the dog to lift the fence.

Before we had the 6' chain link we had a shorter weld-wire fence- which the dogs we had then could climb over. We used the electric fencing (for livestock- not the invisible fencing) and it worked. Our biggest problem was the dogs' fenced area was not adjacent to the house and we had to run a long, heavy-duty extension cord. There is one kind that uses batteries but don't waste your money on a battery-operated fence charger (transformer?)- the batteries run down too fast.
Linda

 

[dmcgynn]

Linda if Gracie is the only problem right now why don't you just put her on one of the 50ft leads? I know she might chew through but coat it with toabasco sauce or bitter apple or something and see if that helps. You and I both know that she is going through the terrible twos LOL so figure out what works so I can use it on Bailey when she reaches that age.

your best buddy
Me

 

[Maggiesmom]

A friend of mine had similar problems some when under some went over what she did was run hot wire (the electric zappy fence used for horses) on strand around the top edge and one around the bottom. That way the jumpers got a poke and stopped jumping and the diggers got a poke and stopped digging. A Couple things to keep in mind, with the bottom strand you gotta keep the grass trimmed under the wire cuz if it gets long enough it can ground out that wire and it wont be zappy. Also she always had to keep hers going cuz she had some that would test the wires every so often to see if they were still on. If they were off they were out of there. But it did work REALLY well for her.

 

[Jeannie]

I would go for the hot wire around the top. All animals tend to respect electric shock. One time is all it will take. Not too expensive and for safety you can turn it off when the dogs are not out.