Dog keeps escaping

leiela

Im totally at my witt's end, my dog keeps escaping from her pen in the backgarden and i can not work out how she's doing it.

she's surrounded by a 7ft fence on 3 sides all of which i've checked and double cheaked there are no holes, gaps or dodgy panel's it all looks perfectly secure. The 4th side is made up of a 4ft fence topped with a trellis upto the 7ft mark, and that all seems secure.

Yesterday i decided the only way it was physically possible for her to be escaping was for her to be some how squeezing though the gap bettween the treillis on the fence and the trellis on the gate, by using her weight to widen the gap(by pushing the gate forwards, tilting it) this would still mean her getting herself over the 4ft portion of the fence, last night i used a grow bag rested up against the bottom of the gate so it had no room for manouver and threaded rope though every hole in the trellis on both sides of the gap so it was compleatly sealed.

This morning i found my gate and trellis still 100% secure and her yet again wandering the streets very happy to see me and very proud of herself.

Now my only idea is that she is somehow managing to get OVER the 7ft fence, i wasn't aware dogs could climb but seriously i can't see any other way she's managing to get out or that she's managing to get up over the 4ft portion and squeezing though the holes in the trellis (they are about 6in square) Both idea's seem insane she's a german shepard cross she's not a small or agile dog... at least you wouldnt thing so.

Im totally at my witt's end i spend 2 hours watching out of my bedroom window last light waiting for her to escape to see how she was doing it and still she managed to wait till i'd gone to bed..

I don't know what to do i'm at the point now where my only option seems to be to tie her to something in her pen and i really think it's cruel to have her tied up all day and all night.

Hintza

Oh they can climb. Our border terrier scaled some chicken fencing to get on top of a Guinea Pig cage which was attached to a garden shed which she then attacked and broke through resulting in her killing one of the Guinea Pigs. You will just have to keep watching try and fool her that you are all out of the house. Bang front door and get family to leave by car or whatever.

You might need to put some chicken wire at a 45 degree angle (in towards the pen) on the trellis part but better to know for sure before wasting time and money. (Or roof the pen with chicken wire))

ailuro2

Pur dog was barely a foot high but could leap a 6ft fence no probs.

Put some mesh over the top and see if it still escapes.;)

Tallymanjohn

You'll love this one: http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2008/sophie-dog-escapes-p1.php

We had a rescued beagle that had to eventually be returned to Beagle Welfare because he kept getting out of our garden - it's just a challenge to them.

UKTigerlily

Is she Spayed? Is the pen large? Just thinking of why she'd want to escape. They can jump 7ft no worries, I think an Irish Staff jumped 7ft & has a record! Could you put something really tasty outside the pen that she'd just have to have right now & would go for? Then go in & watch?

foreign_correspondent

As I seem to remember you saying your dog was older, and not very well, I bet she is going under it somehow - I used to have a terrier that could get through impossibly small gaps, and when she did, she invariably used to take herself off to the local shop and beg for sweets outside!!! (the embarrasment!:o)

I once saw her escape, and went out after her, calling her, she 'went deaf', ignored me, and trotted off across the road, after stopping at the kerb, and looking both ways :T (how did she know to do that? I have no idea!)

I used to have to frequently go out and spot any gaps and plug them, put bricks etc in the way, or she would be through!

oystercatcher

Tallymanjohn wrote: »

You'll love this one: http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2008/sophie-dog-escapes-p1.php

We had a rescued beagle that had to eventually be returned to Beagle Welfare because he kept getting out of our garden - it's just a challenge to them.

That is amazing !! Thank you!!

Oystercatcher

border_collie

Is she in the pen all the time?

pink_piggy17

How long is she in the pen each day?
How much exersize does she get?

If she is put in the pen all day and all night without exersize it is probably boredom/loneliness driving her to escape.

Why can't she sleep in the house at night? It's far safer anyway, what if she escapes and is run over by a car or stolen?

foreign_correspondent

For the people asking about the dog being in the garden - There are several older threads about this dog, IIRC leiela has tried lots of things and is not entirely happy that the dog is in the garden either, but I understand that as a result of several factors it is perhaps the least unkind option in the circumstances, although certainly not ideal.

Leiela, how is your dog doing now? I remember she was thought to be quite unwell a while ago, I am pleasantly surprised to read she is still so full of life and energy!?

I do think you need to sort this problem quickly though, otherwise the dog could get run over or cause an accident. Is she getting enough exercise and stimulation, as this could be a factor, as the last two posters have said?

janeys

just a thought, could you put some bells on the fence so that they would make a noise. You could then watch for her when you heard the noise, or it might deter her from getting out.