There are multiple reasons your dog may be escaping your yard. Whether their escape tactics are born out of sexual desire, social frustration, or just plain boredom, it is important to keep your dog fenced in. Every time they escape, they could face dire consequences – getting hit by a car or a fight with another dog are only a couple examples of the threats they face when they decide to wander on their own. 

Why dogs escape

• Social frustration

One reason your dog may be escaping could be due to the fact that they are bored and lonely. If they are left alone for long periods of time, if their environment lacks playmates or toys, if they are young and don’t have outlets for their energy, or if they are an active breed they may seek out more entertaining environments when they escape your yard.

In order to limit this behavior, make sure you are socializing your dog properly. Give them time to interact with people and other dogs. This keeps their perspective fresh and life interesting. Walk your dog daily, teach your dog new commands, and provide interesting toys – these are all ways to stimulate your furry friend mentally and physically. When you are gone during the day and cannot supervise your dog, make sure you keep him or her indoors. This will ensure that they cannot escape at all. On the other hand, if you are gone for extended periods of time, think about taking your dog to work with you or asking a friend or neighbor to watch them. Another option is to take them to a doggie daycare center.

• Sexual Roaming

Dogs become sexually mature around six months of age which can lead to some unwanted pet behavior. Intact males often have a strong desire to find a mate and a lot of willpower to do so, leading them to escape in order to find a girlfriend.

If your male dog partakes in this behavior, it is a good idea to have him neutered. Studies show that having your dog neutered can decrease sexual roaming by 90 percent. It is important to get your dog neutered as soon as possible so their escaping habits diminish.

If you have a female dog, you can get her spayed. If intact females escape while in heat, they have a significantly high chance of getting pregnant. Unintentional breeding can lead to negative outcomes and contribute to a pet overpopulation problem – millions of dogs are euthanized each year. 

• Phobias

Your dog may escape due to fear caused by loud noises, thunderstorms, or construction sounds. To combat this issue, you can figure out what instills fear in your dog and desensitize them to it. You can begin by talking to your trainer or veterinarian about where to begin.

Keep your dogs indoors if there is any chance of a fear stimulus outside. This will decrease their likelihood of escaping. 

• Separation Anxiety

Your dog’s motivation to escape maybe because they have separation anxiety. They may be trying to escape due to separation anxiety if they try to escape right after you leave, they display a strong sense of attachment to you, they are left alone often, and many other reasons. The best way to end this behavior is through a series of desensitization techniques and counter-conditioning.

How Dogs Escape

• Climbing

Some dogs are able to climb a fence, using part of it to push off and get themselves over the top. If your dog escapes using this method, think about adding an extension to your fence. An important characteristic of this fence is that it should tilt inward at a 45-degree angle – this prevents them from jumping or climbing over it. You should also make sure there are no structures or chairs nearby that your dog could use as leverage to get themselves over the fence.

• Digging

If your dog digs underneath the fence in order to escape to freedom, you can bury chicken wire at the base of your fence with the sharp edges rolled inward. You can also lay chain-link fencing on the ground or place rocks at the base of your fence. 

You should not chain or tether your dog to any stationary object as this could lead to aggressive behavior. 

There are many reasons why your dog may be escaping. It is important to evaluate your furry friend’s behavior so you can understand the motives behind their escape. This can help you find a solution quickly and effectively. If none of the previous methods work, you can combat this behavior by installing a fence extension or burying chicken wire beneath your fence.