Securing your yard - What you need to know to prevent lost dogs

Topic: Pet Identification

Filed under Dogs

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There are a great number of dogs that seem to be escape artists that would put David Copperfield to shame. Many of the dogs that seem to escape out of secured yards are just exceptionally gifted at jumping, climbing or digging, however some breeds are very intelligent and can figure out how to unlatch gates and even push on boards until they loosen and come off. Checking your fence and yard security on a regular basis and keeping everything in good repair is absolutely essential both to keep your dog in and to keep stray dogs out.

Fence Types

There are two basic fencing materials used in most fences and often the difference between the two is really a personal preference of the owner. One of the most common types of fences is the wooden privacy fence, which prohibits or limits the dog from seeing outside the yard as the perpendicular, wide slats cut down on the view of the street and surrounding areas. Privacy fences are a good idea if you have a dog that is a chronic or problem barker. Since the dog cannot see outside of the yard he or she may be less likely to bark at everything that passes on the street or sidewalk.

Wooden privacy fences are also sturdy and typically not difficult to keep in good repair. If you have bushes or trees alongside the fence, pay particular attention to the planks in these areas as they often become soft and pliable and the nails tend to rust since the area is kept damp by the shade from the vegetation. Regular painting or staining will also help preserve the wood and prevent rot and damage.

Dogs that dig can often find ways to get out of a wooden privacy fence, especially if you have flower beds with soft dirt next to the fence. A terrier can make short work of digging underneath, as they only need a few inches to squeeze through to freedom. You may want to consider placing landscaping edging plastic into the ground along the base of the fence at least 4 inches to discourage digging. A dedicated digger will still be able to get out, but these dogs may need to be kept in a special run or kennel system. These kennels or runs typically have concrete or hard flooring and a secure wooden or wire fence that extends into the soil beside the cement floor area or affixes directly to the floor to prevent digging of any kind.

Chain link metal fence or decorative wrought iron fencing is also popular in some areas. It is very secure and durable, plus the bottom five or six inches of the fence can be submerged below the soil surface to prevent escape through digging. Metal fencing is more expensive and slightly more difficult to put up initially, but it takes much less repair time over the life of the fence.

If you have a dog that jumps or climbs, chain link or decorative wrought iron fencing may not be the best option as most of these fences are only four feet tall, an easy jump for many breeds, even smaller breeds of dogs. If you are using decorative fencing make sure the dog cannot squeeze between the metal bars, you may be surprised at the small spaces a dog can get through when they really want to.

Metal fencing will require little upkeep, especially if it is treated to prevent rust and oxidation. Monitor the areas where the wire or chain link attaches to the posts and also watch for signs of stress against the posts or the fence itself. Any sharp pieces of metal or wire need to be carefully removed or filed to prevent injury to the dog as he or she runs alone the fence or presses against the metal.

Gates and Locks

Gates accidentally left open or unlatched are the most common issues with dogs getting out of a yard or enclosure. Consider using a spring loaded hinge that closes the gate against the fencepost from the inside, preventing the dog from pushing against the gate and opening it up. When the fencepost or latch post is on the outside and the gate opens inwards, the dog would have to pull the gate toward them to open it. Some dogs will figure this out, but most will jump against the gate, which will only secure it.

Latches need to be more than a simple hook or bolt latch. Many dogs quickly learn how to jar the latch up on the hook latch or even draw the bolt back on the bolt variety. Of course if the latch is up high enough that the dog cannot reach it this is not an issue. In most families the latches aren't up that high since children couldn't get the gate opened or closed.

Look for latches that have a double security feature. The hook style latches typically come with a hole drilled through the metal latch, allowing you to place a pin through the hole, which prevents the latch from being drawn up to unlock the gate. The pin can be attached to the latch using a small chain, making a doubly secure gate that is still easy to open. Bolt style latches need to have notches cut in the top or bottom of the slider that allow you to twist the bolt up or down to lock it into position. Again these mechanisms make the yard and gate secure but are still easy to open for children and family members.

Latches that simply drop over a gate post are not generally effective unless the dog is small enough that he or she cannot reach the loop over the gate. Larger breeds can easily learn to stand up on their hind legs and unlatch the gate to freedom.

Look around at various commercially available kennels to see the types of locks that they use. These are often the best options and with a bit of modification they can be attached to your fence and gate. If you aren't a handyman don't worry, there are fencing professionals in most areas that have experience in designing and installing dog safe fencing that is sure to keep your dog contained and safe.

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