Labrador That Keeps Escaping

[Ellis]

Hi

Just after some advice. A friend has a 4mth old Lab that keeps escaping. She was going over the fence till they extended the fence up now she is digging to get under the fence. She had my dog to play with today & she still escaped. We thought with a buddy she wouldn't want to go anywhere else. Next door has a dog but it is an inside dog so isn't in the yard.

She has toys & children to play with in her own yard but still seems to want to go next door.

Suggestions? Experiences?

[oakway]

The only thing I can suggest is a cement yard with a weld mesh pen.

[sas]

I've been in this situation before but it was next doors dog that kept coming over, although this may not be a solution for you but I had the dog over during the day for about 2 weeks and then the dog got a bit bored of it all and stayed next door.

[shellbyville]

In my opinion and from experience, once a lab has worked out a way of escape, they will keep doing it.

Your friend probably needs to put something down into the ground to stop the dog from digging under. Whether that is concrete around the edges or dig a board or something into the ground around the perimeter.

I have labs and we live on property, we have a huge yard over 1 acre I think, which is fenced all around, but once they decided they would dig under I had so much trouble keeping them in. Because our perimeter is so large, putting something all the way around to stop the digging was unfeasable, so we used an electric fence (I know it sounds terrible), but they only had to have one touch of it and now they don't go near the fence. It didn't hurt them for anymore than a second and has taught them to stay away from the fence. As I said though we are on property with no neighbours so we could do this!

[Klattsy]

My neighbour had a similar problem, his dog used to dig holes so big the dog would be hidden it!

He said he blew up a ballon and put it in the hole and then filled it in, when the dog went to dig there again he hit the ballon and got scared. Never did it again apparantly.

My Jezzy (mixed - with a bit of Lab we think) digs heaps as well and is teaching my cocker boy to do it. We are about to put them in a rocked area so I hope this helps.

Mark.

Edited September 30, 2007 by Klattsy

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Are they giving the dog enough exercise and attention? Sometimes dogs escape because they are bored and lonely, I know that some of that has been addressed but if the situation is that the dog is in the backyard, even with toys/bones etc. that is simply not sufficient for a puppy's happiness.

[Guest Pandii]

Run an electric wire around the perimeter

[Ellis]

Thanks for all the replies. I shall pass it along. The dog is by itself 4 days a week becsuse of adults working & children at school. When I was there yesterday when she got out. The kids had all been out there playing with the dogs & my dog was still in the yard with her when she went next door.

The main worry is in summer if she gets over there during the day she will not have access to water & she seems to get over but not be able to get back.

Thanks again.

[miamay]

Try putting dog droppings in the holes that it digs along the fence............or any where else you don't want dug up. Also a balloon blown up 1/2 in the ground the bang will deter if you are lucky............heaps of toys and a big bone

[Staff'n'Toller]

We have sunk railway sleepers along the back fence where there are dogs on the other side, it was fairly easy to do.

I think before electric fencing this dog really needs an assessment by someone qualified to work out why she doesn't want to stay in her yard.

She should be getting 2 short exercise sessions a day, and not just with the kids in the yard, she needs to go out of the house confines for a good sniffing walk and run if there is a safe enclosed area for her at a park or school.

She should also have environmental enrichment every day- things like stuffed kongs, treat balls, bones, chewies. Toys are only as good as the person on the other end of them, many dogs won't play by themselves.

Has she been to puppy school? It's about time they started obedience with her and build a bond. Is she being supervised at all times with the children? Perhaps they are doing something that is scaring her.

Mel.

[Ellis]

I know she started puppy preschool last week.

As far as supervision with children that I cannot answer that.

I have sent the link to the owner of the dog so she will keep checking responses & I will let her know when there are new responses.

That dog poo one is a good idea.

Thanks everyone.

Beth

[sandgrubber]

In my opinion and from experience, once a lab has worked out a way of escape, they will keep doing it.

...

I have labs and we live on property, we have a huge yard over 1 acre ... once they decided they would dig under I had so much trouble keeping them in. Because our perimeter is so large, putting something all the way around to stop the digging was unfeasable, so we used an electric fence . . .

I have a similar situation. It was one pup, in particular, who made "getting out" into a game and she taught everyone else to play Houdini. They didn't run away. They'd all be waiting at the gate for me to let them back in. An electric fence stopped the game in its tracks, though I now have a mob of Labbies who will chase a rabbit UNDER a normal, poorly hung fence without batting an eye, which calls for caution when it comes to off-line exercise.