I have a 2.5 yr. old male (intact) GSD who is pretty well obedience trained. Him and my female (spayed) gsd share a back yard together inside of a 6-foot privacy fence.

I have worked with my dog from a pup to climb things and to be able to jump things, such as fences. Although I NEVER did this at my home.

Yesterday I was out front with the female while he was in the back. Thinking back, I guess this is the first time this has ever happened. Apparently he felt he was missing out and jumped the fence and came out front to where we were.

A few minutes afterwards I put both dogs in the back. I went to my car to leave and he again jumped the fence and came to me. Sidenote, they LOVE to go for rides with me.

So now I suddenly have a big problem. I'm afraid to leave my house with him in the back. I'm afraid I'll come home and he'll be gone.

What might I do??? I realize I can work with him and teach him NOT to jump my fence. But if the urge it soo strong he knows he can easily get out. So I'm also considering a major modification (what, I don't know yet) to my fence to literally make it impossible (or close to impossible) for him to leave. I would appreciate all of the advice I can get. I need it! Thank you in advance to all.

Well, this is not an unusual problem.

There are a couple of options, but the cheapest easiest fix is a small animal fence charger and some wire around the top of the fence. Most dogs that jump fences usually hook their front feet over the top, and the electric current is just enough to make them re-think that idea. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Or you could do higher fence, or underground fence that keeps him away from the fenceline... or razor wire <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Or you could build an outdoor kennel.

The only problem I've seen with jumpers and fence chargers, is that a some dogs, once zapped, will learn to clear the fence if the urge is strong enough. I vote for a higher fence and charger, or as L. said an outdoor kennel. The least expensive is the charger. Worth a try if you don't create a high jumper. With a sixft privacy fence, you should be ok with the charger.

I knew a dog that had been taught by the kids to climb their 8ft chain link fence. If he was bored he would pop over the fence quick as a bunny and go for a city tour. Needless to say the owner had a lot of calls from the SPCA. Her fix was to keep him inside if he wasn't supervised in the backyard.
As to the electric fence idea...isn't the same sort of technique used to train some show jumping horses to tuck their front hooves up when they jump so they'll clear the obstacle?

Clearing a 6ft privacy fence, although possible, is probably not going to happen. The one problem I'v thought of since I read the first post is, on a wooden privacy fence, how do you ground the dog. If he is making contact with the top, his feet will be off the ground and no metal fence, no ground. I would be leary of putting an additional lower wire for fear of the dog getting tangled. Any one have a solution for a "hot" wire on a wooden fence?

A roofed outdoor kennel would be the most secure situation for a dog that can escape.

Could you get some mesh and add it to the top of the fence, only tilt it inward? I've seen similar contraptions used to keep cats in a yard. The width and height will make it very hard to jump.

Having a fence that tilts inward at the top is a good suggestion. A dog's spine simply does not bend that way so it would make jumping or climbing the fence nearly impossible.

If you know how to use it, give him the E-collar. A few zaps on low stimulation would solve it I'd think. Watch through the window, when he tries it or attempts . . . give the zap!

It's reasons like this why I want to learn this device as well as I can.