Kira went over the fence today! She's never done it before, but she 'loves' cats (not sure if she wants to play with them or eat them) and I think she saw the neighbor's cat in their yard. Next thing you know she is in the neighbor's yard! Our fence is 6' wood boards. Ideas for keeping her in?? Good girl Saber did not follow. She came back up to the door to let me know something was wrong. BTW I don't leave them in the yard... they were out for maybe 5 minutes to potty. Ideas?? *edited to add a picture of the dog's yard. She went over the fence on the left side of the picture.

Zeeva has scaled fences, brick walls, wooden walls 6 feet high (maybe higher?) as well...

But Zeeva does it slowly so I keep an eye on her. Seems like your girl went over quick.

I've had a few suggestions in the past including running an e-wire fence around the top perimeter of the wall/fence or underground; I've even had someone describe to me rolling rods that you can put up so the pup does not have anything to use as leverage. Maybe putting up a privacy fence...

I'll search my post to see if I can find other suggestions but I'm sure in the meantime others will have options for you too.

Good luck.

P.S. It's terrifying when this begins to happen to us. I would try to nip it quickly before it becomes habit...

Kira!!!

Maybe put something at the top that slants in toward the yard?

Kira vom Snoozhaus!!!

This thing (rolling rods) on top of a fence keeps dogs in and coyotes out, and doesn't take away from the looks of a fence:
http://www.coyoteroller.com/

An inward sloping fence top should work just as well of course, at least to keep dogs in. I've only seen them as mesh netting to keep cats in:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Catproof-Your-Yard/

Kira and my Ciara must be related! Ciara also goes over a 5 1/2 foot fence.

We put an extension up that added about 2 feet to the fence and put a fine mesh netting (deer netting) up across the extension. It hangs down over the top rails, so she can't get her paws on the rail to help pull herself over.

That has been successful for us at keeping her in. It's not especially attractive, but the dogs' yard is well inside our property lines and mostly hidden from the street by trees and bushes. If I was more concerned about the appearance, I think I'd consider Sarah's second option with the inward sloping fence top.

Great ideas!! That netting system is awesome, and Kira would LOVE it if cats jumped in and were stuck in the net, lol. Would have to be a really dumb cat to try and come in OUR yard though.

My wheels are turning, all these great suggestions... hmmm. I predict a trip to the hardware store in my very near future.

Also I leave my dogs naked all the time (aside from sock-nosewear on Saber) and they only wear a collar for walks, but this sure has me reconsidering. I wouldn't want my little snoozhaus to get out and not make her way back!! That would be awful. So I think she's just going to have to wear a collar 24/7. I worry about a collar getting hung on things or Saber getting under it or breaking a tooth on metal parts when bitey facing. I think I need a new fabric collar for Kira that is not a martingale, with her name and number embroidered on it, with a plastic buckle. Anyone have a favorite collar store where I could find that kind of collar? Preferably in a girl fabric. People tend to be wary of black dawgs which is why her martingale is purple with white daisies and a bright yellow daisy tag (looks girly and friendly).

Re safe collars, Elly has a break away collar. Available at Amazon.

I get my guys collars from http://www.pikoda.com/
She's temporarily closed but the website says she hopes to get back to work the beginning of Dec.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-KeepSafe-1-Inch-Medium-Break-Away/dp/B0002H3ZOY
Dog can't hang herself on a fence with a break away collar, and another dog's canine cannot get locked in the collar when they play. With enough pressure, the collar opens.

Sarah,

I've been thinking about a breakaway collar, but do you think it would break away if someone was holding it trying to read her tags and help her get home? Do those breakaway on a walk if the dog spots a cat and pulls? Kira is a bit of a spaz about cats.

I used to use a breakaway collar for Aodhán and it would open up if she pulled hard. When I walked her with it, I'd hook the leash to both rings on the collar.

Shawn, there are D-rings at both ends of the collar and the leash hook bridges the plastic snap. As Johanna said, that's how it works on leash walks.

If a lost dog struggles to get away from a finder, and the finder holds the collar on the strap, it would break open. But then, the finder would have the collar with the tag to call you, and the dog is nearby. In my experience when I found dogs, if they are flighty enough to not want to be held by the collar, you won't get to hold them by the collar. And I would look carefully before holding on against the dog's will as restraining by the collar can provoke a nip or worse. If possible, I quickly leash them, usually with a loop rather than a clip on. Sometimes lure them with food but watch for food aggression before reaching for the collar if the food is on the ground.

Did I say I like harnesses?! I do.

Elly wears her break-away for play dates and when she gets kenneled while I travel. Otherwise she has a rolled leather martingale collar from the days when she was a bucking bronco. Rolled leather for fur saving. I use the dead ring now. Outside she also usually wears a harness with a handle. At home they don't wear anything. Only time this would be an issue if there were a fire and they'd need to bolt out and panic. Pray, pray that that never happens. My indoor cats don't wear collars either. I have break away kitty collars with my cell phone number in case I ever need to travel with them.

Hope you can secure the fence with the roller or netting so Ms von Fenceclimbhaus won't get out again

Wow!! Kira!

I worry about Mayhem doing this with squirrels. She can jump about 4 feet straight up with all four feet off the ground.

I like www.cozycritter.com

Fun colors and fabrics with embroidery. They also do harnesses.

Good to know on the breakaway collars, Sarah, thanks. LOL at von Fenceclimbhaus!!

I like the cozy critter collars too. My daughter thinks the light green collar with pink ladybugs suits Kira, or the floral ones

I let the dogs out practically every time I walk to the kitchen because they like to run out on the deck and scope out the surroundings, so having something on her all day is going to become the new regular. She's wearing her daisy martingale right now but I am going collar shopping soon.

This wholt thing totally took me by surprise! Kira really IS a Snoozhaus, with 0 drive for anything but sleep and snuggling, very happy and super calm and doesn't even bark unless I ask her if she wants her food. But she turns into a totally different dog when she sees a cat, perking up and pulling, clawing, howling to try and get to it! Our cat is not interested in finding out Kira's intentions. The cat who lives at the vet, though, walked right up to Kira and rubbed on her legs. You shoulda seen Kira's face. I think she wondered if she was dreaming. She did not try to harm the cat