Sigh. So a couple weeks ago Simba was in a new kennel, and along with getting a staph infection in his nose (now cleared up) the owner told us he had jumped a fence there. I was a bit concerned about this as when we first got him 3 years ago he jumped our fence until we figured out where he was getting over and fixed it so he couldn't get over. I was worried that he would try our fence again. Well, he did. Over the last couple weeks he's gotten out a few times, and of course we have been away for a couple of days and so haven't been able to figure out where. When we got home yesterday we discovered that the back corner where our pile of compost is was the likely place. The chain link had been detached from the top rail, leaving a gaping hole where the pooch could easily squeeze through. So we got that re-attached and for good measure also put some wire over the top as a roof where the two fences meet, so he couldn't get over. Problem solved? No. We came home after having been out for lunch to find our neighbour walking up our driveway, she had found him in their yard and brought him back. On close examination it was fairly obvious that he had gone over the gate, the original spot where he first escaped a couple years ago. You can see where the gate is lower than the fence, and the gap at the top where the fence and gate meet. He obviously jumps and scrabbled up there and get purchase with his paws on the top ledge there, and over he goes. Interestingly enough it looks like he also jumps back in from the other side, as the other side of the gate looks the same.... Drat. So....back to the drawing board. OH is rigging something up to hopefully stop Houdini, but I'm worried that he will just try going over the chain link on the other side, where it is actually not as tall. I mean, now that the idea is in his head.... Our back yard is a safe place for him to be, I hate to have him cooped up in the house all the time when we are gone. It's not like he spends a lot of time out there but I hope we can get it sorted out once and for all.
Aw Simba..... You don't NEED to escape from home. Hope this reoccurring phase is short lived Lisa. Interesting he also comes back in....
I've read about an anti-escape roll-bar you can make from simple PVC tubing and some wire. I have never seen it in real-life and I don't know anyone who has used it. But it sounds quite clever. This one is quite a substantial job: http://yoursassyself.com/roll-bar-fence-diy-keep-your-pets-in-others-out/ But I've seen a simpler version (you could Google it) where just one PVC tube and a piece of wire are used.
I think what @MF is talking about are manufactured as something called Coyote Rollers. Meant to keep coyotes out of course but also effective at keeping dogs in. Since he is getting out at a gate another solution I know some have used, planting thick bushes that prevent him jumping up in the first place, won't work. http://coyoteroller.com/ I bet a handy person could make one.
@Snowshoe that's a great website! I see they have a video demoing how it works. The poor dog who has to demo how it works -- so obediently determined! http://coyoteroller.com/pages/video-series I see it's also good for preventing birds from perching -- much nicer than the spikes I see people put up to prevent pigeons and seagulls from perching on their balconies.
My sister-in-law fenced her back yard with stainless steel cable fence, that was open enough that her dogs could easily walk though between the horizontal cables. (Our Tilly, who never escapes through a fence walked right though it like it was not there.) SIL installed an electric pet fence just inside the permanent fence. It is like an electric cattle fence but much lower voltage. You will feel it if you brush you hand against it, but it does not hurt. When we visited on vacation our Labs got to try it out. Initially it did not work too well because their fur was so thick they did not feel it, however eventually Tilly hit it with her nose and afterwards stayed away from the fence. Cooper either never tried it, or also figured it out, because she never tried to get though the fence. I normally would not recommend it, but if my dog was an escape artist it might be a good solution. You could run a wire near the top, and also at the bottom if digging is a problem. It would be a lot less work and less expensive than the coyote rollers.
