A fence extension can keep your dog safely in your yard without you having to increase the height of the fence or resort to chains or shock collars. Fence extensions are not unattractive and many are easily removed and transported to a new fence if the owner needs to move. This is a great solution to the problem of dogs climbing or jumping fences.
Many homeowners have the problem of keeping their dogs in their yards because the dog climbs the fence. Many of the solutions to this are unsightly or unwieldy. “Invisible fences” have their problems too, as some dogs ignore the shock and the invisible fence does not protect the dog from people or other animals like a conventional fence does. Building a new fence or a taller fence is not within many owners’ means and some areas prohibit fences above a certain height.
One answer is to install a fence extension that extends about a foot inward. This stops a dog from being able to get purchase on the top of the fence, with which it can launch itself off the top and out of the yard. Since dogs’ bodies aren’t set up to reach behind their ears, Rover will have to get used to staying in his own yard. In addition to preventing your dog from getting hit by a car, this also prevents the injuries that are caused by a 6 foot drop onto hard surfaces.
Currently, there are companies offering attractive, easily installed extensions for moderate pricing. These come in many styles, materials and attachment types. There are many that are designed to pop on and off the fence for when you are moving or showing the house and don’t want the buyers to be distracted by the unusual fence setup or want to keep the extension as part of the chattels.
You can also make your own extension with boards, chain link or plywood. Some people have found success by bending panels of welded wire to a 45 degree angle and wiring one part of the panel to the existing fence. Welded wire has the stiffness that keeps it upright. If one wants to use chain link or wood, brackets will have to be used to solidly extend the material from the fence. Depending on how handy you are, you can make an attractive “shelf” or curving extension that doesn’t detract from the look of your yard. Ask your local hardware store or fencing supplier for solutions if you are stuck on something.
With careful planning and construction, you can have a fence that keeps your dog in the yard without having to reconstruct your entire fencing set up or violate your neighborhood’s fencing height restrictions. Safe fencing solutions are the key to keeping a wandering dog in the yard and will prevent accidents and injuries that my otherwise occur.
