I have been in a three month battle because my neighbor’s dog jumped the fence. The difficulty is not the dog; it is the neighbor who owns the dog.
My neighbor has an unfriendly dog. After three months, again the dog jumped the fence. He is becoming quite skilled. As I write this article my neighbor is outside installing an electric (hot wire) fence to solve the problem. Read about our saga; will the problem of ‘my neighbor’s dog jumped the fence’ be solved.
Month 1 – the dog jumped the fence.
New neighbors moved into the house behind me. They have three dogs. One day a medium sized dog jumped the fence. The dog came nose to nose with my Pit Bull who does not have a love for other male dogs. I was surprised that I was able to call my dog back into the house. It was not so easy with my Beagle puppy but with encouragement she also came. The neighbor called her dog and the dog jumped the fence back into their yard.
This sounds innocent except I observed several things that told me the problem was more serious that it looked. The neighbor’s dog jumped the fence with skill and grace; a practiced accomplishment. The dog was not friendly. And, the neighbor did not seem to be bothered by the incident.
I talked to the neighbor through the fence and expressed my concerns. I spend a lot of time in my yard with my granddaughter and dogs. Someone was going to get hurt! The neighbor assured me her dog jumped the fence because it was friendly. I know dog behavior; this was not a friendly act.
Month 2 – the dog jumped the fence again and again.
One evening I let my puppy out. Within minutes my Beagle puppy began screaming. She was on the porch clawing on the door to get in. I herd the neighbors calling for their dog. The dog jumped the fence back into their yard. As I tried to calm my puppy I saw a puncture bite on her face.
The next morning I visited the neighbors. As I knocked on the door their dog attacked the inside widow trying to get to me. We discussed the attack on my puppy. I gave them a choice of solutions.
Build an extension to the top of the fence. If the dog jumped the fence he would not make it all the way over without falling back.
Attach a hot wire. This is an electric wire used mostly for cattle. If the dog jumped the fence he would receive a minor electrical shock when touching the wire.
Install an invisible fence. An electric boundary wire with a shock collar worn by the dog. If the dog jumped the fence he would receive a minor electrical shock prior to getting to the fence.
Secure the dog with a tie down. The tie down should not be long enough to reach the fence. If the dog jumped the fence he would be restrained before he reached the fence. (Not recommended for long term use.)
Month three – it continued, the dog jumped the fence again.
After the dog jumped the fence and bit my Beagle puppy she developed the habit of constant howling from fear while in the yard. Since the dog jumped the fence my Pit Bull has charged back and forth across the yard patrolling the fence. I fear this will permanently affect my dogs.
We called the police for advice. They said if we thought the dog was a threat then when the dog jumped the fence, shoot it! Though this is a legal option it seemed quite severe just because the dog jumped the fence.
Another visit to the neighbor was in order. We told them of the advice from the police. They promised to do something. We’ll see.
