Having a german shepherd jumping over a fence can be extremely nerve-racking. If you’re fortunate, they can only get into your neighbours garden. However, if you’re unfortunate, they may end up getting onto the street.
Either way, you’ll need to act quickly in order to make sure they don’t come into harm. In this article, you’re going to find out 12 GREAT tactics you can use to stop them from jumping the fence. You’ll also learn why they do it, how high they can jump, and what to look for if you plan on purchasing a new fence!
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Why Is Your German Shepherd Jumping Over Your Fence?
There are lots of different reasons that can cause your german shepherd to jump over the fence. And if you want to deal with the problem properly, then you should be aware of each of them.
Knowing the reason can often help you figure out the right tactic to stop. However, just remember most tactics are only going to fix the symptom, not the cause. If you want to fix the cause then you’ll need to use a good training program!
Here are the main reasons your german shepherd could be jumping the fence.
They Want To Chase Something
If your german shepherd can see other dogs, squirrels, foxes etc, then they’re going to have the urge to chase them.
Chasing is deeply ingrained into your dog and if you don’t train them correctly, it’s going to be hard to get them not to jump over the fence!
They’re Trying To Greet Someone
When you have a german shepherd you know they’re a lot friendlier than they look. Your german shepherd might be jumping over your fence to say hello to someone or something!
While this can be problematic, you should remember to be happy that you have such a friendly german shepherd!
They Hear Something
German shepherds are very territorial and also have very good hearing. If your german shepherd hears something, they may feel it needs investigating.
The quickest way for them to see and investigate it is by jumping over the fence, which is exactly what you’re seeing.
They’re Bored
This is one of the most common reasons that your german shepherd might jump over a fence. If you’re not giving them enough things to do in your yard, then they’re going to become bored.
When they’re bored, whatever is on the other side of the fence is going to be extremely enticing to them, especially if they can hear and see it.
They’re Lonely
As well as being bored, a german shepherd that’s left in the yard all day will also become lonely.
If you’re not paying your german shepherd enough attention throughout the day, then they are a lot more likely to jump over the fence.
They Might Be Scared
You may know that your yard is safe, but your german shepherd doesn’t. If there are lots of loud noises, like cars honking or fireworks, then they’re not going to feel safe at all.
In an attempt to find somewhere safe to go, they may jump the fence.
They’re Looking For A Mate
While this is more likely in males, it can happen with both sexes. If your german shepherd knows there’s a dog of the opposite sex nearby, they may jump the fence to get to them.
If this is the case, not only are you going to have to worry about your german shepherd getting hurt on the street, you also have to worry about them getting pregnant too!
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can happen in any dog, and one of the signs may be that your german shepherd is jumping over your fence.
If you think they have separation anxiety, then there are normally other symptoms associated with it as well. For example, when you’re not around you may hear them whining, howling, and barking.
As well as this, you may also notice them being extremely restless when you’re not there, chewing on things, and pacing.
They’re Young
If you’ve got a german shepherd that’s still quite young then they are more likely to jump over the fence.
This is because they have lots of energy all of the time when compared to senior dogs. So if they’re not getting the energy out of their system, then they’re more likely to jump.
How High Can Your German Shepherd Jump?
German shepherds can jump between 4-6 feet high on average. However, they have been known to jump up to 10 feet in the air.
So if your fence is smaller than 6 feet, it’s no wonder they’re able to jump over it. But don’t worry. You’re about to find out all the ways you can get them to stop!
How To Stop Your German Shepherd Jumping The Fence
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can stop your german shepherd jumping the fence! And while the most effective methods are going to cost a tiny amount. It’s still going to be extremely cheap!
Especially when you consider it a price for keeping your pup safe!
Training Them
If you haven’t trained your german shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether they’re jumping, barking, or even growling and biting, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs, you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to let your dog out without worrying they’re going to escape! Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior, or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here, to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
Add Coyote Rollers To Your Fence
Coyote rollers are great for keeping coyotes out, but they’re also going to be great for keeping your german shepherd in.
They’re essentially a roller that you attach to the top of your fence. When your german shepherd tries to jump over the fence, he’ll grab a hold of the roller. However, it’s going to begin rolling, causing your german shepherd to lose their grip and stay in the garden.
Coyote rollers are only going to be effective if your german shepherd already struggles to jump out and needs to climb. If they can jump out without touching the fence then they’re not going to be worth it.
Move Anything That Can Help Them Jump
Watch what your german shepherd does the next time they get out. You may notice that he isn’t jumping out on his own, but he has an aid.
If you notice your german shepherd is jumping onto something before jumping out of the fence then remove whatever it is. It could be his dog house, a bin, or anything else they can stand on comfortably.
In some cases, this alone is going to stop your german shepherd from getting out. Just remember, if you do this, you’re not going to be fixing the core problems, only the symptoms.
Don’t Let Them See Out
Anything your german shepherd sees outside their fence may want them to jump over. So it makes sense to stop them from being able to see out.
If you have a fence that you can see through such as chain link then you’ll need to cover the holes. A great, inexpensive way to do this is with reed fencing, which you can attach to your fence.
However, if you want a more natural look you could try adding lots of plant life around the edge of your garden which will block your dog’s view.
Keep Them Entertained
Keeping your german shepherd entertained is a great way to keep them in your garden. The trick is to make your garden more fun than anything that’s going on outside.
So fill it with lots of toys they can play with. Toys that exercise their minds, as well as their bodies, are the best choice.
That’s why so many people use a KONG when they’re not home. You can fill it with treats which they’ll struggle to get out. They’ll be so focused on trying to get the treats out, they won’t notice what’s going on around them.
And remember, don’t give your german shepherd the same toy every day. Make sure you’re mixing it up so they don’t become bored with the same old thing.
Don’t Leave Them Alone Too Long
If you leave your german shepherd alone for too long, no matter how good they are, they’re going to want to get out.
Just like us, german shepherds are social animals, so they’re going to need to spend a lot of time around other people.
Ideally, you shouldn’t leave your german shepherd alone for more than 4-6 hours at a time. However, if you do have too, make sure that you spend lots of time with them before and after.
If you don’t do this then they may become lonely, and look for interaction outside their garden.
Make Sure They Feel Safe
If your german shepherd is stuck in their yard and they don’t feel safe then they may try to escape. One of the best ways you can make them feel safe is by giving them a dog house.
Once they have a dog house they can go there to feel like they’re protected. This is especially important if you live in a large neighborhood and your pup gets frightened easily.
As well as adding a dog house you can also try spending time in the garden with them, so they get used to being out there.
Exercise Them
German shepherds are exceptionally active dogs and they’re going to need at least an hour of exercise a day. Ideally off the lead.
If you’re not walking your german shepherd or playing with them for a good amount of time, then they’re going to become extremely restless.
And once they’re restless everything is going to grab their attention and entice them to leave.
So good exercise is a great way to stop your german shepherd from jumping over the fence as well as stopping other bad behavior as well!
Keep Them Inside When You’re Not There
Why don’t you keep your dog inside when you’re not around? You can use stair gates and close doors to make sure they’re not getting anywhere they shouldn’t be.
Not only are you going to have the peace of mind that they’re not running away, but they’re going to be a lot safer inside as well.
And a dog that’s left outside all the time is going to be a lot easier for a person to steal.
Consider Doggy Day Care
Have you ever considered doggy daycare for your german shepherd? If not then it’s definitely something you should look into!
I pay $10 a week for my dog to be taken on a long walk with lots of other dogs. When she comes back she’s completely exhausted and doesn’t have the energy to do anything! Especially jumping over the fence.
It’s also a great way to keep them socialized if they don’t see many other dogs as well.
So why not treat them once a week!
Have Them Spayed/Neutered
If you don’t plan on letting your german shepherd breed, you should consider getting them spayed or neutered.
It’s the most effective way to make sure they’re not going to have puppies, and it’s also going to decrease the chance of them trying to escape.
If you have a female in heat they won’t even need to escape. If you leave them in their yard alone all the time, there’s a chance that a dog will come to them.
By spaying/neutering, you’re also going to reduce the risk of some illnesses and diseases. One of my golden retrievers sadly passed away from an illness that could have been prevented if she’d been spayed.
So if you do want to keep them safe, it can definitely be an effective choice.
Build A Second Fence
When your german shepherd jumps over your fence, oftentimes they’re going to need a run-up. A great way from stopping them from getting a run-up is by building a second smaller fence.
The fence only needs to be a foot high and a couple of feet in front of the other fence to stop your german shepherd jumping.
But once again, this is only going to stop your german shepherd’s symptoms, not the main cause of bad behavior
Plant Lots Of Plants
If you don’t fancy putting up a second fence, you can also try filling your garden with plants and plant pots.
Plants and plant pots can be a great alternative to a fence, and they have the added benefit of making your garden look a lot nicer as well! (Although they’re more effort to maintain.)
Use A Jump Harness (Temporarily)
If you need to stop your german shepherd jumping right away, then a jump harness can be effective. However, it should only be used temporarily and sparingly.
A jump harness is going to restrict your german shepherds back legs so that they can’t jump. They’re effective as a training method, but shouldn’t be used as a permanent solution.
And you should avoid using a jump harness when you aren’t around.
What To Consider When Buying A Fence
If your german shepherd is jumping the fence, you may just plan on buying a new one. Getting a new one can be an effective way of keeping your german shepherd in, but there are a few things to remember.
Make Sure It’s At LEAST 6 Foot
As previously mentioned, the average german shepherd can jump up to 6 feet high. However, some can jump even higher.
When picking a fence to keep your german shepherd in, make sure you pick one that’s going to be high enough.
6 foot is a good place to start, however, the bigger the better.
Don’t Use Chain Link
A chain-link fence is going to be terrible for two reasons. First of all, your german shepherd is going to be able to see out of it. This means whatever catches their eye is going to encourage them to jump out,
Secondly, chain-link fences are a lot easier to climb. If your german shepherd gets close enough to the top, they’ll be able to use the holes in the chain link to climb the last bit of the way.
Avoid Sharpe Edges
Make sure you don’t pick a fence that is sharp at the top or has sharp parts on it. German shepherds are smart in a lot of ways, but when it comes to their own personal safety, they lack brains a little bit.
Generally, a plain, wooden fence is your best bet.
What Should You Avoid Doing?
When training your german shepherd, there are always going to be things that you should definitely avoid doing. If you do them, they could make matters worse, or just not work. Here are some things you should definitely think twice about doing.
Don’t Use Wireless Fences
Some people recommend wireless fences when it comes to keeping their german shepherd contained. However, there are a couple of reasons you should avoid them.
The biggest one is that they don’t always work. If your german shepherd wants to get out bad enough, they’re going to be willing to take a small shock to get out.
Secondly, shocking or spraying your german shepherd isn’t nice for them and it’s not how they should be treated. If you want your german shepherd to stop bad behavior, then it’s much better to put the time in and train them!
Don’t Hit Them
You should never punish your german shepherd by hitting them. When you hit your german shepherd you’re not going to teach them not to jump over the fence. You’re only going to teach them to fear and mistrust you.
Don’t Give Them Attention When They Do It
If you start shouting at your german shepherd every time they jump the fence you’re giving them attention. Even though the attention is negative, it’s still attention.
When you give them attention, they’ll learn to start doing it every time they want it.
If you need to stop your dog from doing it. Get them back and then completely ignore them. This shows them that you’re not going to reward them at all.
Recap
As you can see there are lots of reasons for your german shepherd jumping over the fence. But fortunately, there are also lots of solutions!
The best solution, of course, is to use an effective training program like Brain Training For Dogs. However, if you’re not ready for that, people have also had degrees of success with other options.
Here are the main things you need to remember.
Your german shepherd might be jumping over the fence because they want to chase something, greet something, they hear something, they’re bored, they’re lonely, they’re scared, they’re looking for a mate, they have separation anxiety, or they’re young.
On average a german shepherd can jump 4-6 feet high, although some have been known to jump up to 10 feet high!
You can stop your german shepherd from jumping over the fence by training them, adding coyote rollers to the fence, moving anything that can help them jump, not letting them see out, keeping them entertained, not leaving them alone too long, making sure they feel safe, exercising them, keeping them inside, letting them go to doggy daycare, having them spayed/neutered, building a second fence, adding more plants, and using a jump harness.
When you’re thinking about putting up a fence, make sure it’s at least 6 foot tall, it’s not a chain-link fence, and it doesn’t have any sharp edges.
Avoid using wireless fences, don’t hit your dog, and don’t give them attention for bad behavior.
If you liked this article make sure you check out the rest of the website! If your german shepherd is trying to dig their way out then check out this article too! Otherwise, have a great day.
, which you can attach to your fence.
