Escaping Dogs: Around Fences Are Ameliorate Than Others

A physical ground is to a greater extent than secure than an electronic fence, according to a study amongst of import implications for domestic dog owners.

Photo: Cora Mueller (Shutterstock)

By Zazie Todd, PhD

The survey, yesteryear MD Nicole Starinksy (Ohio State University) et al, asked 974 domestic dog owners most how they kept their dogs confined to the yard, whether they had escaped – together with whether they had e'er bitten someone.

The results showed that an electronic ground was the to the lowest degree effective method of containing a dog: 44% of dogs contained yesteryear i had escaped. Dogs were less probable to accept escaped from a tether (27%) or from a see-through ground (e.g. chain link or slatted wood) (23%) or a privacy ground that is non see-through (also 23%).

The study states,

“Regardless of their degree of training, dogs are never 100% consistent inwards their responses. An electrical daze from an electronic ground organisation may live on a sufficient deterrent to foreclose a domestic dog from escaping nether normal circumstances, but may non live on when the incentive to escape (eg, the peril to chase some other domestic dog or person) is specially high. In addition, electronic fences are liable to neglect because of ability outages, battery depletion, or other technical problems, potentially leading to an increased charge per unit of measurement of escape.”

The method yesteryear which the domestic dog was trained on the electronic ground had no lawsuit on the charge per unit of measurement of escape. 73% were trained yesteryear a trainer from the fencing company, 19% using the manual, together with a handful yesteryear other trainers or non trained.

The survey flora that 4.6% of the dogs had bitten a individual inwards the past, together with 7.7% had bitten some other dog, according to the possessor reports. The type of containment method was non linked to whether or non the dogs had bitten someone.

However, in that place were some behaviours that were linked to the domestic dog having bitten a person: growling, snarling, and/or trying to seize amongst teeth some other person.

The implication for domestic dog owners is that if your domestic dog is displaying whatsoever of these behaviours, it would live on a expert persuasion to acquire assist earlier the behaviour escalates to an actual bite.

Don’t punish the dog for growling, because this does non address the underlying ground why the domestic dog is growling together with may pose people at greater risk. It would live on a expert persuasion to seek professional person assist (see my article on how to select a domestic dog trainer).

The survey flora 12% of owners left their domestic dog lone together with unsupervised inwards the yard when they were non at home. These dogs were to a greater extent than probable to accept bitten some other individual than dogs that were never left unsupervised. Of course, it’s possible some of these dogs had been obtained because of guarding tendencies. Another risk constituent for biting was having unknown people come upward into the yard on an everyday basis.

The scientists write

“To foreclose bites to people, owners should consider keeping their dogs indoors when they are non habitation together with unable to supervise their demeanour inwards the yard together with foreclose frequent uninvited visitors from passing through the yard. Additionally, owners of dogs that display aggressive greeting behaviors should seek professional person assistance because these dogs may live on to a greater extent than probable to bite.”

Dog owners were recruited for the study at 8 pet stores inwards Columbus, Ohio, together with hence this is non a instance sample of domestic dog owners, but it is a large one. H5N1 physical ground (see-through or not) was the most mutual method of keeping a domestic dog inwards the yard (78%). 14% used an electronic ground together with only nether 8% used a tether.

Photo: dezi (Shutterstock)

While this study flora that dogs escape from electronic fences at twice the charge per unit of measurement of a physical fence, in that place are other reasons non to move electronic fences too: other question shows in that place are welfare concerns amongst using electronic daze collars on dogs

I scream back it’s of import to greenback that all of these figures for escapes are quite high. It shows it’s essential for domestic dog owners to ensure their domestic dog has up-to-date identification to assist them acquire re-united inwards the lawsuit of a lost dog. H5N1 neckband amongst a tag together with a microchip tin brand all the divergence to getting a pet back.

Don’t forget to ensure the microchip companionship has your up-to-date details. any domestic dog tin bite if it is anxious or threatened.

The results of this question advise a physical ground is the best agency to continue your domestic dog inwards your yard.  To foreclose bites, the domestic dog should non live on left unsupervised together with uninvited people should non accept access to the yard.

These results also demonstrate the importance of ensuring your domestic dog has up-to-date identification, together with of dealing amongst whatsoever aggression problems sooner rather than later.

To larn to a greater extent than most how scientific discipline tin assist yous accept a ameliorate human relationship amongst your pet, subscribe to .

What create yous scream back is the best agency to continue your domestic dog inwards your yard or garden?


Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes most everything from preparation methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today together with has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, amongst her husband, i dog, together with 2 cats.

Useful links:

• Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
• Get merch  
• Support me on Ko-fi
• Visit my Amazon store

This page contains affiliate links.

Reference
Starinsky, N. S., Lord, L. K., & Herron, M. E. (2017). Escape rates together with biting histories of dogs confined to their owner's holding through the move of diverse containment methods. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 250(3), 297-302. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.250.3.297

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Etsy affiliate, I earn from qualifying Etsy purchases.