Thousands of dogs go missing in Australia every year. If you have an escape artist in the making, now is an excellent time to dog-proof your fence.
Because of their curious nature, dogs are prone to wandering. Some dogs are experts at finding ways of escaping. They see fencing and barriers as challenges and will tackle them for sport. If your fence is not secure enough, they could dig, scale, and jump to freedom.
Here are some steps you can take to ensure your pets’ safety.
The first thing to do is find out their means of escape. Your dog-proofing measures will depend on how your dog is breaching the fence in the first place. Are there any gaps or breaks in the fence? Does your dog like to burrow, or does he leap over the fence? Different solutions are needed for dogs who dig their way out and those who escape by climbing fences.
Secondly, check your fencing for signs of weakness, such as loose planks or cracks. Check the fence line for openings where your dog could squeeze out of. Over time, chain-link fences will weaken in some spots, so your dog could push out the base and crawl out. If you discover that the chain link fencing is being forced away at some spots, resulting in a hole in the perimeter, get the damage fixed at once.
Thirdly, check the gate to see whether your dog can easily open it. Many dogs have figured out how to open latches or push gates open enough to squeeze through the gap. Replace a faulty latch or use a padlock to make it more secure. If the dog is escaping by squeezing through the opening, secure it with a chain and lock or tightly wound cord.
Finally, clear out any stuff that enables your pet to leap over the fence. Check to see whether benches, tables, or other items are next to the fence. Your dog could use this item to boost himself up and gain height to hop over the fence. If your dog is still scaling the wall and you have taken away all of those things, you must invest in a higher or different type of fencing. Several dogs have climbed a chain-link fence by placing their paws into the slots. If this is your case, replace the chain-link fence with a six-foot timber fence.
If you have old and dilapidated fencing, now is the right time for a new one. There are a range of options: chain link fence, timber, PVC, and so on. Please find out more about your options by getting in touch with our fencing experts. Post your fencing job and get your free quotes today.