A Labrador is a breed of dog that is very energetic and always active. Well, normally, dogs love to run around freely.
They hate being restricted to one place whether, by force, invisible, or physical constraints. And it is even an extra for Labradors.
Labradors are also known to be very athletic, determined, intelligent, and have a big size. With all these characteristics, they are more likely to jump over fences even as high as five feet than other breeds especially when they are not properly trained.
So providing everything they need to stay in the yard but run around safely should be one of your concerns.
To know why your dog jumps the fence, you need to understand the reasons why. And one way to keep them from jumping over the fence depends on the type of fence you have.
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How High Should A Dog Fence Be For A Labrador?
Most breeds of dogs, Labradors inclusive are very good jumpers and climbers so if you are going to build a fence, make it high and difficult for them to jump or climb over it.
A Labrador can jump as high as 5 feet, so your fence should be 2 or more feet higher than that. But in situations where a dog will be left alone and unsupervised for long hours, the fence should be higher than that. To ensure your confidence in your fence, it should be higher than you think.
Why Your Labrador May Jump Your Fences?
No dog that is being fed well or well taken care of would run away from its owner. That big furry friend of yours loves you and will always have your back. But sometimes, there are some things out there that draw its attention. Things he probably does not see every day in your yard and it just fascinates them.
Some of the reasons why your dog jumps over the fence could be any of these:
- Over familiarity:
When your dog is too used to your yard and it seems like nothing new or interesting happens around him, he might want to leave. Or at the very least take a peek at the other side. This piques his curiosity.
- Curiosity and adventure:
If you notice your lab most times sitting down at one edge of the house staring at the fence or pacing up and down at a corner of your fence, your dog is probably wondering what is happening, who could be at the other side, would it find squirrels or chickens to chase. Sometimes, it might be waiting for a stranger who probably gives it treats to come around and when the stranger doesn’t, it might be tempted to go over and look for the person.
- Your lab is bored:
Even for humans staying in one spot for a long period without a phone or anything fun to do can be so annoying and boring. Dogs to get bored. Imagine sitting all day, nobody to talk to, bark at, or play with, even “me” will go crazy.
- Nothing to Do
When your Labrador has nothing to do for hours other than sitting at a spot for long, it would be tempted to jump over the fence or dig under the fence through to the other side.
- Poor training:
Did I mention that Labradors are one of the most loyal breeds of dogs? Well, they are. If you properly train your Lab to know its boundary and stay in it, it would stay in it.
- They see, smell, or hear something:
Labradors back at the noise and when there is some noise somewhere, they want to see what’s causing the noise or stop the noise. When they see or smell something and they want it, they go for it not minding whatever obstacle might be in front of them.
How far can Labs jump?
A Labrador can jump as high as 5 feet and more than that if there is a boost. A fence with holes or spaces for your Lab to stick its paws will help too.
Can a Labrador jump a 5-foot fence?
The answer to this is yes. A 4-foot fence can only discourage a dog that is not interested in going outside. But a determined, active, and curious Labrador can jump over a 5-foot fence.
Read More: How To Adjust Invisible Fence Collar Strength?
Things You Need to Keep in Mind When Buying a Fence for Labrador
1. Build a Big Fence
it’s a Labrador, you should not be building a fence that is about three to four feet or even five feet. It is better to build the fence to be higher than you even think. Some people make the mistake of building a short fence and when the Labrador jumps over it, they add more wood or bricks.
This only increases your dog’s ability to jump higher. Because for every layer of brick or wood that is added, the dog learns that the distance between the former height is just little. So the best thing for you to do is to pull down the whole fence and build a higher fence, about 2 to 3 feet higher than the former.
2. Make it Deeper
The depth offense should be considered too. When you are building your fence, extend it about 18 to 24 inches into the ground to avoid your dog from digging under it.
This is one of the reasons why wire fences are one of the best options for dog containment The wires when buried do not rot. But if you do not want to use a wire fence, you can add a chicken wire or chain link extension to increase the depth of your fence.
3. Fence Type
The type of fence you build for your Lab does not entirely determine whether your dog will jump over it or not as far as it is sturdy and firm to the ground. But it still does matter, alongside the design. Dogs can be clever sometimes and a Labrador is one of the intelligent breeds.
So as much as a chain-linked fence allows your furry friend to enjoy the view of nature from inside the yard, it also provides spaces where your dog can put its paws and climb over. Do you see? A chain-linked fence is not such a good idea unless it is going to be as high as 8 feet and curved at the top, which might still not be a very good idea.
A solid panel fence like that made of wood or vinyl provides no space for your dog to climb through.
4. Sturdiness of the Fence
How hard and strong a fence is another thing to keep in mind when buying or building a fence. Labradors are strong dogs and the weight and force of their body can bring down or break a weak fence. So your fence should be built with strong and good quality wooden material or vinyl. This type of material can withhold the force and strength of your dog and deter it from chewing on it.
5. Boost Buddies
After you must have built a solid panel fence for your dog, be sure to remove any and everything that can boost your lab’s jump. Whether it be a stone, a chair you sit on to watch the stars at night, or your car, take them away and far from the fence so your dog does not have anything to jump over the fence from.
With this done, you can now rest assured that your dog is going nowhere without your permission.
6. Privacy
This might sound funny because everyone knows that dogs do not care about privacy but they like to chase after squirrels and butterflies. Privacy here refers to keeping your dog from seeing what is on the other side of the fence.
Fortunately, a solid panel fence will do this for you. It prevents your dog from seeing through the fence. Keeping your Labrador from seeing things it would naturally bark at is most likely to keep him calm and from having to jump to the other side of the fence.
7. Fun in the Yard
if there is no funny stuff in the yard to keep your dog active and engaged, it might want to jump over the fence. Even if you’ve done everything to keep your Labrador inside the yard, boredom will tempt it to do things and it will be unhappy.
You can engage your dog in an exercise pen, place fun stuff or have playtime with your dog. Also, your yard should be spacious. If your yard is not spacious, just have enough space to allow your dog to roam around the yard or get a smaller dog. The point is your dog should be kept in a dog-friendly yard.
Conclusion:
Being on a budget should not keep you from creating a safe and nice place for your dog. You should go all in, all else you might lose your Labrador. There are cheap options on how you can build the right fence for your dog and this can be done by yourself.
This would even help you save more money while building the best fence for you and your dog. Your fence should be built with the right height and the right materials.
After reading this, you will find that vinyl, high-quality wood or any composite material is the best option. The right fence provides absolute peace of mind for you and your furry friend.
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