Need advice Fast!!!

[ssandt]

Let me begin by saying I feel like such a failure and a hypocrate.

I adopted a female boxer x a couple of months ago from a shelter 250 miles away. I was waiting for the home visit from the rescue when she became available. I discussed it with the rescue contact and she agreed she would have ended up there eventually so I decided to go get her.

Everything was great. She is a real sweetie and loves my kids and other pets especially Levi my brindle boy. I had her all checked, spayed and put on heartworm preventative. Then about 3 weeks ago she jumped my fence. So I stayed outside when she and Levi went out. But as soon as she was out of my sight she'ld go over the fence and visit the neighborhood dogs. She always come back when I call and actually listens very well. But I am so afraid she will get hit. So I tried putting her on chain to do her business and then watch her off the chain to play. Well she has broken to collars and her chains and now she knows I will have to chain her so she goes out the door around the house and over the fence. Then I call her, she comes back and I scold her and she says she's sorry and goes back in the yard. This has become a visious cycle and now the neighbors are complaining.

I am very upset about what I have to do but my husband says she has to go. He's afraid that if she hurts someone we could loose everything if someone sues. She has never even looked at anyone sideways, but he is right there is always that possibility.

I have contacted the rescue woman and asked for advice but now I feel like such a hypocrate. I was in such a hurry to adopt that I didn't wait till the ideal dog came along. I am so sorry now. What do I do?

Stacy

 

[myrocky]

Why can't you take her outside to potty on the leash? If she jumps when she is loose then don't let her loose.

I have a fenced in yard as well but I always take my dog out to potty on the leash. When we are out for potty time that is all we are doing and there is no need for him to do anything else. He has proper play times set aside to get his exercise. Fence jumping is an issue that can be dealt with, there is no need to give her back to rescue. If you do a search here then you will find lots of information about fence jumping and how to handle it.

Andie

 

[ssandt]

You're absolutely right.

Thanks for your reply Andie,

I have controlled the potty breaks my problem is as soon as one of the kids or anyone, for that matter, opens the door she is out before anyone even realizes it. She as broken the door mechanism from pushing so hard that now she can open it with her nose on the way out.

We have all the doors on a burglary alarm system so she knows when the door has been opened. If it's me or my husband she doesn't usually get past us but she goes right past any or my kids even my 16 year old. And forget it if someone is coming in. I have 5 kids and my house is the neighborhood safe house so there is always children running in and out.

I am working with her but it's impossible to accomplish anything when no one is backing me up. As far as the rest of my family is concerned she is a nuisance and I have to deal with her. So not one of them will make an effort to keep the door closed. And it has been so nice here lately that they constantly leave the inside door ajar so she just opens the outside door.

I get so mad but they are so freaking stubborn. I am sitting here crying and they could care less.

Stacy

 

[AntJan]

Our Nikki was not a fence jumper, but she sure was a fence digger! She would always go to the fence and try to dig to the other side to say hi to our neighbor's dog. Everytime she went in the backyard, it was really mainly to go potty, so we would have her on-leash all the time. Romping & running about was saved for the dog park or a similar large area, if not fenced she would always be leashed.

Behaviors like this can be fixed! Don't let your family bring you down. Usually dogs look to one alpha person anyways, so that has to be you. She needs to know the rules. That is the only way she will know right from wrong. Maybe in her previous household, they allowed her to jump fences, who knows? But she is now a member of YOUR family, you need to be the guide that will help her learn your rules and become the dog that you want her to be. It will take time, but you can do it.

Utilize the search here on BW, and you will find tons of info on this particular subject. Let us know how it goes!!

janet

 

[Chewy's Mom]

I haven't actually seen one, but I have heard of an anti-jumping harness. You might try doing a search on-line for one, or asking around at some local pet supply stores. Good luck, it's a scary problem.

 

[adeinert]

A dog needs to be trained not to bolt out of a door, into a fenced in yard or not. My front door goes right out to the front with no fence. I have had a few fosters that thought barging right out was okay. I was shocked since mine don't do this, but with training they stopped. My dogs know that you don't go through a door unless invited. I would be horrified if one bolted out the front door, so this is important for any dog. So that can be overcome.
About the yard, many owners wouldn't want a dog in the yard alone. In some areas theft is a problem and you would never want to go back inside and leave the dog. So, a solution would be to stay with your dog when outside or on a leash. Again, since I foster, you never know what their yard manners are, so I am out there close by. Even though I have a six foot privacy fence, I take no chances.
If you feel the rest of your family aren't committed to the training, you could set her up to get extra sessions in. Go to the door, open the door to go out and have her sit and watch you go out. Come back in and tell her - good girl, etc. She will learn not to go out and soon won't bolt through with the kiddos as long as you teach the children to shut the door behind them.
I hope this helps. Not all dogs come to us trained, but you would be surprised how much they really want to please us. I know because I am training my first deaf foster and he is making it so easy and fun!
Ashlie