Secure Outdoor Spaces
- Check your fence for any holes or new escape routes.
- Make sure all gates are closed before taking the dog outside.
- Check on your dog frequently when she’s roaming around the yard.
- Don’t stack furniture or firewood next to the fence—dogs can use it as a springboard.
- If you can, dig a trench around the fence line and fill it with concrete to prevent under-the-fence escapes. If you’re unable to do so, use bricks or large rocks to block off the dirt directly below the fence.
Secure Entry Doors
- Place a second barrier around doorways to the outside, such as an exercise pen.
- Use a baby gate to block off the room or hall that leads to the front door.
- When you’re coming or going, use your body to block house or car doors so a dog can’t give you the slip.
- Put signs on the gates or doors for guests, explaining that there’s a dog inside.
Staying Safe on Walks
- Make sure you can’t fit more than two fingers under a dog’s collar.
- Keep your dog’s collar and tags on at all times.
- Use a fixed-length leash instead of a flexi-lead, which can snap.
- Try a properly-fitted harness instead of a collar to add extra security.
