Staffy escaping

[Emma09]

My 2 year old staffy has escaped again for the second time. We only just picked him up from the pound this morning.
We have no holes or fence palings loose.
My question is- is your staffy an escape artist? Can your staffy scale a fence over 5 foot high?
FX he is at the pound again


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[Miss.September]

We don't have a staffy, but we have a beagle and they're notorious for being escape artists too. Some tips we were told were to not have things like trellis next to the fence, make sure you don't have things stacked that will provide like a stepping area for them to get out of. Our beagle hasn't escaped our backyard but she does jump on her hammock, then onto the roof of her kennel, then over a small fence to get into another section of the backyard. Hope you find him soon and can keep him in

[Ngala]

Yep!!! My stuffy was an escape artist. They can jump pretty high. My girl used to squeeze through a teeny gap in the gate. Got caught by the pound once too and was scared stiff. She eventually grew out of it by the time she was 3 I think


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[human bean]

Staffy's have built in springs in their hips, they are great at jumping fences We have fences too high to jump, but our girl can make it over a lower point where the gate curves downwards at the hinge. I hung a low basket plant in the way to close the visual gap and it stopped her. If he is jumping the fence, could you try adding an extra width of fencing along the top of your existing fences? Does he jump when you're home or only when you're not? You could look into crate training for when you're out, or more ideally build a closed in run? That's if he's doing it when he's home alone......

It's hard with an escape artist, I hope he is home safe soon and stops escaping

[CrazyLady]

My parent's neighbour thought my parents had a roo as a pet. The staffy would stick her head over the 6ft7 fence. She has climbed before and got out over that same fence too. Lucky she comes back within 20 minutes

[Emma09]

Thanks for the responses
He seems to be only doing it when we're not home.
He is crate trained already, so that is def an option.
Just found it weird that I have never even seen him interested in the fence at all, let alone trying to scale it.
They're just the best dogs!



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[~Gee_Whizzy~]

My 2 year old staffy has escaped again for the second time. We only just picked him up from the pound this morning.
We have no holes or fence palings loose.
My question is- is your staffy an escape artist? Can your staffy scale a fence over 5 foot high?
FX he is at the pound again
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Sounds like he has a bit of sep anxiety (or boredom) if he's only doing it when you're not home? - our Staffy (3 yrs old) used to escape through the tiniest gap in a side fence, he only ever went to our neighbours place (thank goodness!) but it was frustrating. - our lovely neighbour helped DH build a more secure side fence/gate and its has stopped him getting out now - we also introduced a sand pit with treats and other things for him to search for etc to keep him entertained when we go out

and yes, they are AWESOME doggies!!!

[Lulu]

Can you take him out with you a bit more?

You can't tell a Staffy they aren't people, and they get quite upset and insulted if you leave them behind.

[Emma09]

Thanks Negrita and Lulu- I need to get some "boredom busters" toys for him. I like the idea of the sandpit.
It's a bit hard for me to take him out when I walk with DD in the pram.
He's great on the lead, but getting the halter on him is a PITA.
Can anyone recommend some toys that there staffy liked?
He LOVES to destroy things.
Trying to keep my mind off the fact that he is gone till the pound opens at 10


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[Nai]

My old staffy used to scale a 6 foot fence, we increased it to 8ft to keep her in - we actually set up a video to catch her doing it as she never did it while we were home and we couldn't work out how she got out. She then dug under the fence, so we concreted around the edges. She has also gone through the fence by pulling off pailings. I can't tell you how many times she has escaped! We even got a second dog to keep her company but only thing that really made a difference was old age and arthritis. Her nickname is "houdini". Sorry - I probably didn't help much but lots of exercise can make a difference and theose Kong balls with food inside are supposed to be good too.

[human bean]

Staffy's have jaws of steel and as you know, are great destroyers! Is your dog food driven? Toy driven? Plain toys that don't dispense treats are great if they're happy to play with just a toy, but some dogs aren't interested if there's not a human there with the toy to play. We need food toys for our girl, but always watch her meal size if she's getting more food treats so she doesn't stack on the weight.

It took her nearly a year to kill her red kong, but there is a black tougher version. I mix up dry dog food with a bit of boiling water, plug the little end of the kong and fill it with the wet mix, smear peanut butter around it, and stuff other treats in it, then finish with another layer of the wet mix. Freeze it, then it is a treat that can last for hours as it defrosts.

Just freezing treats in an ice cream container with a little bit of stock added can be another good time waster. Staffy's can really feel the heat too so we have lots of cold boredom busters if she's home alone during the hotter weather, plus leave out a clam shell full of water in the shade.

There are lots of toys that claim to be tougher, but I find our girl just kills them. Power of the jaws. One toy she did love and took awhile to kill was a Leo Genious toy, took a bit more problem solving then a kong to get the treats out. If you get a sandpit, don't put it on your grass! We ended up with sand in every which direction constantly (she loves it) but had to move it to an area that could be swept. Burying treats and toys in there was always a hit.

Naturally out for a daily walk or run helps too, I notice a huge difference if I don't get her out for a walk. Does he not walk beside the pram with a lead? Do you have to halter him to walk with the pram? If I can be bothered getting up early I go just with the dog before DD wakes up, but more often than not we go out with the pram. It's taken some time but she's gotten heaps better, just a matter of consistency.

Good luck and hope he's home safe by now!

[Emma09]

Thanks human bean, some great ideas!
He is home now- they love him at the pound.
I got him the black kong- he loves it
WRT walking with the pram- I find him much easier to walk with the halter, I can control him better.
2 kids from down the road are going to walk him twice a week, so even when I can't take him, he can still get a bit of exercise.
He's a gorgeous dog, but still coming out of the "puppy" stage, so a little bit rambunctious
Thanks everyone



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[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Thanks human bean, some great ideas!
He is home now- they love him at the pound.
I got him the black kong- he loves it
WRT walking with the pram- I find him much easier to walk with the halter, I can control him better.
2 kids from down the road are going to walk him twice a week, so even when I can't take him, he can still get a bit of exercise.
He's a gorgeous dog, but still coming out of the "puppy" stage, so a little bit rambunctious
Thanks everyone

yes was going to suggest the black kong! - they seem to be more hardwearing than the red ones (well for staffy's anyways )

So glad your furbaby is home safe and sound

[Emma09]

Forgot to add, he was getting out through a small hole in out side fence, it's been patched up now


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[Lulu]

That is soooo good about him getting out for walks, I think staffy's are the most social dogs and really suffer if they can't get out and smile at everyone! Maybe it will get easier putting on the halter when he realises the only way he will be out and about is to sit still nicely when you put it on

Awesome stuff.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

I think staffy's are the most social dogs and really suffer if they can't get out and smile at everyone!

This is such a true statement!!! - and you've just gotta love those big cheesy smiles

[Emma09]

Ok, so the toys didn't work, he has gotten out twice today! He goes over the road to play with the German shepherd and they bring him home before I've even noticed he had gone
I don't know how he is getting out and don't know what to do!


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[Miss.September]

Sounds like he's looking for company. Can you borrow the neighbour's German Shepherd and see if your staffy is still interested in escaping while he's got company?