My dog loves the balcony. Should I worry about her jumping off?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Great pictures! She does look every comfortable out there. But this is a huge risk, she may not be as lucky next time she falls. You can consider putting a harness and leash on her and only allowing her on the balcony when you are able to be with her and hold the leash. It you are allowed to, you could install a safety fence or guard on the balcony. I would caution you to allow this to continue. I wish you and Moca the best!

Hello, potty to hear about your pup. Theres likely no specific reason as to why she is wanting to be outside. She is likely leaving out of curiosity and stimulation, not necessarily to mate, but also due to different smells and other animals. Your dog likely enjoys her time outside her house and wants to continue to explore, this could be hazardous to her of course so your concern is understandable. There are multiple products to prevent this behaviors such as a shock fence, however these may also cause some pain and discomfort. You can try to fulfill her curiosity with longer more frequent walks then at home keep the doors close so that she does not leave. Hope this helps and best of luck.

There are nets you can affix to the balcony so he cannot fall off. Search for "balcony cat netting" on the internet. This would be for outside balconies though. However you could have that affixed from the balcony over to the wall. Since that balcony is inside the house, I doubt he will fall off. However you may not be able to decorate that balcony with things, as he will start playing with the decorations......and break them.

If the wooden dog house is insulated, and there is a lot of padding inside and the door is covered, that would be ok during the day but I would avoid it at night. Make sure that the balcony has a secure border so that she cannot get through the barrier /slip through or under the bars and fall or escape. I would also not recommend it if you're on a lower floor where someone could potentially try to snag her. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I think the only way to prevent this from happening is to remove him to correct him when he jumps on something, and then distract him by having him perform a desired command (go to your place/mat/bed is a good one) for a treat. You will also probably need to restrict access when he is unsupervised by keeping him in another room or a crate. Some dogs are agile and he might never fall, but if you feel what he is doing is unsafe you can start some training. It may take awhile before he stops trying - be persistent and remember to encourage good behavior.

If Jojo always would jump off the furniture before and has suddenly stopped I would worry about him being painful in one of his legs or his neck/back/spine. If this has always been his normal behavior then he is probably just scared of the distance. If you think Jojo is painful I would recommend taking him to the vet to get checked out.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Spike. Dogs do benefit from the mental stimulation of being outside. So it is good to continue allowing him outdoor access. However, maybe holding him in your arms would be better. It seems like he is nervous about being in the grass. I hope this information helps!