My new dog ran away twice. Is it safe outside with a new fence?

Some dogs cannot go off leash outside. I would keep her on a leash until you can have the fence installed in the summer. Once the fence is installed you can work with her a lot easier to try to get her to listen to come back to you when called. My concern would be that she would run and get hit by a car, attacked by another animal or run after someone (even if she would never hurt them it can still scare someone). I would try to get a trainer to work with you now since she is so young. If you have a trainer and are consistent you may be able to have her off the leash one day. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I think an underground fence or an electric fence that has a home base (see link below) might be the best solution. Petsafe is a good company who makes these products. It shouldn’t scare her further away but it should keep her inside the boundaries. I would keep the level on low to keep her from becoming scared to go in the yard. This is the safest thing to prevent her from getting out and either getting lost or injured. There is also a GPS tracking device for the collar called whistle that you can use to keep up with her if she still gets out. I hope this helps. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/petsafe-wireless-instant-fence-pet-containment-system?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o3&scid=scplp692131&sc_intid=692131&cm_mmc=PLA-GG-_-PTC_P_SUP_PLA-GG_FY17_SCShopping-Mobile-_-Non+VIP-_-92700026257943398&kwid=p26257943398&device=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtH4nPzz1wIVh4WzCh05bAl_EAQYAyABEgJ1sfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That sound be fine as long as no other dogs, coyotes or foxes have been in the yard. In general, a dog free, isolated back yard is fairly safe. The main concern is generally parvo which can survive in the soil for up to a year. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am sorry to hear about your dog! I would definitely consider getting him neutered, as being an intact male he is much more likely to try to escape the yard as he has a hormonal urge to do so. I would also consider getting an electric fencing system in addition to your normal fence to act as an extra deterrent for escape.

One option that can work for dogs who like to escape are under ground electric fences. You can purchase one and install it yourself and go through the training or the companies offer an instillation and training service. The dog needs to wear a special collar that detects the fence and will administer a correction if the dog gets too close. Most dogs will respect this system although some dogs will not. I recommend to do some research about these systems and see if they area good match for you. It is very difficult to train a dog not to escape and I don’t know many people who are successful at that. Otherwise never leave Miley unsupervised in the yard as this will elimate her ability to get out. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would recommend only letting her in the back yard when you can supervise her and stop the behaviors. Some people use an extended leash to prevent dogs from getting out HOWEVER that carries some very serious risks such as strangulation if she gets wrapped around something or jumps over a fence, so I don't like that idea. It may also be worthwhile to work with a good trainer or even veterinary behaviorist to find some alternative behaviors to teach her.

I'm sorry to hear that! Unfortunately, I see this fairly commonly - it's one of the main reasons that I don't recommend invisible fences :( I would recommend working with Sophia over the next several days (or weeks, if needed) to help her learn to feel safe again in the yard. You can start by just sitting in the doorway with her and feeding her treats. When she is comfortable and relaxed in the doorway, try taking one step outside - stop and feed her treats there as well. Gradually work your way back out into the yard, step by step, with lots of praise and treats as long as she is comfortable. If she gets nervous or tense at all, just back up to where she was comfortable and start again. It may take quite a bit of time for her to learn to feel safe again, so you will need to be patient. In the meantime, you may need to drive her down the street to another grassy area to potty if she is too afraid to use the yard.