Note, this is more of a fence-climbing solution, rather than fence-jumping. If the dog is pushing or pulling himself over the fence, this will help; if he’s leaping the fence in a single bound like old-school Superman, this is a great solution for a different problem.
I shared a comment last week, via Facebook and Twitter:
I explain to a curious store clerk that I’m buying hardware to stop a dog jumping a client’s fence. He says he likes an “old-fashioned” shock collar; I comment that I prefer something more predictably reliable. Really, when I can spend $12 on hardware that solves the problem without human involvement, why would I spend $100+ on a tool which requires constant supervision and exquisite timing, while carrying a serious risk of fallout?
I got a host of responses asking for the simple fence-jumping solution. Here it is!
What we’re going to do here is make very simple, very cheap coyote rollers. These aren’t the best versions, but they’re certainly the cheapest and easiest! I installed these for a disabled client whose young giant breed was climbing gates, using the crossbar as a toehold. You’ll want to modify the placement as needed.
You’ll need:
- sturdy screw hooks
- PVC pipe (Schedule 40 will withstand UV rays)
- PVC cutter or hacksaw
- a power drill (I’m lazy)
- heavy-duty pliers, for the weak-wristed
These photos aren’t of a single gate, but compiled from my work at four gates as I remembered to take pictures. This means the gate layout doesn’t always match or the angle of photo changes. But the steps are in the right order!
Cut pipe to necessary lengths. Center the pipe where you need to eliminate a foothold. Drill a starter hole and then insert the screw hook, setting one end of the pipe on the hook.
Run the pipe along its intended path, making sure it’s covering as needed. (Here, for example, I wanted the pipe in front of and slightly above the crossbar, so a dog used to stepping on the bar would hit the pipe instead.)
Drill a second starter hole at the end of the pipe. I do this by eye, but a better person might measure it. Measure once, cut twice, that’s what I always say…..
Screw in your second screw hook at the end of the pipe.
And then twist the screw hook into the pipe end.
You should now have a slick pipe which spins freely in place of a study toehold!
The pipe will be colored to match the fence when it is stained. (Alternately, use Krylon Fusion spray paint to coat the pipe before installing.)
Total materials cost: $12.04 (leaving surplus pipe and screw hooks), for 4 gates
Custom installation by Laura: a bit more 🙂
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yes,well my hound mix climbs our chainlink fence,not the gate.she uses the holes for her toes and climbs to the top and jumps off. mind it is only 4 ft ,she could easily jump,but like any good southren hound shes lazy. any ideas would help. thanks
Traditional coyote rollers run along the top, making it hard to pull themselves over. A roller along the top of the fence might be an option if she’s climbing rather than jumping.
That’s exactly what my dog does! And I was like this doesn’t help me, I have a chain link fence. (^_^)
Again, you might try a coyote roller across the top of the fence.
I also have a hound/doberman mix and at first she was climbing the fence, but after I fixed that problem, she climbed over the gate. So, I tried this solution. No, luck. She looked at the gate, looked at me, heard her boy in the front yard and climbed right over as if I had not done a thing. Time to build a taller gate.
What’s she using as toe holds? That’s what you want to make difficult or inaccessible. Can you see where she’s getting a grip?
And yes, taller fences and gates are usually a great choice! This client was on a golf course with a lot of annoying covenants, so the fence had to be fairly low.
I love it.. Going to try and will give you some feed back
Simple but ingenous ! My Great Pynereese is a Houdini ! But this rollers have potential. I’ll get back to you with feedback .
what would you recommend for a brick block wall, that our 2 dogs, a lab mix and a husky mix keep jumping over, the area that they jump is maybe 3 ft high cuz there is a planter box and removing the planter box is not an option because if it was I would remove it, i just recently planted some cactus pieces but thats going to take at least a year or more for the cactus to be big where it covers the wall, any suggestions would help thanks
How do you suggest installing the coyote rollers around a chain link fence including materials needed?
Does the pipe really spin freely on those hooks? Like the coyote rollers? I’d love to install these on my fence for my dog because he keeps climbing it. But want to make sure it will actually really spin freely.
I will leave myself some wiggle room and say that it probably depends somewhat on your installation, but these did spin, yes. Not like on ball bearings, but enough for paws to slip.
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering issues with your
website. It appears like some of the text within your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is
happening to them too? This could be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Appreciate it
May work on your little ol gate but I have 5 acres of land that is fenced and they go over anywhere….
Hi Laura,
Thanks for sharing useful post with pictures!
I think this is easiest way to stop your dog- climbing fences.
Moreover, if anyone concern about the beauty of their backyard and want to install fencing, vinyl fencing is the best option to consider. May be little expensive but less maintenance.
Regards
Weldon
Thanks for this interesting post. We are a german fence-company and our customers might find this interesting, too. Is it allowed to translate your post to german making it easyer to understand for our customers?
With credit and a link, yes, and thank you. 🙂
My wife and I just moved our home and ranch to a bigger plot of land, and we are starting to make plans to fence in different areas for our animals. I will definitely be sure to reference back to your tutorial so that we can build these fences correctly and quickly. Thank you for sharing! Nathan
Got really excited when I saw this, right up until I remembered that the gate I need to protect has to lie flush with a fence when opened to 90 degrees. The roller on the toeholds would get in the way.
It’s a tricky one on my end because of the layout.
Trying to find some examples of running a coyote roller across the top of a gate and not coming up with anything much. Any thoughts?
Great now how do you do this with a chainlink fence?