Is your dog escaping over your existing traditional fence? You could benefit from a fence extension system - but how do you know which one is right for you? 

Dog Proofer offers two fence extension systems, designed for dogs that can jump or climb over an existing traditional fence. Both fence extension systems can be easily installed on an existing fence of nearly any type including wood, chainlink, vinyl, and more.

Common Escape Patterns
The first step in determining which system will work best for keeping your dog safely contained will be to look at how they are getting over the fence. If you watch how your dog is getting over the fence in a critical way you will usually see 1 of 3 patterns.

1. Your dog hooks its front paws on the top of the fence either by jumping or leaning, then uses the back paws to hook on the fence and push itself over. This is the most common way dogs escape over a traditional fence.
2. Your dog uses its forward momentum to push off the fence and project over the fence. This is similar to the pattern above, but in order to gain the forward momentum, the dog will likely get a running start and leap up to the fence. You may have seen videos online of dogs scaling 10+ foot walls. They do it by climbing the wall either with their forward momentum or by hooking their paws in the fence and climbing it like a ladder.
3. Your dog just leaps right over the fence and clears it without touching it.

Now that you’ve determined how your dog is jumping or climbing over the fence, you can better decide which fence extension system will be best suited for keeping your dog safely contained.

Fence Extension Comparison
Dog Proofer offers two different types of fence extension systems for dogs:

Standard Straight Fence Extensions. This fence extension system increases the overall height of your existing fence by up to 3 feet. For dogs that have learned to jump over the fence by either pattern 1 or 3, the Standard Straight Extension System is generally the best fit. By increasing the overall height of your fence, they can no longer simply jump or push themselves over the fence.

Curved Houdini-Proof Fence Extensions. This system was designed with the wall-scaling, escape-artist dog in mind. This fence extension can increase the overall height of your existing fence by up to 2 feet and adds an arched top to your existing fence. The key to this system is the arched top, which stops the dog’s forward momentum in its tracks. Even a dog that can climb up a fence like it was a ladder has no way of getting around the arched top.

When in doubt, the Houdini-Proof Fence Extension System is always the best option. Since its inception, it has never been beaten by any dog!

Selecting Mesh Fence Material
Now that you’ve decided which fence extension system will be best for your dog, it’s time to figure out which type of mesh fence material will best suit your needs. Dog Proofer offers two different types of mesh fence material that can be used on either the Standard Straight Fence Extensions or the Curved Houdini-Proof Fence Extensions. Which material works best for you will depend on your preference and your dog’s tenacity to escape!

Durable Poly Mesh. This fence material is made of very strong polypropylene plastic with UV inhibitors that will handle a dog jumping into it repeatedly but will not hold up to a dog that might grab and/or rip at the fence with its teeth or claws. The advantage of this material is that it is less expensive, lighter weight, and easier to install than the upgraded heavy-duty welded wire fence material.

Heavy-Duty Welded Wire Mesh. We recommend this material for dogs that will test the fence regularly with their claws and/or teeth. In addition, the welded wire is considered more durable overall if you are interested in a long-lasting material. The welded wire, although heavier in weight and a bit more difficult to install than the poly mesh option, is the right product if you are concerned about your dog repeatedly testing the fence extension system.

Both mesh options are approximately 42-45” tall and made to run down the entire length of both the straight and curved fence extensions. Both materials feature square openings that measure 1.75” x 1.75” which allows for great visibility through the fence, but also creates the perfect barrier for pets.

Putting it all Together
You’ve figured out which fence extension system you need to keep your dog safely contained and have chosen your preferred mesh fence material. Now, how much do you need?

For both fence extension systems, we recommend a spacing of 8-12 ft between each extension. For most fence types this works out to be an extension on each fence post since many fences are built with a similar post spacing. To help give you an idea of the total number of extensions that may be necessary, it can be helpful to count up the total number of fence posts in your fence line. For fencing without posts (such as block or brick walls, for example), simply space extensions at your preferred distance and determine the total number of extensions necessary.

Keep in mind that gates may require additional extensions as well. Most gates will require 1 or 2 additional extensions depending on their location and configuration.

Finally, measure the total length of existing fence that will be outfitted with a fence extension system. The total linear feet of fencing will help you determine the total length of mesh fence material you will require. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend including an extra 10% of materials to account for any potential measuring errors or unforeseen obstacles that you might encounter during installation.

If you need any assistance with determining exactly what materials you need to secure your backyard for your dog, our Dog Proofer experts are happy to help! Get in touch with us today!