Pet Confinement Resources
Keeping Your Dogs Secured
Dogs who roam freely can find themselves in unsafe situations, including running into traffic or being attacked by wildlife or other animals. Ensuring your pup is safely secured in your home or yard can help prevent accidents, injuries or even loss of life.
Escape Prevention Tools
Inside the Home
- Crates: One of the most common and effective tools to contain dogs is a dog crate, available in a variety of sizes, materials and styles. Crates are primarily used to assist with potty training, avoid accidents and prevent destructive behavior. They can also be useful tools when introducing a new pet to your home, training excitable dogs to relax and establishing a safe zone for your pet. See more tips on safely crating your pet.
- Gates: Gates are another common confinement tool which allow more space for the pet to roam than a crate. They also come in a variety of sizes, materials and styles to fit the space in your home and can be stacked in a doorway or hall for more secure containment.
- X-Pens: X-pens are flexible fences that can be rearranged and moved anywhere to confine an animal to an area. They can also be used to create an "air lock," or a barrier around doors, which can provide a second layer of security to prevent a dog from running out of the home when a door is opened.
*Photos courtesy ofhttps://anticruelty.org/pet-library/containment-strategies
Outside
- Fencing: It’s important to ensure that fencing around a yard or your home is secure, and that a dog cannot go over, through or dig under a fence. It is not recommended to leave a pet unsupervised outdoors if fencing is broken or weakened in areas.
*Photo courtesy https://www.beyondfences.org/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Build-A-Fence-1.pdf
- Dog Run: A dog run is a dedicated outdoor space that is fully enclosed to prevent a pet from escaping. Dog runs can be purchased or built.
- Trolley System
- Per the CA Health and Safety Code 122335, it is a crime to tether a dog to a stationary object for more than 3 hours in a 24-hour period.
- Tethering your dog for long periods of time can lead to behavioral and medical issues. Some of these concerns include:
- Painful sores around the neck from rubbing collars
- Risk of dog strangling themselves from excessive pulling or getting the chain or collar stuck or twisted
- Risk of becoming an easy target for an animal attack
- Unsanitary conditions from eating, pooping, peeing and sleeping in the same space
- Increased aggressive behaviors when dogs are tethered too long
- A trolley system is a better option than tethering because it allows a dog to move between two stationary objects with access to separated food, water and shelter.
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If you need assistance keeping your dog contained, please contact ce@sdhumane.org.
Legal Shelter Requirements for Dogs
Managing Escape Behaviors
Escape behaviors such as digging and climbing that lead to your dog running loose can put them in dangerous and potentially tragic situations. Dogs who get out of a home or yard are at risk of being injured by cars and run-ins with wildlife, and owners are legally responsible for any damages or injury caused by their loose pet. Check out our resources for tips to Manage Escape Behaviors in Dogs and keep your pet safe, as well as our Enrichment Resources playlist for ideas to keep your pet engaged even when you’re not around.