From the smallest to the tallest dogs love jumping. With exceptionally strong legs jumping is something that comes naturally to a dog. But how high can a dog jump?
Dogs such as greyhounds can jump to a height of 6 feet if they desired. According to Guinness World Records, the record for the highest jump by a dog is 191.7 cm (6.289 feet).
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How Does A Dog Jump So High
The biomechanics of a dogs jump is an extremely complex one, which consists of many elements. In its simplest form, a dog will use its back legs to propel itself off of the ground. Whilst a dog’s front legs and head will give propulsion in the direction it wishes to jump, whilst also taking the full impact of the landing. Dogs will usually perform a jump from a running start or at least a skip if the aim is not height and instead it is the distance the dog will run faster to build more momentum.
Dogs are also well known for their vertical wall climbing ability and in fact dogs can reach well over 10 feet during a climb. The momentum a dog gets to propel itself up a wall is the most important part. Whilst small boosts on the surface of the walls give them those extra feet.
How High Can a Dog Jump Over a Fence
If you have a dog that loves to jump, it can often be worrying when you let them outside on their own. Questioning whether the fence you put up can sustain your escape artist dog. Dogs love to explore and any chance there is to get out of the house in which they are confined is one to be taken, this can often lead to some extraordinary athletic ability.
As mentioned above on average some dogs can jump six feet in the air from a free-standing position. However, this is not the same for fences. What some people don’t realize is that a dog’s ability to jump 6 feet in the air can become much higher with the aid of a fence. Greyhounds tend to be known for their jumping ability, owing to their hugely powerful back legs and slender physique. Owners often put a standard 6-foot fence up to keep their furry friends from escaping. With the record standing at slightly over 6 foot you may think that this is enough to deter your dog from jumping over. When jumping over a fence a dog can get a small boost from the side of the fence propelling them even higher into the air. So when you think a 6-foot fence will do you may well be wrong.
How To Keep a Dog From Jumping Over a Fence
Keeping your dog safe is a number one priority for most owners and when you have an escape artist dog your life may get somewhat troublesome. Now we have established that certain dogs are more than capable of jumping over a 6-foot fence, its time to highlight some ways to keep your dog jumping over a fence.
This is the answer you probably don’t want to hear but training your dog to realize they shouldn’t jump over their fence is the main option. Whilst this is easy to say, it can be difficult to get your dog to understand this, as its such an elaborate action. You would have to essentially wait until your dog attempts to jump over the fence and quickly re-enforce some stern words. Although dogs are more than smart enough to realize what you are saying, there is no point in waiting for this to happen when you can more easily prevent them from jumping over the fence.
Most owners that have dogs will use prevention techniques such as adding an extra section to the top of your fence to make it higher. This should deter your dog from attempting to jump over the fence and hopefully convince them that its a bad idea anyway.
What Dog Breeds Can Jump High
As we have mentioned the greyhound is one of the most prolific jumpers in the dog world, there are however some other dogs that have an aptitude for heights. Below is a list of some of the highest jumping dogs.
- Greyhound
- Whippet
- Vizsla
- Pitbull Terrier
- Border Collie
- German Shepherd
- Rottweiler
- Weimaraner
These are just some of the dogs that are well known for their jumping ability. Although jumping is a great strength for these dogs they are also incredible agility dogs that can do much more than jump high.
Is Jumping Good For Dogs
Dogs are extremely athletic animals, they are made for running jumping and quick reactive motions. however, despite being made for this kind of activity, dogs can sometimes end up doing more harm than good. Jumping is not necessarily bad for dogs in fact jumping can have many benefits to a dog’s health. Jumping stretches out a dog’s muscles and joints and is much better for them than sitting around all day. On the other hand, dogs can do some serious damage if they don’t jump correctly or they are jumping too often.
Is It Safe For Puppies To Jump
If you have ever owned a new puppy you will often find they have an overactive jumping ability. Puppies love to jump mainly because they want to get closer to you, often jumping up at your face. This is something we as owners tend to discourage from an early age, mainly because a jumping dog can become quite annoying over time. Puppies should be discouraged from jumping not only because it is annoying but because it can damage their joints in the long run. Puppies have a growth term of around 12 months, where growth plates are closing up and their bones fuse together. For the same reason, puppies should not be over walked its vital that any exuberant jumping is limited and their bodies are left to grow with interruption.
Agility Training
If you have an agile dog and one which is good at jumping, you may consider training them to compete in agility competitions. You don’t have to expect your dog to be competing in Crufts but there are many dog shows all around the world that cater to all different levels of agility. Agility training can be a great way to safely nurture that desire to jump. If your dog is jumping uncontrollably, agility training can offer some great insight into controlling your dog’s desire to jump and making them realize there is a time and place.
Agility Training at Home
Many think that agility training has to be done in a competition ground and that you need to go straight in at the deep end. This is not true and in fact agility training can be done almost anywhere. Agility training is something you should introduce slowly, so learning at home to start is a great way to harness your dogs jumping ability. Use cheap equipment like hoops and cones for your dog to weave through. Even turning some household items into part of the course can be an easy way to create a course. Check out our article on “How Much Exercise a Dog Needs Everyday”
Agility Training For Jumping Dogs
Create a course for your dog that allows them lots of jumping, if this is done consistently your dog may realize that jumping is allowed when you say it is. This can harness their attention and develop their body to a more controlled jumping action. As jumping can often cause injury, agility training gives that controlled approach which your dog will learn over time and use when jumping in their own time.
Remember the most important part of agility training is the connection you have with your dog. Teaching them to concentrate on your commands with positive re-enforcements can have big benefits if you were to ever enter a competition.
Conclusion
Jumping is something that every dog will do, it is after all a natural instinct. Making sure you have the correct sized fencing and that your dog is not injuring themselves when jumping are the most important factors.
