HELP !!!

Question
I have an Aussie who's very smart, too smart for
his own good. he is an escape artist and no matter how much I try and make the yard escape
proof, he always manages finds a way out. I love that dog very much but, if I can't stop this am seriously considering giving him away.

Answer
There are two parts to resolving your problem:

1) Figure out why your dog is trying to escape.

*Is your dog trying to leave the yard to search for a dog in season nearby? Neutering the pet will greatly reduce his urge to roam.

*Is he afraid of something that is causing him to want to leave? Some dogs develop a fear of loud noises. Determine if he is noise sensitive and if so, allow him to be inside and in a secure place during thunderstorms, nearby construction projects or during the Fourth of July.

*Is the dog left alone without enough opportunity to interact with his family? Try bringing the dog inside and if you must be gone for extended periods of time, ask a neighbor to drop by and visit the dog or enroll the dog in "daycare" classes for pets.
Make certain you are spending enough quality time with the dog doing something active and stimulating like walking in the neighborhood, playing games, or participating in regular obedience classes.
Reducing the dog's time outside to only supervised sessions, while allowing him to live inside as a family companion will typically resolve most escape issues. Until you resolve the reason why, you will always be struggling to prevent the act.

2)How is the dog escaping and what efforts can be made to prevent it from occurring? There is always a solution to preventing yard escapes, it just takes a little creative thinking.

Even if the dog is allowed to become an indoor, family companion, there will still be occasions when the dog needs to spend time outside. This means securing the yard completely. Some dogs can jump fences, but most actually climb them, using some part of the fence to push off from. They also dig under fences,chew through the fence, push wood slats aside, learn to open a gate latch and can use any combination of these methods to escape yard. Knowing how your dog gets out will help you to secure the yard.

*Digging- if the dog is digging out, lay chicken wire at the base of the fence, bend it in an L shape, so that the top is attached firmly the fence itself. Do this around the entire perimeter of the yard. Chain link laid on the ground will work as well, but is more expensive. Lay paving stones around the perimeter of the yard and fill in any low spots.

*Pulling out or chewing through the fence slats-Set a second smaller fence about 18" inside the perimeter of the first fence. Wire livestock panels attached to t-posts make an easy, inexpensive solution.

*Jumping or crawling over the fence-Add an extension to your fence that tilts in toward the yard by about 45 degree angle. You don't need to add height as much as a cap that prevents the dog from gripping the top and pulling itself over.

Finally, another solution is to build a secure enclosure (dog run) with a solid, non dirt floor and a covered top where you can *temporarily* leave the dog when you can not supervise his activities outside. Remember that dogs are pack animals and Australian Shepherds in particular, thrive on their human companionship. They need mental and physical stimulation and time spent with their owners, preferably inside.

If you address the why and the how of the problem, you will find a solution and won't have to give your dog away. Good luck to you!