My six dogs love to dig under the fence at night, sneak out, and come back before I wake up. We live on a big property in a forested area, and the fence wasn’t built with dogs in mind—it’s flexible, so I’ve been patching up the spots they dig under. Unfortunately, rebuilding the entire fence isn’t an option right now. I’m considering an electric fence but not sure if I want to go that route as it feels a bit harsh. Planning to take them for training, but need to save up first. Anyone have ideas or success stories on how to manage this?
We had a similar issue. We ended up burying chicken wire or hardware cloth about a foot deep along the fence line. The dogs didn’t like the feeling when they tried to dig, and eventually, they stopped. It’s a bit of work, but cheaper than replacing the whole fence.
You could try placing large rocks or paving stones along the base of the fence where they usually dig. It might not stop them completely, but it can make it harder for them to get out. We did that for our dogs, and it was enough to discourage them.
I can understand not wanting to use an electric fence. We had some luck with a dig prevention barrier—small, rigid fencing that you stick into the ground along the base of your existing fence. It’s not as expensive as a full fence rebuild, and it worked really well for us!
@Mackenzie
Thanks, I’ll look into that! Anything to avoid a full rebuild right now.
Have you thought about adding a ‘no-dig’ fence or barrier at the bottom? They’re pretty affordable and can be placed along the ground. You could also use some landscaping tricks, like planting bushes or shrubs along the fence line, which can act as a natural deterrent.
@Kim
The bushes idea sounds interesting. Might take some time to grow, but it could work long-term.
We used to have similar issues. I ended up adding a layer of bricks along the fence line, just below the ground. It makes it hard for them to dig, and it’s not too expensive. Might be a bit of a DIY project, but it worked for us.