How can I kep my dog from digging holes under my backyard fence? She keeps getting out.?

Question

I have a 16 month old Puggle who I recently started letting outside to run off some of her energy (she has a TON) and she keeps digging holes under my fence to get out. I wanted her to have freedom to an extent, insteand of being cooped up in a kennel while I am at work, but I can't trust her to STAY in the backyard. And she tears up anything she gets a hold of when she DOES happen to stay in the yard. Lawnmower seat, GONE! Screendoor on the back porch, GONE! I'm going to have to get rid of her if I can't find a solution to keeping her where she's supposed to be.

It's a chain link fence. Obviously if I had the TIME to get out there and mess with her I would, but since getting her, a lot of things have changed and I am a single working mother so I don't have a lot of "spare time" to be spent with her. And trust me, getting rid of her IS an option, and a very good one at that. She's too much for me to handle on my own most of the time.

I've thought about the dog run. my only problem is my backyard is HUGE!! almost an acre, lucky for me it was 99% fenced when I bought the house! So I'd have to save some money to be able to afford additional fencing. but it's the best idea i could think of as well. I appreciate the responses. I know the number 1 thing for me to do is just section off some time to take her on walks and play. even if it can't be for long periods of time, anything is better than nothing. she's generally a good, smart dog. obviously cause she keeps finding new places to dig out from! I will just have to try to find more time in my schedule to give her attention too.

Well the good thing abotu Madie is that while she IS part pug...she's more beagle. She's got the snout of a beagle so thankfully the vet said while she may still have SOME breathing problems, for the most part all she does is snore.
And another plus is that she DID come microchipped when I bought her. I've thought about the invisible fence but was unsure of the cost to do such a large area, or if I could only do it in the fron area of the back yard to keep her from digging under the fence. It's something to look in to further.

Answer 1

It really depends on how much you want to spend. What I did was to dig a ditch the size of the run I wanted, say you make a pen or run that is 12 X 12 you would dig a ditch that big fill with quik dry concrete (one section at a time) put the fence sections into the wet concrete and pound them in a little deeper with a hammer so they are stable and level. Most fence sections are a little longer at the ends that's what you are pounding into the ground for stability. You can use any kind of fence sections from Home Depot etc. but I used some rebar and sections of chain link fence. I know this sound very obvious but don't forget to have some sort of gate to make entry and exit easy. Even a pugnacious little Puggle can't dig through concrete or chew through chain link and she'll have her own little yard. A dog house filled with chew toys of her own where she can get out of the rain and sun or just hang out won't hurt either. I don't know if you watch the Dog Whisper but he teaches and I agree that the best way to get rid of all that energy is a long daily walk, you can bond with your pup , lose weight and get healthy at the same time. As for the chewing she is still a pup and is probably still teething. Have patience and Good luck!

Answer 2

There are a couple of things you can try. I have seen the concrete suggestion before and it works, but it's not realistic on a 1 acre backyard. I have seen the chicken wire thing, but it looks unpleasant to many people (including your neighbors). Walking will help, but I've seen really good pet owners still have this problem (check anyone who has owned a Jack Russell Terrier). Ok, that being said, try a couple of other things:

1) Keep her inside. Pugs are brachycephalic (short nose dog) and can have breathing problems - especially when the weather is warm. Then, have the kids (or you) take her for a walk in the evening when you get home.

2) If you think outside is still the best option, try an invisible fence. They are buried only about 1-3 inches underground and can contain a field up to 25 acres (depending on brand). All of them can contain a 1 acre field. Your pug would have to wear a collar all the time outside, but a small price to pay to stop them from getting hit by a car.

3) GET THEM MICROCHIPPED! Please, even if they get out, you have a reasonable chance at getting them back with a microchip. Avid is good, Home Again is good, just ask your vet.

Answer 3

Here's what my aunt & uncle had to do for their dachsund- infamous little diggers that they are... They got chicken wire... They had to dig down along their fence line about two feet deep and about two feet in... Attached wire mesh to the bottom of the fence and spread it out down the side of the ditch and along the bottom. Then fill it all back in. They did this along all sides of their backyard fence. The dachsund can still dig along the fence- but hits the chicken wire and can't get past it... Thus far that has worked for about 3 years now... It was very labor intensive and a little expensive... So I don't know if you want to go to that extreme.

Another option would be to build a dog run/outdoor kennel for your Puggle where you can put her in when you can't supervise her in the back yard. It doesn't have to be too fancy since she's so small- perhaps just enough room for her, a small dog house and room to play and do her business. That way you only have do a small area with the above mentioned technique.

Then you can let her play in the backyard unsupervised and know she's contained. Then when you are home, let her run around the whole yard with you supervising. So you can be there to reprimand her when she starts in on things that she isn't allowed to chew or scratch; you'll be there to redirect her energy to things she is allowed to play with like balls and chew toys.

Answer 4

I put rocks under the fence line to keep my lab from digging and getting out. Dogs get bored, just like people. They are destructive because there is nothing else to do. Try exercising her alot before keeping her in the backyard. Put lots of toys for her to play with, and hide some for her to find. If you really don't trust her there, then kennel her. You are not being mean. When you get home, take her out of the kennel, and give her lots of attention and exercise. You both will be happier.

Answer 5

Couple things you can try.

Give her something else to dig in that is easier and softer to dig in, like sand. Bury some treats in the sand, when she stumbles on one of those she will spend hours looking for more. She digs because it's fun and for the exercise.

Wear her out with exercise, long run before going in the back yard.

Get some metal cloth (hardware store), which is stronger than chicken wire. Attach it to the bottom of your fence then bury it so that it goes in the ground then back about 2 feet (like an L shape). She won't be able to dig through that.

Answer 6

If you are even considering giving up your dog, you probably weren't ready to have a dog to begin with.

But if you are ready to tough it out, and be a responsible owner, here is my advice:

When you are away, keep your puggle inside. Puggles are escape artists, and can't be left outside unsupervised. It's too hard to contain them. Dog proof a room in your house, and give her someplace comfortable to sleep. She will sleep until you get home, however long that might be.

If she is being destructive outdoors then you should not let her outdoors without your supervision. If you spend enough time with her outside and train her what she is and isn't supposed to do, eventually you will be able to leave her outside (if you get a better fence).

I've found that when our puggle is behaving badly it's because we aren't spending enough time with her or keeping a close enough eye on her. You need to take some responsibiliby for your dog's behavior. Spend more time with her. Take her to dog parks. Go outside with her and play with her. This will solve your problems.

Answer 7

First things first, walk her 2 times a day for 45 minutes. And second thing, if this doesn't help, then I would recommend getting a 12 or 16 inch concrete barrier under the entire fence. I fencing company should be able to do this for you.

Answer 8

Is it a chain link fence or a wooden fence? If it is chain link, I don't know what you can do for her. If it is a wooden fence cut some large holes in it and put chicken wire over them so she can see out. This is often times the cause for digging out. She might just want to be able to see whats on the other side.

Answer 9

make a good sized pen in your backyard, make is so the fence planks are about a foot underground. so she doesn't destroy soft things get her a rawhide bone or a chew rope to play with. to release some of her energy take her on walks often. :D
My dog hates rawhide though, but it will last a LONG time. She will probably be too busy trying to destroy it rather than dig. Also scold her when you find a hole she dug. this way you supress the habit.

Answer 10

the only thing that i've found to work is to bury her waste all along the fence. to be honest, i'm very lazy and i don't bury it, i just go outside everyday and scoop some more and lay it along the fence line. a dog's sense of smell is something like 100,000 times stronger than ours so they're not going to dig around their waste even if it means freedom. i have four dogs that used to dig under our fence but since i started doing this, they have completely stopped trying. now when we have to leave the house, i know they're going to be there when we get back!