Any suggestions to keep my dog form digging under the chain link fence?

Question

This morning, I lay in bed hung over from too much wine last nite and my phone rings at 6 am. Its the grocery store owner telling me my choco lab is running around town. I just picked her up from the dog pound 4 days ago, after she ran off while I was feeding her. So this morning, I went and picked him up in the truck and he was covered in dirt from digging under our new $3K dollar chain link fence.....and to think I thought he would jump over the top so they put in a 5 ft fence vs a 4 ft fence. Heck no! He has learned to dig. Do you have any ideas how to keep this dog from digging under the fence. The neigbors do not like him because he is always running to the farm next door and getting in with their dogs and it turns into a big fiasco My railroading boyfriend wants me to put metal rail under the fence so he cannot dig thru it. Do you think that would work or do you have any ideas?

I have a he dog and a she dog. The dog I am talking about is a he dog. Sorry for the confusion.

Answer 1

I had to fix my fences when I started having guard dogs. The thing that worked best was to dig a trench along the fence line, 6" deep & 2 ft. wide. Lay in some 2 ft. chicken wire, attach it to the fence every 8 to 10 inches, after chicken wire is attached, cover it with the dirt from the trench. Dog can't dig out any more.

I had to do this to a 1/2 acre. I had hog wire so I used it. All the dogs have been big dogs so they couldn't get through the hog wire. I did this about 15-20 years ago & it is still in place & working fine.

Answer 2

Your dog may be trying to escape the premises to get to something, to get somewhere, or to simply to get away. This is the case especially if the digging happens near fencing. If you think this may be the case, try to figure out what your dog is running to or from, and give him incentives to stay put in the yard.Bury chicken wire underneath the bottom border of the fence. Make sure any sharp areas are pointed up and in, or at least away from your dog. Line the fence with partially-buried rocks that block egress.Bury the fence even deeper into the ground. Fence that buried 1 to 2 feet deep has little chance of being breached.

Answer 3

Zip line. This is a low voltage wire that you can attach your fence about 5 inches from the ground... it sticks about 3 inches into the yard. Very inexpensive ... about $75 or so from a farm supply store... very safe.

I used to live on sand. It took literally 30 seconds for one of my Samoyeds to dig out of the yard. The zip line solved the problem instantly.

No, a rail will not solve the issue... burying 2 feet of fencing might... I personally think the zip line is faster, safer and easier.

Answer 4

I know you just spent a bunch of money on the fence, but can you build the dog a dog run? That's what I needed for my wayward Old English Sheepdog..we had a cement pad laid and the chain link is embedded into the cement . No way can that dog dig out of there, plus it has a roof!

Answer 5

well first i would try to get your dog to exercise more. cuz they do stuff like that when they get bored. If that doesn't work then put in an underground electric fence. My lab had the same problem. we put in the fence and after a month or so he got the idea that he wasnt supposed to go near the fence. then we took off the callar and he never dug another hole.

Answer 6

You may have to place a small concrete strip along the base of the fence. Dogs usually do this when they're bored so you could try spending more time, providing some more dog toys, some bones, regular walks, etc.

Answer 7

Place chicken wire all around the inside of the fence, half on the ground and half attached to the other fence. Works great.

Answer 8

Try pouring vinegar to the spot where he is digging. Dogs don't like the smell of vinegar. It works...

Answer 9

Put some bricks under the fecne