How to Keep a Dog From Digging Under a Fence: A Guide for Pet Owners
Your backyard should be a safe haven where your dog can run, play, and burn off energy. However, for many homeowners in Raymore and Lee’s Summit, letting the dog out can become a stressful experience if your pet is a natural-born digger. An escape-artist dog is a safety hazard, exposing them to traffic, getting lost, or encountering other animals.
To solve this problem, you must address both your dog’s natural behaviors and the physical boundary of your yard. In this guide, we will break down the most effective ways to secure your perimeter and prevent your dog from tunneling under the fence.
Why Dogs Dig Under Fences
Before installing physical barriers, it is helpful to understand why your dog is digging in the first place. Usually, they are driven by one of a few common instincts:
- Boredom: If a dog is left outside for hours without stimulation, digging becomes a fun way to pass the time.
- Prey Drive: Your dog may see rabbits, squirrels, or moles on the other side of the fence and try to tunnel through to chase them.
- Separation Anxiety: Dogs that are highly attached to their owners may dig near gates or fence lines trying to find a way to get back to you.
- Seeking Cool Ground: In the hot Missouri summer, dogs will dig down to find the cool, damp earth beneath the surface to lower their body temperature.
Ways to Keep a Dog From Digging Under a Fence
If you are looking for practical, active solutions to stop your dog from tunneling out, several physical adjustments can be made to your current setup.
Install an L-Footer Barrier
An L-footer is a section of wire fencing laid flat on the ground and attached to the bottom of your existing fence. When your dog stands at the edge of the fence and tries to dig, they will meet the metal mesh instead of soil. You can cover this wire with dirt, mulch, or grass so it remains hidden while protecting your perimeter.
Bury the Fence Bottom
If you are planning a new installation, you can extend the bottom of your fence panels or wire mesh 1 to 2 feet below the surface. Dogs almost always start digging right at the base of the fence. When they dig down a few inches and hit the buried portion of the fence, they will usually give up.
Install a Concrete Footer
Pouring a concrete curb or trench beneath your fence line is the most permanent option. This creates a solid block of concrete that a dog cannot dig through.
Best Way to Keep Dogs From Digging Under a Fence
The absolute best way to stop a dog from digging is to install a buried wire mesh barrier or a concrete footer. These methods create an underground wall that blocks tunneling completely.
However, the ideal solution for your yard depends on a few factors:
- The Size of Your Dog: For smaller dogs, a shallow, buried wire barrier is usually enough. For large, powerful diggers, you will need a deeper concrete footer.
- Your Existing Fence Type: It is easier to attach wire barriers to some fences than others.
- Your Budget: Concrete is the most durable option but comes with higher material and installation costs.
How to Prevent Digging by Fence Type
Different materials require different approaches to secure the bottom of the line.
How to Keep a Dog From Digging Under a Wood Fence
A wood fence is sturdy, but because pickets should sit 2 inches off the ground to prevent rot, it naturally leaves a gap. You can secure this gap by installing a pressure-treated wood kickboard. This board sits directly on or slightly below the dirt level, closing the gap and keeping your pickets safe from moisture.
How to Keep a Dog From Digging Under a Vinyl Fence
Vinyl fencing is sleek and low-maintenance, but it can crack if a heavy dog repeatedly paws or digs at the bottom of the panels. To protect the vinyl, place a decorative border of large river stones along the base. This protects the clean look of the PVC while creating a heavy, physical block that dogs cannot dig through.
How to Keep a Dog From Digging Under a Chain Link Fence
Chain link fencing is the easiest fence for dogs to escape under because the wire mesh can flex upward when pulled. To secure it, you must install a heavy-gauge bottom tension wire tightly woven through the bottom diamonds of the mesh. For determined diggers, you can attach metal tent stakes to pin the bottom rail of the chain link directly into the soil every few feet.
What to Put Around a Fence to Keep a Dog From Digging
If you are looking for specific materials to place along your fence line to act as a deterrent, these options are safe for pets and highly effective:
Large Decorative Landscaping Stones
Laying down flat flagstones or heavy river rocks along the perimeter is a beautiful and effective solution. Dogs cannot move the heavy stones, and they cannot dig through them, which instantly neutralizes their favorite digging spots.
Chicken Wire or Hardware Cloth
You can lay a roll of chicken wire flat on the ground along the fence, securing it with landscape staples, and then cover it with grass seed or mulch. It is completely invisible once the grass grows back, but your dog’s claws will hit the wire mesh as soon as they try to dig.
Natural Off-Putting Textures
Some dogs are deterred by texture. Placing a thick layer of pinecones, gravel, or coarse wood chips along the base of the fence can make the ground uncomfortable under their paws, encouraging them to find another place to play.
Professional Fencing from Elite Fence
While DIY tricks can help mild diggers, securing a yard for a determined escape artist requires a professional touch. A weak or poorly constructed fence, especially one built incorrectly on a slope, can leave large gaps at the bottom and make the posts unstable. Dogs are quick to spot these weak points and will easily exploit them to dig their way out.
At Elite Fence, we are a family-owned fence installation team based in Raymore, MO, and we specialize in building pet-safe, highly secure boundaries for our neighbors. We set our posts deep, level our panels precisely along slopes, and build structurally sound perimeters that keep your pets contained.
Ready to see how a pet-secure fence fits your budget? Use our Free Fence Estimator Tool on our website to virtually draw your layout and get an instant quote in minutes! We proudly serve families in Belton, Peculiar, Overland Park, and across the metro.
Contact Elite Fence today to schedule your consultation and give your pet the safe, secure backyard they deserve!
Dog Digging Prevention FAQ
How deep do I need to bury a dog barrier?
For most dogs, burying a wire or wood barrier 12 inches into the ground is sufficient. For exceptionally large breeds or dogs with high prey drives, extending the barrier to 18 or 24 inches is recommended.
Are there safe, natural scents that stop dogs from digging?
Yes. You can sprinkle natural deterrents like diluted apple cider vinegar, citrus peels, or coffee grounds along the fence line. Dogs have highly sensitive noses and will often avoid areas with strong, unfamiliar smells. Avoid using spicy pepper powders, as these can get in your dog’s eyes and cause painful irritation.
Will my dog eventually grow out of digging?
Often, yes. Puppies and young dogs dig due to excess energy and curiosity. As dogs mature, they naturally become calmer. However, if the digging is driven by prey drive, such as chasing moles under the fence, the behavior will likely continue unless a physical barrier is installed.