To stop dogs digging under a fence, block weak spots, add buried barriers, and meet exercise and enrichment needs every day.
If your dog keeps tunneling out, you’re dealing with escape risk, lawn damage, and neighbor drama. This guide shows practical fixes that work, plus why dogs dig in the first place. You’ll find quick wins, durable barriers, and training that sticks. If you follow the steps, you can seal the fence line and give your dog better outlets so the digging slows and then fades.
Why Dogs Dig And How That Changes The Fix
Dogs dig for fun, to cool off, to chase prey, to stash food, to nest, or to slip under a boundary. Some breeds have stronger tunnel instincts. Stress, little exercise, or long yard time with nothing to do ramps up the habit. When you match the cause with the right fix, results come faster and the fence holds.
Fast Diagnosis Checklist
- New holes near the fence: escape or prey drive.
- Large pits in shady spots: cooling and resting.
- Holes near sheds or compost: scavenging or rodents.
- Digging after fireworks or storms: stress relief.
- Endless yard time, few walks: boredom digging.
Common Causes And Targeted Fixes
Use the table to match a pattern with a plan. Pick the column that fits your dog, then apply the listed steps for two weeks before you judge results.
| Cause | Signs | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Boredom | Holes all over, starts when left alone | Two brisk walks, short training games, rotate chew toys |
| Prey drive | Holes at corners, sniffing and pawing first | Block gaps, add L-footers, remove burrowing pests |
| Cooling | Pits under trees in hot weather | Give shade, cool mats, set up a dig box with sand |
| Nesting | Circling, scraping one spot | Provide a bed or raised cot outdoors, shorten yard time |
| Stashing food | Buried treats or toys | Meal puzzles indoors, pick up leftovers |
| Escape habit | Tunnels at known weak spots | Install buried barrier, supervise, long-line practice |
| Stress | Digging during noise or absence | Calm background sound, safe room inside, short yard sessions |
Stop A Dog Digging Under The Fence: Quick Steps
Here’s a punchy plan you can start today. Tackle exercise and enrichment first, then harden the fence line, then train.
Daily Exercise And Brain Work
- Walks: Two sessions of brisk walking or fetch, totaling 45–60 minutes.
- Training bursts: Three sets of two minutes: sit, down, hand target, recall.
- Food puzzles: Kibble in a snuffle mat or slow feeder before yard time.
- Chews: Durable chew once per day to ease arousal and settle.
Build A Legal Dig Zone
Many dogs need a place to scratch and fling sand. Pour play sand in a small frame or kiddie pool. Bury a few toys so the area pays off. Any time your dog paws the fence line, guide them to the dig box and praise when they use it. Refill the stash a few times each week.
Harden The Fence Line
Pick one of these barriers and install it along the full run, especially at corners and gates:
- Hardware cloth trench: Dig a trench 10–12 inches deep, set 14–16 gauge galvanized mesh, backfill, and tamp.
- L-footer: Attach mesh to the bottom of the fence and lay the footer inward on the ground 12–18 inches. Pin it with landscape staples and let grass grow through.
- Concrete mow strip: Pour a narrow footer under the fence panels to remove soft soil at the edge.
- Rail or kickboard: Add a treated bottom board to close gaps under pickets and deter pry points.
Gate And Corner Weak Spots
Most escapes start at gates and corners. Add a drop rod on double gates. Use extra mesh at posts and hinge sides. For chain link, clamp tension wire along the base to stop push-through slack.
Training That Makes Digging Less Rewarding
Fence running and digging can feel like a game. Short daily reps turn the fence into a boring place and make you the reward.
Interrupt And Redirect
- Clip a long line before yard time.
- When paws hit soil at the edge, say a calm “this way.”
- Guide to the dig box or a mat; mark and treat when paws land there.
- Repeat three to five times, then switch to fetch or scent games.
Teach A Settle Cue
Use a mat near the back door. Cue “on your mat,” reward calm. Move the mat closer to the yard over days. Many dogs choose rest over tunneling once they have a default settle spot.
Recall Beats Fence Fun
Run five recall reps in the yard before free time. Call once, reward with play or a short leash walk. That pattern makes coming to you pay better than scraping at dirt.
Safety Notes And What To Skip
Avoid harsh punishers, spike mats, or hot pepper dirt. Pain or fear can damage trust and push digging to new spots. Skip burying glass or sharp rubble. Skip shock collars for fence lines; many dogs work through the discomfort when stress or prey drive spikes.
How to Stop Dogs Digging Under a Fence With Barriers
If your dog treats the boundary like a puzzle, strong barriers matter. Match the soil, fence type, and budget. Use the table to compare common options.
| Barrier | DIY Steps | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware cloth trench | Trench 10–12 in., set mesh, backfill | Good for most soils; check for sprinkler lines |
| L-footer mesh | Attach to fence base, lay inward 12–18 in. | Grass grows through; low visual impact |
| Concrete strip | Form narrow footer along line | High labor; long lasting once cured |
| Landscape edging | Set heavy plastic or steel edge | Fast install; best for light diggers |
| Timber kickboard | Add treated board along bottom | Blocks gaps; pair with mesh for power diggers |
| Gravel trench | Remove soft soil, fill with compacted gravel | Drains well; combine with tension wire |
| Pre-made dig guards | Attach modular panels at base | Clean finish; measure panels to fit posts |
Health, Heat, And Pests
Hot days drive ground scraping for a cool bed. Offer shade, water, and short yard sessions at midday. If your dog hunts burrowing critters, call a humane pest pro and close entry points. If licking dirt or eating soil shows up, ask your vet to rule out tummy issues.
Breed Tendencies And Yard Design
Terriers, northern breeds, and scent hounds tend to tunnel more. That doesn’t doom your yard; it just sets your plan. Add a dig zone, raise play time, and pick tougher barriers. In small yards, swap grass edges for gravel strips so the fence line offers nothing soft to scratch.
Step-By-Step Weekend Plan
Day 1: Inspect And Prep
- Walk the fence line; flag gaps, soft soil, and corners.
- Pick a barrier type and buy materials.
- Mark sprinklers and irrigation before digging.
Day 2: Install And Train
- Install the barrier across the flagged sections first.
- Set up the dig box and seed it with toys.
- Run recall and settle drills, then give calm yard time.
Costs And Time To Expect
Mesh and staples cost less than poured concrete, yet both beat the price of vet bills or city fines from escapes. Most yards need one weekend of labor and a follow-up day to finish corners and gates. Training takes minutes a day for a couple of weeks. Mesh lasts for years when galvanized, and L-footers disappear under grass after a month or two.
When To Call A Pro
Bring in a trainer if digging ties to noise panic or separation stress. A fence company can pour a mow strip or set pre-made dig guards faster if time is tight. Pest control is smart when ground squirrels or rats trigger the chase pattern. Expect tidy work.
Putting It All Together
Here’s how to stop dogs digging under a fence in a balanced way: add exercise and brain work, give a legal dig spot, fortify the edge, and reward calm. Repeat those steps and the habit fades.
Frequently Missed Details That Keep Holes Coming Back
- Only fixing one corner: Dogs try the next soft spot the same day.
- No shade in summer: The ground still looks like a cool bed.
- Loose gate bases: Gaps grow with soil wear.
- Skipping walks: Energy still needs an outlet.
- Leaving treats in the yard: Dogs bury the stash.
Simple Shopping List
- 14–16 gauge galvanized hardware cloth, 1/2-inch mesh
- Landscape staples or rebar pins
- Zip ties or galvanized wire for attachment
- Play sand and a kiddie pool or frame for a dig box
- Slow feeder, snuffle mat, and a durable chew
- Flags or stakes to map your trench
Sample Yard Routine
Morning: walk, breakfast in a puzzle, five recall reps. Midday: shade, water, quiet time inside. Late afternoon: fetch or sniff walk, then short yard time with the long line clipped. Evening: chew, settle on a mat. This steady rhythm cuts the urge to dig.
How This Plan Fits With Expert Advice
Leading training sources point to two big themes: meet needs and remove rewards at the fence. Exercise, puzzles, and legal dig zones lower the drive to tunnel. Buried barriers and tight gates stop payoffs when the urge hits.
Guides from the AKC digging guide and RSPCA advice echo this plan: match cause to fix, add enrichment, and use humane barriers for escape-prone dogs consistently.
Final Word
If you came here searching how to stop dogs digging under a fence, you now have a map. Choose a cause, pick a barrier, and set a daily routine. With steady reps and a sealed edge, holes stop and your dog relaxes.