How to Stop Dog Digging Under Fence (UK Guide)

Stop dog digging under fence behaviour quickly and it can save you from a much bigger escape problem later.

If your dog has started tunnelling along the boundary, it’s rarely random. In most cases, digging at the fence line means your dog is trying to get out. What begins as one small hole can quickly turn into repeated attempts at escaping under the fence — especially once they realise it works.

Before you can prevent dog digging out for good, you need to understand what’s driving it. If you’re unsure what motivates escape behaviour, read our guide on How Do I Stop My Dog Running Away (for good) here.

Whether your dog is digging along the fence to get out or has already managed to escape once, the real solution begins with understanding what’s driving the behaviour.

For many UK owners — particularly those with larger or rural properties — creating a truly secure garden for digging dog breeds requires more than just filling in the hole.

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Why Is My Dog Digging Under the Fence?

When you need to stop dog digging under fence behaviour, the first step is identifying the motivation.

Fence-line digging almost always has a purpose.

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Digging to Escape the Garden

If your dog is consistently digging along the boundary, this is classic dog digging to escape garden behaviour.

Common triggers include:

• Wildlife beyond the fence (deer, rabbits, squirrels)
• Livestock in neighbouring fields
• Other dogs nearby
• Public footpaths
• Separation anxiety (the RSPCA offers helpful guidance on recognising and managing anxiety-related behaviours).

Then link “RSPCA offers helpful guidance” to:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour

Once a dog succeeds at escaping under a fence, the behaviour becomes reinforced. Freedom becomes the reward.

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Breed Instinct (Terriers & Working Dogs)

Some breeds are naturally wired to dig.

Terriers, for example, were bred to hunt prey underground. For these dogs, digging isn’t disobedience — it’s instinct.

If you have a determined digging breed, standard fencing alone may not be enough to prevent dog digging out long term.

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Digging to Stay Cool in Summer

In warmer weather, some dogs dig shallow pits to lie in cooler soil.

These holes are usually:

• Away from the boundary
• In shaded areas
• Not tunnel-shaped

If your goal is to stop dog digging under fence, but the holes are central in the garden, temperature may be the real cause.

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Boredom and Excess Energy

Young, intelligent or high-drive dogs may dig simply because it’s stimulating.

Without:

• Structured walks
• Mental enrichment
• Training interaction
• Scent work

Digging becomes self-rewarding entertainment.

However, boredom digging rarely focuses repeatedly on the fence line — persistent boundary digging usually indicates escape motivation.

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How to Stop Dog Digging Under Fence

Now let’s look at practical ways to prevent dog digging out and restore control of your boundary.

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Increase Exercise and Mental Stimulation

A tired dog is far less motivated to test boundaries.

Consider:

• Daily structured walks (not just garden access)
• Short training sessions
• Puzzle feeders
• Rotating toys
• Scent games

This helps reduce boredom-driven digging but may not fully stop dog digging under fence if escape is the primary motivation.

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Improve Shade and Cooling Options

If your dog is digging to regulate temperature:

• Provide shaded shelter
• Ensure constant fresh water
• Use a heavy-duty paddling pool
• Avoid inflatable pools (easily punctured)

When comfort improves, digging often reduces.

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Reinforce the Base of Your Fence

Traditional methods to prevent dog digging out include:

• Burying chicken wire
• Installing gravel boards
• Digging trench footings
• L-shaped underground barriers

These approaches can work in smaller gardens. However, in larger rural properties, reinforcing every metre of boundary can be costly and disruptive.

Some determined dogs will simply move along the fence line until they find a weaker point. Before investing in higher panels or reinforcements, it’s important to understand why dogs escape gardens — because escape behaviour is usually driven by motivation, not just opportunity.

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Address Hormonal or Seasonal Escape Behaviour

Male dogs may become highly motivated to dig if they detect a nearby female in season. Female dogs may also attempt to leave the garden during this period.

While neutering may reduce some drive, it is not a guaranteed way to stop dog digging under fence behaviour if the underlying motivation remains strong.

During these periods, creating a truly secure garden for digging dog breeds becomes especially important.

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Will Burying Wire or Concrete Stop a Dog Escaping Under Fence Panels?

Sometimes — but not always.

If the desire to leave the property remains strong, dogs may continue testing different sections.

Blocking one hole may simply shift the problem further down the boundary.

To genuinely stop dog digging under fence, the reward for escaping must disappear.

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The Most Reliable Way to Stop Dog Escaping Under Fence

When digging is driven by escape motivation, behaviour usually changes when the dog clearly understands where the boundary lies.

A professionally installed pet containment system creates a consistent perimeter around the entire property — including weak points, hedges, gates and uneven ground.

When introduced with calm, structured training, most dogs quickly learn the boundary and stop attempting to dig under it.

For properties with:

• Post-and-rail fencing
• Hedge boundaries
• Large rural perimeters
• Sloping or uneven terrain

This approach often provides more reliable long-term prevention than repeated physical reinforcement alone.

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When Should You Be Concerned?

If your dog has already succeeded in escaping under fence panels once, the risk increases significantly.

Escaping dogs face:

• Road traffic
• Livestock incidents
• Getting lost
• Legal liability

Fence-line digging is often an early warning sign that your current setup is not secure enough.

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Final Thoughts: How to Stop Dog Digging Under Fence for Good

To stop dog digging under fence permanently, you must address both:

1. The reason your dog wants to leave
2. The weakness in the boundary

Digging is communication.

Your dog may be saying:

• I’m bored
• I’m anxious
• I’m too hot
• I want what’s on the other side

When you understand the motivation and secure the full perimeter — not just the hole — most dogs stop trying to escape.

And your garden — and peace of mind — can finally recover. If you’re looking for broader guidance on how to stop a dog running away, see our complete guide here.

Over the past two decades, we’ve seen that when the full boundary is clearly defined and properly introduced, digging behaviour almost always settles. Rather than constantly repairing panels or burying wire, a professionally installed containment system can addresses the root cause — removing the reward for escape and restoring safety to the entire property.