My dogs are rarely outside unless I'm with them, even though we have a 6 foot giant privacy fenced backyard in the middle of 40 acres. When they try to do something they aren't allowed to do, they are redirected. My advice is to not let them out there to do what they want because of they aren't told no at the exact moment they're trying to dig under the fence, they'll never know they're not allowed to do that. It should take a large dog at least a minute or so to move a concrete block, which is enough time to let them know that it's not allowed.

 

I would only have them out in the fence when I was with them. It's just too big of a risk to take. They could get caught in the fence trying to escape, or hit by a car. I wouldn't trust an invisible fence either. If a real fence isn't deterring the behavior an invisible fence won't. You also have to train them to the invisible fence, it takes time.

I had an Irish Setter years ago that was an escape artist. He would lay down at the exact spot in the yard that the warning alarm went off on his collar for the invisible fence and then the collar battery would die. He was also famous for getting a running start and flying through the barrier. The problem with the invisible fence is that it also shocked him when he tried to come back in the yard.

Sounds like they need more exercise and stimulation. I bet a good game of fetch would tire them out, but I still wouldn't leave them in a fence unattended. If they are only going out the bottom, and not over the top, I've heard of people having success running a hot wire around the bottom. It's not something I've ever had to do. I believe in theory it keeps them away from the fence.

 

Thank you. I have considered a hot wire along the bottom. They can't go over the fence..thank goodness. They dig out and go to the pond across the street behind the neighbor's house. We are increasing the exercise too. The younger one is the ring leader. I am hopeful that training her with the wireless might get through her "knot head" that no, means no. Fortunately we live in a neighborhood that is one way in and out with all dead end streets. I've lost a dog to a car accident when we lived on a busy street. I never want to go through that again! We're adding more sections of the Dig Defence too. We just hope to be able to let them out for a few minutes without them digging out.

 

I had a Beagle that would dig out with me standing right there with her. We ran a hot wire around the bottom of the fence line, that stopped the digging out.

 

If all else fails, consider an alligator moat and gun towers at the corners of the yard.......just kidding of course. My first golden, Rusty, was also an escape artist. The first house we lived in had a 4' wire fence that he started climbing when he was 4.5 months old. He would go next door, steal the little kids toys and bring them back in my yard to chew on them...not good for happy neighbor relationships. When we moved, the 2nd house had a 6' chain link fence that I actually watched him climb once....I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He would climb, dig or push out under the wire if I was not outside with and focused on him the entire time. We moved to my current home when he was 12 and I think by then he was too old and tired to run off exploring too much, although I did have to chase him into the cow pasture on the other side of the woods behind our property to bring him home one time. I don't think the cows were amused.....I know I wasn't......

 

Perhaps create a “yard within the yard” only for when you cannot be outside with them- a chain-link, concrete dog run. Probably much more humane and safer than some of the alternatives.

 

@sihorab That is not my original quote. I’m not sure how you changed it to advertise for a fence company???