What Can I Use to Reinforce the Bottom of My Wood Fence So Small Dogs Cannot Escape?
Adventurous small dogs are adept at finding a way to escape from confinement. If your Chihuahua or Jack Russell is determined, it may be able to squeeze through a gap between the planks, or chew a knot in the wood to enlarge an existing hole. A loose nail can provide an opportunity to push the board out far enough to slip through, and a fence without a foundation makes it possible to dig through underneath. Reinforce the base of your fence yourself, using some basic materials. Does this Spark an idea?
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Board Up the Bottom
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The easiest and cheapest reinforcement is to buy a few 2-inch by 4-inch wooden struts and nail them horizontally along the bottom of the fence. As long as there is not a significant gap between the bottom of the upright boards and the ground, you can nail the bottom boards evenly along the lowest possible level. Fasten each upright to the board with a nail. This will secure the upright boards from being pushed outward, eliminate the possibility of your dog chewing a hole and make the entire fence more solid. However, the task will require some effort and a lot of nails.
Line the Lower Half
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Install a lining along the lower inner half of the fence. This can be made of shade cloth, poultry netting or canvas. Staple it to the fence at the top and bottom of the lining, making sure that you secure any sections where the gaps are larger. Only a very determined dog will be able to chew through any of these substances, and small dogs are not likely to have the strength in their jaws to do so. This measure will not be effective against a dog digging under the fence.
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Create a Foundation
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The most secure option, and also the most time-consuming and costly, is to build a foundation for the existing fence. Dig a trench 3 inches deep at the base that extends under the fence on both sides. Fill it with a layer of liquid cement, then add layers of bricks or cement blocks and liquid cement on either side to a height of approximately 2 inches above the bottom edge of the fence. This creates a "brick wall" foundation on both sides of the fence, and will ensure that it is completely stable and no dog will ever be able to dig beneath it, chew through it or push open struts where nails have worked loose.
Install an Invisible Fence
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Invisible fences are popular in the U.S. as an alternative to installing expensive physical fencing. However, wireless fences are subject to signal fluctuations, and electric wire fences can be ineffective if the dog is particularly determined. Installing a basic model electric fence with a transmitter collar for the dog as a backup to your existing wooden fence will ensure that if the one fence fails you, the other is likely to provide the necessary deterrent.
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References
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