Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I stop my dog digging to escape the garden?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Treat escape digging as urgent, since a dog that gets out risks traffic and getting lost. Bury a physical barrier along the whole fence line immediately, then work out what is pulling your dog to leave, whether that is another dog, a person, loneliness, or simple under stimulation at home.
Secure the boundary first
Bury L shaped wire mesh at least 30 cm deep with the horizontal section pointing inward, or lay paving slabs along the base of the whole fence, not just the spot already dug. Dogs that dig to escape will simply try a new location if only one is blocked.
Understand what is pulling your dog out
A dog with a strong reason to leave, a female in season nearby, an unneutered male roaming for mates, a favorite person walking past daily, will keep trying even with a good fence. Neutering, more exercise, and more time with people at home all reduce the drive to escape.
Never leave an escaping dog unsupervised outside
Until the fence is fully secured, treat outside time as supervised only. A dog that has succeeded at escaping once is more likely to try again, so closing the gap in behavior and in the fence needs to happen together.
Key takeaways
- A full fence line barrier is needed, not just a patch over the one dug spot.
- Escape digging usually has a specific pull behind it, like another animal or a person.
- Supervise all outside time until both the fence and the underlying motivation are addressed.