What to dooooo!?

[wiggal]

As some of you may know, we have Ashke, a 4 yr old Samoyed, and Cleo, a 7 month old pup.

We went out for a couple of hours yesterday evening, and when we got home, there was a note from the neighbours saying that our puppy was with them as he had dug under the fence. Firstly, I was annoyed that as she has a bright pink collar, and no dangly bits its clear she is a girl lol!
We were only out a couple of hours, and Cleo was in the garden as she loves being out with Ashke, and dont think it would be fair to shut her in the kitchen. In that time, he had dug a hole, and she climbed under!

Help! She could of gone to the neighbours on the other side, who would of had no problem with it and would of looked after her til we gt home.
When we got home, Cleo was back in our garden, which meant the neighbours either pushed her back through the very small hole under the fence, or dropped her over the fence (cant imagine it being the 2nd as the fence is 6 ft high!)

Dont know what I'm asking really! Just ny general advice would be good!
It will be pretty impossible to stop Ashke digging, but as we live in a rented house, we cant do much around the edges of the garden to stop this happening again!

So hoping that you guys can read my question, and any advice would be great on anything (other then putting fences in that go 6ft into the ground!) would be very much appreciated!

Wiggal :)
xx

[Hitler]

hi wiggal maybe give your pup regular nail manicures so its nails will be shorter and cant dig?

[wiggal]

Just had a visit from the neighbour, and he said that Cleo is ok to escape into their garden whenever she likes lol!

Ashke had started a hole, and she looked under the fence and saw the kids playing in the garden and wanted to join them! His sons spent an hour playing with her in the garden, and one of the boys wanted to take her to bed so she could sleep in his room with him!

So happy for him to have visited and told us this, but as you can imagine, would still rather know our dogs our in our garden lol!

[divegirl]

Here's my advice..... How about you try being a little more responsible. Your dogs are not your neighbours responsibility....however 'cute' they may be. If you can not secure your garden then do not leave the dogs out....or do not go out yourself! What if your neighbours had not been in and your dogs had totally escaped? Or frightened someone....or worse bitten someone!!!!
You appear to like adding 'lol' after your comments......sorry, I for one do not find it funny.

Lisa

[firewatch]

goodness me! someone got that pants in a twist, although yes i do agree you must look at it from the most serious angle.
Why not try getting some large heavy bricks/rocks to put along the fence line? Or get some heavy planters to discourage them from digging under the fence? As you are in rented accommodation, i think digging fence footings is out of the question.
Remember it was your choice to have dogs and next time you could have a fine from the dog warden.

[LoftyLottie]

Wiggal. My dogs are in the garden during the day when I am about but I never leave them outside when I go out. Anything could happen. If you lost your lovely dogs I know you would be devastated because I know you love them. I know some people have 'outside' dogs in a safe enclosure with a kennel and that is fine, but to give them the run of the garden is unwise.

However, firewatch's suggestions are very good. One of my dogs is a 'digger' and rockery type stones have acted as a deterrent at our fence line. Also, I would suggest that your neighbours don't give any encouragement to your dogs to dig their way through to them. My neighbours have made it very obvious that they don't like dogs so my dogs have no inclination to go next door.

Good luck.

[wiggal]

Divegirl,

I'm sorry my post came across that way, I guess last night I was just so relieved that he had come over and said everything was ok, as my partner has had previous problems with them and animals (when he first moved in, they took a dislike to his 2 cats and the boys threw stones at the cats which didnt go down to well as you can imagine). I shall wait til Im in not such a happy mood and think more before I type next time.

My dogs can not get out the back fence, as that is a wire fence that goes deep into the ground as there is a field behind. There is also a hedge that runs along the fence that they could not get past.
My partner works from home, so is in all day anyway, and we normally catch any holes before they get to deep and put something in them to deter him.

It just seems that this time, in the time we were out, a hole started and Cleo saw the kids playing, and by the sounds of it his boys encouraged her and she couldnt resist and got herself through the gap. Think the best thing to do is fill in the hole, and like you have suggested Firewatch and Lofty, put some rockery type stones round the edge!

Also, if I do at all see the kinds next door encouraging her to go through and play at any point, I will speak with my neighbour and let him know.

Thanks guys for your advise, and sorry Divegirl if my post last night made you think any less of me. I can assure you I love my animals very much, and will think more before I post in future!

[LoftyLottie]

You had nothing to apologise for wiggal! Your postings were just fine and I certainly didn't ever think you were an irresponsible dog owner xx

My JR cross has got better with age, but as a pup she was always digging under our back fence and disappeared into the fields behind us on several occasions even when we were in the garden with her! I was terrified she would get stuck down a rabbit hole.

She is out in the garden at the moment. The other dog ain't very keen on the garden and prefers snoozing in his basket all day. xx

[ruthann58]

hi have you thought of going all the way along the edge of the fence with a row of paving slabs you could take them with you when you move if you wanted to and i wouldnt think your landlord would object to you laying them as it would look tidy

[wiggal]

I think I'd rather be cuddled up sleeping somewhere!

Ashke much prefers being outside, he gets very hot & agitated and fidgety if he is in doors for too long! He comes in in the evenings for a while, then goes and sits and sulks by the back door to go back out again. During the night he has a kennel with a crate attached to the front, so he goes in there. Also stops him barking, as we have faced the kennel away from the back fence so he cant see people walking across the back field!

Cleo is more of an in door girl, although she does love playing with Ashke in the garden. We left them in the garden when we went out as I didnt want Cleo to be cooped up in the kitchen as it was a nice evening!

Think she sees Ashke digging, thinks it looks like fun and joins in to! She doesnt normally get to far with the holes though as she gets worn out, whereas Ashke could dig til he came out the other side of the planet if you let him!

:-)

[wiggal]

Thats a good idea too Ruthann, will mention that one to my fella and see what he thinks (after all, he's the one who will be doing the hard work!) Atleast that way he can only dig holes in the middle of the garden, which isn't ideal, but better!

[LoftyLottie]

How long would it take to dig a tunnel from the middle of the garden, under the fence into your neighbours garden! ;o)

http://www.offenburger.com/images/PogDiggingDo gBayardFeb06.jpg

[wiggal]

Lol! A while! But he would sure as hell give it a go!
Outside his crate, there is a hole about 3 foot wide and a foot deep which we have left, as it is where he curls up and sleeps during the day, so would be unfair to fill that one in!

Would make like a doggy sand pit for him to dig in, but the cats would only use it as a giant litter tray!