How to Stop Huskies from Digging Under the Fence
Huskies are well known for being high-energy dog breeds that can turn out to be destructive if not trained properly. If you own a husky, digging holes under your backyard fence is one of the common problems you are likely to encounter at some stage. He will dig holes to satisfy his natural digging instincts but he will dig holes under the fence if there is something on the other side that makes him curious. In other scenarios, your husky will dig holes under the fence as a sign of a prey drive in action. If this is the case and you are home, you are supposed to eliminate the pests in the yard so they stop digging for them.
So, What Causes A Husky to Dig Under the Fence
Before we look at measures used to stop huskies from digging under the fence, let us take a look at what causes huskies to dig holes especially under the fence.
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Boredom
All dogs are naturally curious and Huskies are no exception. They, therefore, need to be mentally stimulated otherwise they will get bored easily and think of starting to dig up holes to alleviate that boredom. Normally, a Husky who tries to escape and run away by digging holes under the backyards fence shows that he is bored or lacks exercise. Digging these holes becomes a cure for their boredom. A tired husky is less likely to have the energy to be bored and destructive. Therefore, if you don’t want your yard to resemble a moonscape, introduce him to something interesting that will keep him entertained and occupied. Try and introduce chew toys or something/someone else to play with. That way, you will be able to make sure that your Husky gets plenty of vigorous daily exercise and prevent him from getting himself occupied at the expense of your backyard.
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Prey Drive
Naturally, Huskies instinctively love to prey on small birds, animals, and insects as well. You will find that your Husky is digging the ground as he tries to unearth these little creatures. In most cases, if you find that your Husky had dug a hole under the fence, that’s a clear sign of a prey drive in action. If you find yourself in such a scenario, you are supposed to eliminate the pests in the yard so they stop digging for them. For the Huskies that indulge their prey drive through digging, you should find a different method to satisfy that need.
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Attempting to Escape the Yard
The other reason why huskies dig holes under the fence is when they are trying to escape from the yard. Huskies will try and escape from the back yard they are put in because they are bored, not getting enough exercise and mental stimulation. No husky will be content to be sequestered in a backyard behind a fence. If you hardly take your husky on walks where he gets the opportunity to meet and sniff other dogs, high chances are that he will escape his confinement to find his husky adventure. That’s why the local rescues always have a surplus of stray huskies who have run away from their homes.
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Staying Warm or Cool
Just like humans, huskies have their way of protecting themselves when temperatures are either too hot or too cold. While most huskies owners reside in more temperate areas, you will find some huskies that like to dig to protect themselves from the harsh climatic conditions. Your backyard might be too hot for your husky and to keep himself cool, he might decide to dig up a hole under the fence and escape to the nearest water body. Such huskies will also dig up holes in the snow, where they can curl up and shield themselves from strong winds as they also stay warm during winter. When the temperatures are high, huskies dig holes to provide shelter and keep themselves cooler.
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Lack of Exercise
Many pet owners get Husky thinking that they will just put them to live in the back yard, so they don’t have to deal with issues related to toileting, chewing and destruction, and dog hair in the house. You should know that keeping Huskies in a confined place hardly works. Huskies are well known to have a lot of energy, a trait that makes them want to dig up holes to relieve that energy. This is a trait that stems back to when they were first bred for pulling sleds. If your husky fails to get enough exercise as required, he will become relentless and find a way to use up all that pent-up energy. With some huskies, digging holes under the fence is their perfect way of solving this problem. Furthermore, your dog might end up digging holes under the fence trying to get out of the yard and look for other dogs to play around with.
See Also: Best Frisbees for Dogs
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Digging to Satisfy their Natural Digging Behavior
You will also find out that your husky digs hole under your backyard’s fence because that’s how they are naturally made. If you have such a husky, there is nothing much you can do to prevent him from digging, however, you may as well provide them with an appropriate place for them to dig. By doing this, you will have saved your backyard fence from becoming useless. If you want to provide your dog with a specific place to dig holes, build a 3 foot by 6-foot sandbox in a shady area of the yard. Fill in the box with enough sand or dirt so that the husky can dig a large and deep hole. To make it more interesting for the husky, you can even bury simple treasures for them to find in that sandbox. You also have to be vigilant and train them to dig in the approved place if you spot them digging in a non-approved place.
How to Prevent Huskies from Digging under the Fence
Digging under the fence is a common problem with most huskies and it can be frustrating especially if you have just moved to a new place of residence. Now that you know what mainly causes huskies to dig holes under the fence, below are some of the methods known to be effective in preventing huskies from digging holes under the fence.
- Blocking the base of the fence with large rocks or paver stones will discourage him from digging further.
- Introducing chicken wire a few inches under the ground surface. By doing this, when the husky tries to dig under the fence, they can only dig down a few inches before they encounter the chicken wire.
- Ensuring that the fence goes down into the ground. A fence that’s buried two feet down into the normal ground level is less prone to be dug under.
- Introducing a deterrent or obstacle that makes digging annoying enough that any husky will give up on what is on the other side of the fence.
- Placing concrete or large rocks under the fence for the entire length of the fence. When the dog tries to dig in holes under that fence, the rocks impede the process.
After you put into place these measures to try and prevent your dog from digging holes under your backyard’s fence, the dog might decide to start digging new holes in other spots still within the backyard. Here is what you need to do to stop your dog from digging holes in the backyard.
How to Stop Huskies from Digging under the Fence
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Bury Poop
Unless your dog likes to eat his poo, most dogs don’t like being near their feces. Bury some dogs poop in areas that they are most likely to dig. Digging in his favorite spot will become less appealing when he encounters his poop. The downside of using this method to discourage huskies from digging is that the husky will probably abandon the hole and start digging a new one.
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Bury Large Rocks Inside the Hole
You can also get large and heavy rocks then bury them inside the hole that your dog loves to dig. When the dog tries to dig in the hole, the rocks will impede the process. This prevents him from digging that hole but he may decide to start digging a new hole.
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Set up a Sprinkle Near the Hole
As soon as the dog comes to dig, turn on the sprinkler. This method will only work if your dog hates getting wet. Also, playing in the sprinkler might as well work in distracting him from wanting to dig holes. The downside of this method is that you have to be home to watch your dog.
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Supervise and Divert their Attention
If you are in the yard with your dog, you should be able to keep them entertained. On the other hand, if you are busy and occupied, ensure that you are still in a position to supervise his actions. If the husky starts to dig, try and divert his attention with something like a treat toy. Try as much as possible to keep them focused on something and heap them with praise once they stay away from digging holes.
Conclusion
Putting in measures that prevent your dog from digging holes under the fence saves you from unnecessary fence repairs thus keeping the fence aesthetically attractive. Be aware of huskies that are not only notorious for digging holes but also scaling up fences. To contain such huskies, always ensure that you don’t leave your dog outside unattended for extended periods.