Help with dog digging holes and escaping...

[ceyko]

Chicken wire may work for some dogs, but Border Collies are clever animals and I'd put money on it that it would figure it all out in a day or two and be back at it.

[mustangguy289]

Unfortunately, "having a big yard to run in" does not satisfy the intense energy level and mental desire for a job that border collies are bred with. Hence the reason she's digging out to HERD THE COWS... It's unfortunate that your work schedule does not allow you to fulfill the needs of your pet. Perhaps you could engage the use of a doggie daycare that offers playtime with other dogs or a dog walker to supplement your lack of time. I realize these suggestions may not be convenient or financially appealing. Maybe you should do some research on the needs of the breed you decide to have in the future, instead of not providing for the dog's inherited qualities and then punishing them for it...

Are you a member of PETA? We took this dog from her sister in law who was keeping a border collie in a cage all day. Did we want a dog at the time.. no.. but we could provide better than what she had. Get off your condescending high horse.

[forbes]

Why you wanna hurt your dog?

it doesnt hurt them.... have you ever touch chicken wire? chickens arent even scared of it.... it just makes them harder to be escapees. i have a tree in the back yard if you wanna hug it or i hear there is gonna be an occupy dallas again... .. need me to google the info you?

[mustangguy289]

Chicken wire may work for some dogs, but Border Collies are clever animals and I'd put money on it that it would figure it all out in a day or two and be back at it.

She is very smart. All of our gate latches have to have a hook or stick though the hole because she watch us enough and figured out how to use her nose to open the latch.

[mustangguy289]

Soooo, after reading all the suggestions, the consensus is:
Electric chicken wire with barbs that beep and a better owner who has unlimited time to devote to their pet.

fixed

[Nash B.]

it doesnt hurt them.... have you ever touch chicken wire? chickens arent even scared of it.... it just makes them harder to be escapees. i have a tree in the back yard if you wanna hug it or i hear there is gonna be an occupy dallas again... .. need me to google the info you?

Ya, I know what chicken wire is. It's rough and has sharp edges. And if it doesn't hurt them, why'd you post this?

the dog will figure out real quick that chicken wire hurts paws and will stop...

[Jenn]

Are you a member of PETA? We took this dog from her sister in law who was keeping a border collie in a cage all day. Did we want a dog at the time.. no.. but we could provide better than what she had. Get off your condescending high horse.

No, I'm not a member of PETA. I've been in the veterinary industry for 6 years and I've seen my share of uneducated morons who want to discipline an animal for inherited behaviors that they mistake for "disobedience". Then when they are educated on how to solve the unwanted (yet perfectly natural) behavior, they want to spout off the usual idiotic response of "I don't have time", because they realize that having a pet with a high energy level takes effort. What a fucking shock!? If you don't have the time to meet the needs of a herding breed get a fucking Chihuahua. Or better yet, don't have an animal at all, because you obviously are more concerned about your needs than theirs, even though they helplessly depend on you. And don't give me this "I did a good thing by 'saving' this dog from a horrible lifestyle" bullshit, you merely provided a slightly less shitty condition for this poor animal. Don't expect a fucking pat on the back... asshole.

[Ruffdaddy]

it doesnt hurt them.... have you ever touch chicken wire? chickens arent even scared of it.... it just makes them harder to be escapees. i have a tree in the back yard if you wanna hug it or i hear there is gonna be an occupy dallas again... .. need me to google the info you?

It concerns me that you're either too stupid or too stubborn to recognize the possibility of a dog injuring itself on chicken wire. Not all dogs will stop when they touch it, nails can easily get caught on it, the chicken wire isn't a rigid piece of .250" THK plate steek, it will move, it can corrode and crack, and a shit ton of other things. I have personally seen a dog injur itself trying to dig to a female dog in heat.

Just give it up, you had a stupid idea...we all have them at times. So it worked for your one dog, it's not worth the risk of injury and a vet bill.

[Nash B.]

...angry words...

u mad?

[Ruffdaddy]

No, I'm not a member of PETA. I've been in the veterinary industry for 6 years and I've seen my share of uneducated morons who want to discipline an animal for inherited behaviors that they mistake for "disobedience". Then when they are educated on how to solve the unwanted (yet perfectly natural) behavior, they want to spout off the usual idiotic response of "I don't have time", because they realize that having a pet with a high energy level takes effort. What a fucking shock!? If you don't have the time to meet the needs of a herding breed get a fucking Chihuahua. Or better yet, don't have an animal at all, because you obviously are more concerned about your needs than theirs, even though they helplessly depend on you. And don't give me this "I did a good thing by 'saving' this dog from a horrible lifestyle" bullshit, you merely provided a slightly less shitty condition for this poor animal. Don't expect a fucking pat on the back... asshole.

so you shovel shit or are a front office lady or something?

You do realize the OP lives on a damn farm right? I can't think of many better places for a border collie. Maybe he should have let the dog go to a shelter and end his terrible life in a large back yard in the country....

[Randy]

Ya, I know what chicken wire is. It's rough and has sharp edges. And if it doesn't hurt them, why'd you post this?

weird, the chicken wire i use doesn't have sharp edges nor is it rough. I don't think it hurts them i think the nails getting caught on the chicken wire is the main turn off.... it doesn't hurt them.

[forbes]

It concerns me that you're either too stupid or too stubborn to recognize the possibility of a dog injuring itself on chicken wire. Not all dogs will stop when they touch it, nails can easily get caught on it, the chicken wire isn't a rigid piece of .250" THK plate steek, it will move, it can corrode and crack, and a shit ton of other things. I have personally seen a dog injur itself trying to dig to a female dog in heat.

Just give it up, you had a stupid idea...we all have them at times. So it worked for your one dog, it's not worth the risk of injury and a vet bill.

it's a fuking dog... not a child... barbwire is ok to keep cows that get killed so you can eat them, but because it's a dog it gets special treatment...
alot of yall need to go occupy a peta foundation or some shit....... why not just lock it up in a god damn crate like it was then.... or better yet kill the dog ... that solves everything....

[Binky]

We had a problem with dogs getting into the flower beds, so we setup a shock wire 12" off the ground and encircled the perimeter. We only kept the power on for the first 48 hrs, after that turned it off.

After the first 2 shocks, just the SIGHT of the wire was enough for them to stay the fuck away.

If you can set the wire off a fwe inches and away from the fence using the plastic isolators, it'll encircle your fence line and she won't be able to get close enough to dig through.


You can also bury chicken wire (bent at an L shape) a couple inches down, a foot out, and partly above ground )stapled to the fence) to block her digging. it's a bitch of a job, but if you cover it with stone gravel it'll do double duty as making it one less thing to edge when you do yardwork.


edit: damn ya'll post fast... I need to be quicker about typing out a post since most of mine is whats already been said.

[Jenn]

so you shovel shit or are a front office lady or something?

You do realize the OP lives on a damn farm right? I can't think of many better places for a border collie. Maybe he should have let the dog go to a shelter and end his terrible life in a large back yard in the country....

Actually, my work has included being a technician, surgical technician, practice management and now I work for a veterinary consulting business that services veterinarians across the US. I'm sure that experience does not even come close to the level of superior education and knowledge that you possess. I'm not saying that a backyard in the country is horrible. I'm saying that a backyard in the country with no outside means of mental and physical exercise to the requirements that a BC needs, and then being punished for acting out is ridiculous. If he can't provide what the dog needs, then so be it, but don't punish the dog for his shortcomings as an owner.

However, if you don't agree with the points I made, perhaps you'd be interested in this statement, taken directly from the AKC website:

"The workaholic of the dog world, the Border Collie is the world’s premier sheep herder, prized for its intelligence, extraordinary instinct and working ability. This high-drive breed is extremely energetic and requires exercise beyond just a walk around the block or a romp in the yard. " But hey, fuck those assholes.. they don't know shit about dogs compared to you guys!

[talisman]

I would keep the dog inside because it is healthier, they will live longer, and won't escape.