Australia is one of the most dog-loving countries in the world with over 39 percent of families owning pet dogs. But dog ownership comes with some quirky issues you need to deal with. Dogs love to dig holes in the ground, which can become a huge problem when these holes are directly under your home fencing because they allow your dog to escape and can prove to be dangerous. Since you want to protect your dog from harm's way, follow these shrewd actions to avert 'doggyscapes' under fencing.  

Solidify The Ground Below The Fence To Create A Hardscape

If your dog is attracted to digging into the area below your fencing, it's probably because the mud is soft and inviting. Dogs generally burrow holes because they want to bury something, lie down or play. Digging below will likely cause a hole that allows your dog to escape from the boundaries of your home. To prevent this, consider solidifying the ground below the fence with tiles, concrete or pavers to create a hardscape. This hardscape border is most effective for discouraging holes near fences. Pavers cost from $3 to $6 each based on your needs. Plain concrete starts from $60 to $85 per square metre.

Build The Fencing Deeper Into The Ground

Your fencing is generally installed at the surface level of the ground. Whether you have decided to install wood or wrought iron fencing, the smart thing to do is to build the fencing deeper into the ground. This is a lot easier if you're buying new fencing supplies. But if you have older ones, you'll have to redo the work to push the fence deeper into the ground. The good news is that the re-work won't take as long as full-scale fence installation, provided you have your fencing supplies ready. Fence installation starts from around $48 per linear metre. Pushing fencing deeper into the ground will make it hard for your dog to escape through the fence.

Train Your Dog To Dig Holes In Another Part Of Your Backyard

If you've resigned yourself to the fact that your dog loves to dig, train it to do so elsewhere in your backyard and not directly under the fencing. You can do this by burying bones and chew toys in the coveted 'digging' ground. Treat the dog to some goodies when it follows your lead and starts digging in the right areas. If you don't want to solidify the ground around your fence, place some other deterring items like stones, pots or boxes around it.

Follow these shrewd actions in your quest to avert 'doggyscapes' under fencing.