Even the most well-trained pets can become escape artists when left unattended, which is why it's important to have a strong fence that can keep your dog safe inside.
Owners of high energy pets understand the frustration of having them escape from the backyard or kennel. If a standard chain link fence does not keep your dog inside, there are many ways to upgrade its strength to prevent pets from breaking through, damaging the fence, or injuring themselves.
Dog-proofing a chain link fence may involve strenghtening the wire mesh, blocking or extending the bottom of the fence, or both. Follow the tips and tricks in this guide to keep your pet safe in their enclosure and keep unwanted animal visitors out.
Prevent Bending and Breakage
A strong chain link fence resists animals' attempts to bend and break through the mesh. Chain link fences can be strengthened with high-quality hardware and supports, which help buttress against external force and keep the fence gate latched.
Strengthen the Wire Mesh
Additional supports can be added along the wire mesh of a chain link fence to increase tension and rigidity, which helps prevent dogs from pushing through the fence. Use the tactics below to strengthen your fence line:
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Upgrade your wire ties: Common residential wire ties are made from 11-gauge aluminum wire. Using a thicker 9-gauge wire and/or sturdier steel wire adds extra strength to these connections.
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Secure the bottom fence line: The bottom of a chain link fence is often unsupported, which makes it easy for dogs to push underneath the fence. Reinforce the fence by attaching a tension wire to the bottom diamonds with hog rings or by adding a bottom pipe rail to create a "box frame" fence.
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Use tension bands in place of gate clips: Extremely active dogs may be able to bend gate clips and push through the fence. Tension bands are a sturdier substitute for gate clips because they are secured with a nut and bolt, which better resists deformation.
Secure the Fence Gate
Gates are typically a weak point in a fence line, so it's especially important to reinforce gates and surrounding areas. An effective way to do this is by using sturdy gate hardware, such as:
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Secure gate latches: Use a gate latch that can't be opened accidentally by a dog. Some latch options include:
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Drop rod: The entire rod must be lifted to open the gate.
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Kennel gate latch: This latch is designed to prevent pets from opening the gate, because the latch must be lifted and turned simultaneously.
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Pool gate latch: The handle must be pushed down from above to open the gate.
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Self-closing attachments: Attach a spring-loaded gate closer alongside the gate hinges to close the gate automatically.
Prevent Digging Beneath the Fence
If your dog digs beneath the fence to escape, you may want to increase the rigidity on the bottom fence line or barricade the surrounding ground. In addition to the strengthening supports highlighted above, you may want to add extra barriers to prevent digging.
Anti-Digging Fence Barriers
The following are some common methods to prevent animals from digging beneath a chain link fence:
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Extend the bottom of the fence: Specialized metal combs provide discrete barricades by piercing the ground beneath the fence and preventing animals from digging.
- In a pinch, you can substitute these with tent or garden stakes by weaving the stakes through the bottom diamonds and hammering them into the ground
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Barricade the ground below the fence: Lay down a barrier of fabric, wire mesh, brick, or other material beneath the fencce to prevent animals from digging in the dirt below.
Helpful Tips to Pet-Proof a Fence
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Secure your fence gate: Use a sturdy gate latch that won't open accidentally and install a self-closing hinge.
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Strengthen the entire fence: Don't just add reinforcements to problem areas—animals may target other spots, so it's important to add supports consistently around the entire fence.
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Set up your hardware correctly: Follow manufacturer guidelines for hardware placement and installation.
- Helpful tip: Use a twist tie tool to speed up the installation process.
- Wire ties should be placed about every foot on fence posts and every foot and a half on top rails.
- Gate clips should be placed about every foot on fence posts.
- Install kennel clamps with the nut on the outside so your pet does not injure themself on any sharp edges.
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Order the right size hardware: Chain link fence pipe is measured by its outside diameter, which includes the pipe walls. Be sure to have accurate measurements when ordering gate latches, fence clamps, or any other chain link fence hardware.
If you need further guidance with your fencing project or need help finding the right hardware, don't be afraid to contact our friendly experts at (406)752-5253 or send us an email at tom@jakesales.com.
FAQ
How to dog proof a chain link fence?
Dog-proofing a chain link fence may involve adding additional supports to improve the strength, tension, and rigidity of the wire mesh as well as installing barricades along the bottom of the fence. The amount of additional support needed depends on the size and strength of your dog.
How to secure the bottom of a chain link fence?
Add a tension wire along the bottom of the fence to increase rigidity and prevent the mesh from being bent or lifted. If this is not enough support, add an additional pipe rail for ultimate bend resistance.
How to prevent a dog from digging under fence?
Prevent dogs from digging under a chain link fence by inserting metal stakes or combs into the ground below the fence line or by adding a flat layer of fabric or wire mesh along the ground.
How to strengthen a chain link fence?
A simple way to strengthen your chain link fence is by using thicker or stiffer wire ties along the fence rails and posts. For example, a 9-gauge steel wire tie is stronger than an 11-gauge aluminum wire tie.
What gate latches are dog proof?
Kennel gate latches are designed to prevent dogs from accidentally opening fence gates and escaping. These must be lifted and turned simultaneously to open the gate.
