We know Pyrs love to dig. We’re here to tell you how to stop Great Pyrenees fence diggers. Our furry friends dig craters to keep cool in the summer and as snug beds for winter. It’s no surprise that many take their skills to the fence line and manage to compress their impressive bulk into a slithering white rug that fits through that tunnel.
There’s more than one way to stop determined Great Pyrenees fence diggers. Sinking rebar (steel reinforcing bar) posts a foot or two deep into concrete or Quikrete®, spaced several inches apart, can prevent digging. It may not be cost-effective if you have a large area to cover.
One person’s solution is laying a cement or block footer around the base of the fence—maybe even embedding the bottom of the fence into the foundation before it dries.
Alternately, you can dig down a foot or two and fill the cavity with cement, building a solid trench that should stop the dog.
Another option is putting in “L-footers” or “dig wire.”
L-Footer: An L-footer is wire fencing laid down against the base of your fence and bent perpendicular (90 degree angle) to it: just like an “L.” You can bury this fencing underground, but it doesn’t have to be buried to work. Some people just lay it on top of the grass and maybe add some rocks to hold it down, but with a determined Pyr, you may need to bury it. You should have it extend 2-3 feet into the yard, and then bury it underground or tack it down and cover it with rocks, mulch, etc. Leftover cattle or goat panels, cut into three-sided pieces with a bolt cutter and pounded into the ground, make great fence staples.
This site explains it well (and has tons of other great tips).
Most diggers will be kept in by regular “2 x 4” weld-wire fencing, though some may require heavier gauges, chain link, or strips of cattle/goat panel.
In the case of weld wire, the edge of the ground fence is bent 90 degrees up, then attached (with pig rings or wire) to the vertical fence. You can make this more economical by cutting 5′ weld wire fence lengthwise, alternating your cut to either side of the split, then using the alternating uncut wires to attach the 2 1/2 foot skirting to the fence. Cattle panel and chain link lay flat, and just need to be attached securely to the fence with hog rings or heavy wire.
There is now a manufactured alternative to weld wire called “Dig Defence“, provided you can dig down a foot or more into your soil. The XL size would be suitable for most Pyrs. To watch a Youtube video, please click here.
Need more ideas on fencing to contain your Great Pyrenees? Click here to see what works and doesn’t work.
