Good points about hedges—I've seen them work really well, especially boxwoods or privets. But wrought iron can be tricky with smaller dogs...ever had issues with digging under? My terrier's relentless, so I'm still figuring out a good combo of aesthetics and practicality.
My schnauzer used to tunnel under our wrought iron fence constantly...ended up adding a discreet row of buried chicken wire along the perimeter. Invisible once plants grew over, and digging stopped completely. Might be worth a try if aesthetics matter to you.
We had a similar issue a few years back with our golden retriever. He wasn't exactly tunneling under fences, but he was OBSESSED with digging holes around the flowerbeds and vegetable garden. Tried everything from sprays to sprinklers—nothing worked long-term.
Eventually, I stumbled on the chicken wire trick too, but instead of burying it vertically, we laid it flat just under the surface of the soil. Covered it lightly with mulch and let the plants grow through. Worked like a charm! He tried digging once or twice, hit the wire, and decided it wasn't worth the trouble anymore.
Funny thing though...after that, he shifted his attention to pulling veggies straight off the plants. Tomatoes, cucumbers—you name it. Had to fence off individual beds temporarily until he lost interest. Dogs can be so stubbornly creative sometimes.
Did your schnauzer move onto any new mischief after you stopped the tunneling, or was that pretty much the end of it?
"Funny thing though...after that, he shifted his attention to pulling veggies straight off the plants."
Haha, sounds familiar! After we blocked our schnauzer's digging spots, she decided garden hoses were her new mortal enemy. Lost two hoses last summer alone...dogs really do keep us creative.
Haha, garden hoses...that's a new one for me. Our lab mix never bothered with hoses, but he had a serious vendetta against my DIY fencing attempts. I tried chicken wire first—cheap and seemed logical—but he just saw it as a fun puzzle to solve. Within two days, he'd figured out how to push it down or wiggle underneath. Next, I upgraded to wooden stakes and mesh netting, thinking sturdier materials would deter him. Nope. He chewed through the netting like it was spaghetti.
Eventually, I got analytical about it (typical me) and realized the issue wasn't just the barrier itself—it was boredom combined with curiosity. Dogs are smart; if they're bored enough, they'll find ways around almost anything we put up. So instead of constantly upgrading fences or replacing hoses (which can get pricey fast), I started giving him more structured playtime and puzzle toys to keep his mind busy. It didn't completely stop his garden adventures, but it definitely reduced them significantly.
Honestly, sometimes the best solution isn't about building stronger barriers or buying expensive deterrents—it's about understanding why they're doing it in the first place and redirecting that energy elsewhere. Saves money in the long run too...and fewer trips to the hardware store is always a win in my book.
