Beyond Know How

If you are using chain link fencing to enclose your dog kennel and run, you will need to make sure that you secure the bottom of the fencing or your dog will most likely simply push himself out.

There are different things you can do to strengthen the bottom of the chain link fence.  One is to attach a galvanized pipe to the bottom of the uprights, though make sure you also buy the right fixtures to attach them with.  Alternatively, you can greatly strengthen the bottom by weaving air line cable in and out of the chain link fencing every couple of feet.  While this will strengthen the fence so the dog can’t push it out and escape, it won’t be much help if your dog is a digger.

If you are worried about your dog digging himself out, the simplest modification is to buy additional chicken wire, which is pretty cheap, and attach it to the bottom of the link fencing about a foot up the fence. You’ll then need to dig out around the fence, and bury about two feet of the chicken wire into the ground.  I have even seen a dog dig out the chicken wire, he loved to dig wherever the ground had been recently turned over, but it usually works fairly well. If you are worried that your dog will dig where you have dug the trench, just cover that area with gravel, or lay something else on it for a time till the ground hardens.