Help me build/find an escape-proof dog run to contain a Houdini!

[Keg-A-Bacchus]

I adore my brilliant and creative Ridgeback…except when it comes to his unbelievable problem solving skills about confinement! To preface I am a behaviorist and he is in separation anxiety remission. He is thoroughly exercised, happy, well adjusted and well trained. HOWEVER…he Will. Not. Be. Contained. And it’s not a question of anxiety anymore except for a once or twice a year attack. He just loves to problem solve. He’s got bones, puzzle toys, TV and his own bedroom for when I need to leave. But alas he can unlock and open doors, turn window cranks, remove childproof door locks, remove our “door protectors” and now can move a refrigerator to access and remove the door protector to remove the child-safe door lock, to unlock his bedroom, open the door and then open the main door and go trouncing through the neighborhood. Oy.

SO…I need a solution. He can’t be crated as he gas claustrophobia. I trained him to accept a crate but on the occasion he melts down he has seriously injured himself. He needs space. So I thought perhaps I could build an indoor dog run to put in his bedroom! This way he can’t continue ruining our doors as he scratches at the door to turn the knob…hence the door protectors which don’t work. I need to brainstorm any and all options for building an escape-proof dog run so I can stop him in his tracks. He will try something about a dozen times and if he doesn’t succeed he will give up and nap. If it fails he will never stop trying to make it work again!

So speak to me of dog runs. I’m looking into at least 9gauge or stronger as I know him…he will attempt to find ways to get through. I’m trying to decide between chainlink and welded wire. I’m also trying to decide between self-built and just buying one. The area dimensions are 16’ long by 7’ wide. I’d like it as big as possible to keep him feeling like he’s not in a cage. Once built I will, of course, put him through a slow training process to make sure he’s not anxious in there. All his bedroom favorites including his futon will be inside with him. Does anyone have product suggestions? Brands? Do-it-yourself ideas?

I’m trying to get this done for under $500 if possible. I just can’t have him shredding up my doors while he plays jailbreak and getting completely put of the house is so dangerous. He must be contained! I will continue chanting…I am smarter than my dog. I am smarter then my dog. I am smarter then my dog! In hopes someday I’ll outsmart him and it will actually be true! Thanks in advance and I’m excited to hear your ideas!!

[tradewind]

when you do build whatever you do, it must be topped completely and you must sink the bottom of the fencing either into concrete so he can not pull it back, or sink the wire 8 inches into the ground , cover the bottom of the run with gravel quite deep or he will go over or under…be prepared for him to pull back the links on the door…this type of issue can be very challenging…good luck to you.

[Arcadien]

I know some frown on it but I had a houdini dog until I installed a hot wire around the top of his 8 ft high fenced yard - he does have a large yard though, it’s about a quarter acre - with the wire hot he just gave up trying & seems happy enough. When inside, he has the run of the house but I had to reinforce the screens with chicken wire - if I leave windows open, he just goes through regular screens. He seems happy now & finally safely contained, so just thought I’d toss the hot wire idea out there!

PS, he never was a digger, so I didn’t have to worry about the bottom of the fence - have to get ideas from others for that part!

[ChocoMare]

For the digger-underer: Either hot wire there too or rods of re-bar woven through the bottom 4 or more links and driven into the ground.

My late Akita was a pro at it. Re-bar stopped her

[paulaedwina]

My last ridgeback foster was a houdini hound. Once I just watched her pull the bottom of the fence loose so she could shimmy out. The most effective thing I did was install a hot wire. Not an invisible fence, but a hot wire, about a foot off the ground. It was a livestock wire with a battery charger. Worked like a charm.

Paula

[jherold]

Can you use electric? If a determined dog wants to get out they can be very destructive. I was thinking of my outside perimeter fencing. I offset the very lowest line about 5 inches in front of the next lowest line so the dog has to go over and under 2 electric lines so it’s impossible to not hit the fence. It’s my pasture fence so it’s about 5 feet high too. It keeps the dogs out of the pasture even when the horses are running! Maybe an electric net like they use for poultry? I don’t think you can buld something he can’t destroy without hurting himself, so he needs a deterent to even trying to destroy the enclosure. Good luck. I had a Houdini dog, but she wasn’t destructive, just clever. (Figured out the door knob principle). We were able to secure her in different areas by just using deadbolts everywhere.

[Crazy4aOTTB]

I feel your pain! My dog is a Houdini as well. He has gone thru the kennel I bought from Home Depo. Yes! Thru he pulled the fence apart and made a hole. Figured out countless collars and harnesses and chewed thru his tie outs ( he was only tied b/c he would go thru the fence and was only out while I was at work). And I have lost count of the door knobs and doors I have had to replace b/c he can chew and dig right thru them if the door is locked and he can’t use the handle. I finally fenced in my whole back yard and got a dog door so he is free to go and come as he pleases. He is such a couch potato.

I looked into the kennel from Tractor Supply. They have one that is 10 gage and had great reviews from other Houdini dog owners

[BarbaricYawp]

Priefert dog kennels. Best Houdini container ever.

[bluedapple]

tractor supply has a couple kennels.

[Keg-A-Bacchus]

Thank you!! As it will be indoors on concrete I can’t bury it. It has to stand sturdy on it’s own. We’ve thought about building an outdoor run but I live in Wisconsin and he HATES the cold. So inside on concrete is preferred. I’ll look at Priefert and Tractor Supply!! Thank you!

[iechris]

Pharaoh breeders I knew years ago had an escape proof run as they did a lot of sighthound rescue. It was a complete cube of chain link, chain link bottom, sides and top, with just a door at each end. Not sure how long it was, but it was almost human height high. They put all new rescues in it when they were outside for the first week or two.