Preventing dogs from digging out of ground kennels?

[Keith C.]

I am building 10 10' by 30' ground kennels for my dogs. I have bought the 6' by 10' chainlink kennel panels for the fronts and 6' high horse fence for the rest of the runs.
I have beagles and German shorthaired pointers.
I am worried about them digging out. I don't live at the farm I will be keeping them at and can't make it up there every day.
I have been thinking about putting some chicken wire down on the ground.
If I lay the chicken wire on the ground, uncovered, will the dogs hurt their feet on it or tear it up?
How wide a stip of wire would I need?
Is there better/cheaper wire to use?
I would rather not have to bury it all, as it would be a lot of work.
Any other suggestions on how to keep them in?
Keith

[stavemillbeagles]

we always put catttle panels type fence on the ground under the pen if you used chicken wire it seems to me it would be very hard to rake out and clean the pen

[Gunslinger Beagles]

patio blocks or concrete. and i last forever

[MasonsBeagles]

I put welded wire and then about 6+ inches of agriculture lime. If they dig in the lime when they get to the fencing they stop after a while they stop diggin.

[rabbithunter5890]

chain link on the ground also. hog ring it to the fence and then cover it. It will last a long time underground.

[Richard]

I always use regular 2" X 4" wire for an apron about 18" wide flat on the ground on the inside of the pens. Use cage clips or hog rings to attach it to the fence and throw some dirt over it.

Other than that, you can use an electric fence to keep them off the fence.

[mtnwaykennel]

Chicken wire works well. I always do that before I put any shavings down or anything. Crush and run over the top of the wire is an added thing. Just the way I do it round here lol

Bill Woods

[south mtn beagles]

I have one ground kennel and used the 2x4 wire that you can get at tcs and cut it to fit,used wire ties and tent stakes and then put down mulch on top of all that,they will still dig but once that hit the wire they dont bother anymore,and it's been in there for about 3-4 years!!Also we have some stuff that is called rough and tumble,it's a super fine mulch and I used about a half a pickup truck load.works great!! and I used about 12 inch wide apron.

[rabbitsmoker]

When i had pens like that i either used patio blocks around the edge or dug a trench 15in wide 8in deep and let 3in run under bottom of pen and mixed up a little quickcrete and poured around it works great and cheap