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How to Install an Easy No-Dig Fenced Dog Run in One Day

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DIY dog run. Dog standing at the gate. This easy dog run is easy to install- no digging holes for posts.

How to install a no-dig fenced dog run in one day. Keep the dog poop out of the main part of your yard for easier cleanup.

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Please read the whole post so you don’t miss any important information!

You may have read that we have a new-ish puppy. Rocky is about 10 months old now and he really loves to eat things when he goes outside. He gets logs, mulch, rocks, plastic toys, and the worst? Our compost. He likes to grab an old banana peel and drag it back inside to snack on. Ewwww. So gross.

He also loves to eat my garden- and he managed to bust through the cheap wire fencing I put up a long time ago.

We have a big fenced yard, but it’s gotten to a point where I just don’t want him roaming free out there. Plus, it’s hard for me to clean up after the dogs’ “business” when it’s like an Easter Egg hunt every time we go out there. Somebody *always* steps in something. I wanted to contain the pups to one area for when they need to potty, although I do plan to play with them in the main area of the yard still.

I know you can train dogs to use a particular area, but it didn’t solve *all* of my problems and I’ve got a puppy and a really old man dog so I didn’t torture myself.

And so, our fenced dog run was born. I had some pretty crazy ideas for this, but I was really excited to find there were some easier DIY’s for this that involved less supplies, less store runs, and less time putting it altogether. Phew.

We still need to add our pathway pavers, but I’m so relieved to have the dog run finished! I’m also going to add some landscaping around the fence. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on seeing the end results!

Before photos of the yard before adding the DIY dog run.
The area prior to our dog run being installed.

Supplies for a DIY Fenced Dog Run

I’m going to list how much I needed, but you’ll need more or less depending on the space.

  • Shovel and other gardening items.
  • Tiller (this is the one we have)
  • Mallet of some sort: Ours got really beat up from this project. I’m not sure how to avoid this but a regular hammer would bend the metal.
  • Grand Empire Fence Panel: No Dig Decorative Fence x 10 panels (Item #254097) ($29.98 each or $299.80)
  • Empire Grand Post/Stakes x 12 (Item #254102) ($8.98 each or $107.76)
  • Grand Empire XL Gate x 1 (Item #758832) ($44.98)

Total Cost for the fencing: $452.54

Home Depot Version of the Fencing

Recently I discovered that Home Depot carries very similar fence panels so if you want to order it for pickup in store. I recommend ordering ahead so you can make sure you get the number of panels you need.

Just note that the Hampton Bay Empire panels are listed as 30″ tall and the Grand Empire panels are listed at 3.37 ft (40.44″). The width for the Grand Empire panels is 4.12 ft (49.44″) and the width for the Hampton Bay is 36″. The Hampton Bay gate has better reviews, but looks like it will have the same issues as the Grand Empire gate. 

I figured I’ll do a quick calculation for you on the prices (at today’s rate 2/13/19)… no guarantees on the math here, but I think I got it right. It’s hard to compare because the widths are different. I bought 10 panels of the Grand Empire which gave me a fence length of 494.4″ at $299.90, not including the gate or posts. To get the same length (slightly more), I’d need to buy 14 panels of the Hampton Bay panels which would cost me $279.86. The post pricing is also cheaper, but you’d need more posts due to the shorter panel length.

Don’t forget to pin this for later: 
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/48554502211415639/

Tip for cutting costs on big projects

Go and use/signup for Rakuten. Once you get your account setup, go to the ebay site under Lowes Coupons. You can buy a Lowes coupon on here- make sure you choose the right coupon (some are online only, some are store only).

Once you receive your coupon code, go back to Rakuten and click on Lowes. Pick out your items and add them to your cart. Use the coupon code.

Not only will you get the Ebates cash from buying the eBay coupon and the Lowes products, but you’ll also get the coupon discount. Woot woot!

I didn’t do it this time… I need to make better choices. But I have done it for larger scale projects like our built-ins.

Oh- and you can usually choose pickup or delivery. I do pickup and they gather all of the items for me at the pickup desk. It’s pretty quick when the store is well run (one of our local stores is terrible and the other is great).

*Skip the gate, buy an extra panel instead and use that, along with something to hold the gate closed. Those gates don’t really hold a motivated dog inside but the panel will.

You might like the following products in my shop! Keep scrolling for the tutorial.

How to Install a Fenced Dog Run with No Post Digging, Using Grand Empire XL Gates

I used my tiller to mark out the place where I wanted my fence to go. This loosened the earth around where the posts would go. I mostly wanted to ensure that I had space between my fence and the grass. Eventually I’d like to put plants along the fence.  

Preparing the area before installing the dog run fencing.

We laid out the fences and posts to make sure we had the right measurements. We ended up moving our fence in a bit so I needed to till again in that area. I also found that I needed to do extra work on areas where there was an incline so I could even the ground out. The posts/stakes do NOT go in easy if the ground is hilly.Once you’ve done that, you really just take the post/stake screw off and put the stake into the ground. We hammered it in with the mallet.

Then you hold up your fence and put the post through the circles of the fence and into the stake circle. Push in.

Continue this all the way around. Two fences with connect at one stake/post of course.

Installing the dog fence and gate for the DIY dog run.

The gates connect the same way- we did our gates at the beginning.

To prevent the dogs from escaping beside the stairs, we built huge lattice privacy planters and gave our deck a skirt. We also had a pond installed on the other side which is absolutely gorgeous so make sure to check that out.

DIY Dog Run for a bathroom area for the dog.

Eventually we used the same fencing for the duck run (exterior fence, we have a predator proof duck run for times we weren’t supervising).

Another use of the no dig fencing panels was around our duck pen. Here are the kids helping with chores.

We used the double gates for them and used the single panel for the dog.

Single Panel as an Alternative to the Gate

This is the single panel that we use as an alternative to the gate, seeing our dog was able to easily open the gate. We just connected it to the ground pole on the right side and did not connect it on the left side.

Single panel for the gate.

We use a Mega Cuff to keep it closed. As you can see, he’s attempted to chew through it to no avail.

The thing I like best about this is that it’s hard enough to open that my 4 year old still has trouble unclipping it (no guarantees, but it seems to stop him pretty well).

This is great when we have the pool in the yard during the summer, although it’s an above ground pool and he’s a pretty good listener so it’s not likely to be an issue for him, as much as it would be for the baby (who is getting older and I’ll probably need to add our DIY deck gate back on). And of course, we have the pond so I don’t want them falling in that either.

Using a single panel for the gate and a clip to prevent the dog from escaping the dog run.

If you love projects for your pets, make sure to check out my doggy bed with PVC, the DIY dog bowl holder, easy braided fleece dog toy, and the crate table topper that I made for my pups!

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Easy to install fenced dog run. Easy fencing to install that doesn't require digging post holes.
DIYdogrun.Dogstandingatthegate.Thiseasydogruniseasytoinstall nodiggingholesforposts.
Yield: 1 Dog Fence Run

How to Install an Easy No-Dig Fenced Dog Run in One Day

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Active Time: 1 day
Total Time: 1 day 3 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $300

Install a convenient fenced in dog run that is no-dig, and it can be built in one day!

Materials

  • Grand Empire Fence Panel: No Dig Decorative Fence x 10 panels 
  • Empire Grand Post/Stakes x 12 
  • Grand Empire XL Gate x 1 

Tools

  • Shovel 
  • Tiller 
  • Mallet

Instructions

    1. Mark where you want your fence to go. I used my tiller, which loosened the earth where the posts would go.
    2. Lay out the fences and posts to make sure you have the right measurements. 
    3. Take the post/stake screw off and put the stake into the ground using a mallet.
    4. Hold up your fence and put the post through the circles of the fence.
    5. Push into the stake circle.
    6. Repeat this all the way around with two fences connecting at one stake/post.
    7. Connect the gates the same way.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Google Web Story: No-Dig Dog Fence Run

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Laura

Monday 1st of April 2019

I realize this post is old, but we just bought this fence and when we started, we realized that the gate was way too flimsy and our dogs would go right through it. I did a search to see if a panel could be used as a gate and you’re post popped up! Thanks for the advice!

Danielle

Monday 1st of April 2019

It's so much better. Wish they made the gates so they made sense!

Scarlet

Saturday 7th of April 2018

Wow. It looks great. I never would have thought of doing a fence myself!

Danielle

Saturday 7th of April 2018

Thanks!

Knowzing Around

Tuesday 19th of July 2016

I like this idea and it looks nice too but I don't get how it would stop digging. The posts are put into the ground at regular intervals but can't they dig under and around these? My two are digging in my dog run, after days of working on it and wherever it suits them, leaving holes I have to fill in as little as 5 mins if I leave them unsupervised. Also, you are in Maryland whereas many of us northerners need to use cement to sink the posts because of the frostline.

Danielle

Tuesday 19th of July 2016

It doesn't stop the dogs from digging, it's just easy to install because it doesn't require digging. You just sink the posts for each segment into the soil- similar to if you put up a tent and put in those metal stakes to keep it from flying away.

We'd use cement as well, if it were a deep post. Our privacy fence is set in either cement or stones.

Anonymous

Sunday 10th of July 2016

The design of the fence is not safe to use for a dog pen. I had a friend whose dog got his collar caught on the top of a decorative fence and strangled himself. Maybe you could take his collar off. I love the fence and you did such a great job putting it up.

KellyLynn

Wednesday 13th of April 2016

Hello! Thank you for the blog about your dog enclosure! We want to do the exact same thing, but are worried about our dogs getting out. Is it sturdy enough that they won't knock it over? They can't slip through the openings between bars? They are medium sized dogs. Thanks!

Danielle

Wednesday 13th of April 2016

My puppy is a TANK and I think it will hold him. Unfortunately the gate for it is terrible. THAT he can push thru easily with his nose and the "latch" is pretty lame. I think a light breeze could blow it open. The best option would probably be to install the fencing and DIY a nice gate. But I think we'll just put a dog leash clip (I have an extra I upcycled from a chewed leash) on the bottom so he can't get it open (we also need to block off under the deck but that's another project. Soooooo many springtime projects to do!).

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