digging under fence

Question
Cathy,
My husband and I adopted a three year old dog from the SPCA about a year ago. We really aren't sure what breed he is. They marked him as a Boxer mix at the SPCA, but many people seem to think he looks Pit Bull. Several months ago I met a guy who had a dog who looked just like our dog, Jack, and he said that his dog was an American Bulldog. That's about as much as I know regarding what kind of dog he is. He is an indoor/outdoor dog. Most of the day he is outside, but he comes in to sleep and be with the family at night. (We have two boys - three and two years old.) We have a fence around the yard to keep him in, but recently he has been digging under the fence and escaping. We live in the country and although many of my neighbors allow their dogs to run free, I am not comfortable with this at all. (I have been bit in the face by a dog that was wandering around.) We don't have a lot of extra money to spend on this problem, but we have to do something. He has been at my mom's for a few weeks until we could figure something out, but we really need to bring him home. Please, if you have any ideas, get back to me ASAP - this really is urgent. I appreciate any ideas or advice you may have.
Thanks so much for your time.
Kimberly

Answer
I'm sorry for the delay in answering your question.  I've been having computer problems.  If your dog is digging under and not going over the fence, I suggest putting pavers along the inside of the fence.  While they do cost, they really aren't too much.  You can get them at any local Lowes or Home Depot and they are probably about $1 each.  They are cement and if you line the fence with them, the dog should not be able to dig.  You might also try large pieces of wood that are too heavy for him to move.    He is likely doing this because he is bored.   I don't know if this is possible for you, but you might try keeping him inside during the day and using a crate to keep him out of things.  He would be happier inside (from my past experience) and probably wouldn't try to escape.  If you have any interest in using the crate indoors, let me know and I'll send you recommended crating instructions.