Electric fence doesn't seem to be the answer to my problem

[BumbleBeeBumbleBee16]

I wanted to put up an electric fence on my side of a boundary hedge. However, I came across a conversation here and have found it really interesting.

My neighbour's Labradors and cats are regularly coming into my garden and using the vegetable plot as a toilet. I am fed up with it and am regularly blocking gaps using mesh or wire. I thought that an electric fence might be the solution but now I think it would cause more upset.
Ten years ago, my neighbour's dogs killed my pet rabbit and guinea pig which were in a fenced off area of my garden. My 13 year old DD made the grim discovery. I blamed myself for not protecting my pets properly.

Four years ago my dog went through the boundary hedge and killed my neighbour's hen and three ducklings. My neighbour blamed me and has not spoken to me or looked after my dog since (I was paying her at the time to walk my dog whilst I was at work).

I have been working hard in my garden and recently planted potatoes. Later that evening I discovered the two dogs and a cat in my vegetable plot. The cat had been to the loo and the dogs were digging up my newly planted potatoes.

I saw where they went through the hedge and I have blocked up more gaps.
However, I really want to keep them out for good.
My dog doesn't go through the hedge now but she will chase cats so I worry that she would chase their cat into their garden.
Any ideas?

Rip hedge out. Put fence up.

You need a proper wall or a wooden fence to mark your boundary. Not something that can give animals an electric shock (squirrels, birds, cats and dogs could be hurt by it).

Put up proper fence around all garden boundaries. Seems a no brainer to me...

Afternoon,

The OP has asked us to move this into a more appropriate section.

Best wishes,

MNHQ.

Fences are not an option. Deeds and other documents state it must be a living boundary.
It is a semi-rural location and we need to gain access to hedges for cutting twice a year. The hedges were planted in 1930's so are well established and are a haven for wildlife.
Not going to take them out under any circumstances!

In that case could you add a secondary living willow fence? At my Playgroup we have made a closely meshed wigwam/ Wendy house for the children and a willow walk.

The gaps on the above YouTube video are much bigger than the ones we left, so look as if they would let through a cat, but not dogs. Try googling living willow. The living willow sticks can be planted a lot closer together.

Thanks, I will have a go. I do have something similar to willow in my garden. When I used off-cuts as canes they took root, so I could use those in the hedge!
I have got some plants such as hawthorn and box which have been growing in unwanted places so I will transplant those. I am also looking for logs push into the gaps to see if that works. There should be plenty of sticks around, so will see if I am able to create some sort of framework with those before I do the planting. Getting excited about this project now!

Chicken wire on the inside of your hedge?

I have been using chicken wire and a larger mesh in some of the places. It does do the trick, but we are talking about hundreds of metres of boundary hedges. The hedges are also wide so it's difficult to do all the gaps in one go. As soon as I solve the problem in one spot, the dogs find another small gap to make bigger. There is also a relative's dog who bull-dozes through the mesh and wire.

They've got a much larger garden than mine and have access to open fields, so I don't know why they would want to bother with my garden.

What about having a hedge layer come and properly lay the hedge to form a proper stock proof boundary?

Can you afford to get someone into chicken wire the entire boundary in one go? Sounds like it will be the only way to ensure its done and quickly. I imagine the dogs find your garden and its contents far more exciting as they are there on a plate (no pun intended) whereas in the fields they've got to use some energy and brain power to find anything to chase, scent, dig etc.

I have had a word with DH and we have decided to buy some strong wire fencing and stakes and make a quick fence ourselves which will hopefully keep the neighbour's dogs out. In time, the hedge should cover the wire fence so that it isn't an eye sore. Thank you for all the help. I have already made a start on this project.