A good place to start dog-proofing your split rail fence is by using picket gates rather than split rail gates. On a split rail fence the gate is the area most vulnerable to escape artists because the welded wire at bottom cannot touch the ground (or the gate would not open well) and its flexibility offers potential for your dog to push through. Picket gates are rigid at the bottom, solving this problem. They also look dress up a split rail fence a little. We can also add boards to the bottom of the fence at problem areas if needed.