How to KEEP SKUNKS OUT??!! (live, fencing, food)

[acrylic]

Hey all. I just had an incident here a couple hours ago. My two little dogs got sprayed by a skunk while my dad let them out to go to the bathroom. Somehow, the skunk got into the backyard.
We're gonna check tomorrow, but we're thinking it probably won't be there anymore. Other than putting up a brick wall, or something of the sort, what can we do to keep skunks out of the back yard? We have a post fence, and it still somehow got through.

PS: While I'm still on the topic here, we cleaned the dogs with some hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap (as per all the websites I saw, saying the baking soda peroxide mix would create a chemical compound that neutralizes the odor, basically getting rid of it. Apparently tomato juice only MASKS the scent, and gives you a great aroma of tomato skunk.)
I'm afraid that the smell may still be around, though I can't smell it. It's possible that I was around that smell, and it's engraved in my nose, and that I'm used to it. If the smell somehow is in the house, is there any way of getting it out of the house?

[becks2055]

Well if it is just skunks you are looking to keep out you could put a small 1-2 ft high piece of expanded metal or chicken fencing around the bottom of perimeter fencing. Make sure you walk the fence and look for obvious points of entry. Skunks are not great climbers but they can squeeze through a tight spot. Just dont try the live trap route, obvious reasons!

[slamont61]

My yard has NO fence at all but I did see a skunk in it a couple times. I've been careful about letting my dog out.

If there is no food source in the yard the skunk won't be attracted. There is none in mine and the skunk hasn't been back.

Your dogs may have stuff laying around the yard to have attracted the thing. Likely the dogs have scared off the thing anyways but still check for anything that would attract them.

[acrylic]

Alright, thanks for the replies, all!

I heard mothballs around the perimeter of the back yard can keep skunks from coming in. Is that true?

[geekduo]

Mothballs will keep all manner of rodents out.

[Honeycrisp]

Wouldnt they be harmful to dogs though (esp. small ones) - ?

[acrylic]

I guess mothballs possibly could be. But I'm thinking we could set them up on the outside perimeter of the fence. The only thing though, is when the wind blows your way, you can smell those mothballs and boy are they ever unpleasant.