Hard wiring is difficult to overcome. I do best with dogs that behave like couch potatoes. We took in a pointer-setter mix from a broken home. He was smart, energetic, challenging, and had numerous unacceptable behavioral manifestations (e.g., jumping the 5 foot fence and running around the neighborhood--I did get to meet a lot of the neighbors that way, but it scares people to see a 90 lb. dog dashing all over the place grinning madly.) It takes a huge amount of effort and commitment (and $). Obedience training is essential. (I was afraid that he'd make history as the first flunkout of our Petsmart training center. He did manage to graduate but always got that faraway look in his eyes when the parrots started squawking.) It was like hammering a round peg into a square hole. Transition from outdoor hunting dog to indoor pet is difficult but possible.
P.S. He lived to be 16 years old and was an absolute love. Would I do it again? Nuh-uh.
I am re-reading your post and it is making me actually LOL! I am currently working on adding extensions to my fencing. The 4’ chainlink fense is clearly not a border for Buford, instead it is an obstacle that is to be overcome to get the rabbit get the rabbit get the rabbit get the rabbit get the rabbit.
;-)