I always recommend using a 40 mil butyl rubber liner when you build a pond. Unless you walk on them with golf cleats, they survive most anything. But occasionally, they get a leak. If your lab loves to play in your pond, those toenails could cause a leak. One time I had to deal with a client who put sharp rocks in the pond and put plants on top of them. If you must put huge, sharp rocks in the pond, put an extra piece of liner underneath and don't move the plants around by just sliding them. Pick up the plants and the rocks if you must move them.
The hardest thing to do if you have a hole in your liner is finding it. See http://www.pondlady.com/Articles/pondleaking.html for hints on finding the leak.
After you find it, be sure the liner surrounding the hole is clean and dry. If you are not in blinding hot sun, you may need a hair dryer to get it totally dry.
The 40 mil butyl rubber liner is the same material as an inner tube, for those of us old enough to remember those. You can use a tire patch found at any automotive store or you can buy patching material from an aquatic nursery or online from any pond supply store. It doesn't' cost much. You simply cover the hole with the patching tape - it's sticky on one side. And you are done. I have had patches last for over 10 years so far.
So find the hole, slap on the tape, make sure it's dry, refill the pond with water and you are good to go!
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