My darling (ARRRGGHH) pups (about 60lbs and growing, at 8 months, give or take)are currently fenced in, but I am getting rid of the fencing rather than try to find a space for it when I move cross-country. Will eventually get more there to replace it, but in the meantime I will have a few days here and a few days there that they will need to be confined in another way. Hubby tried putting them out on leads yesterday. Took 15 minutes for the two of them to collectively freak out and inflict the following damage:

Sam got out of her harness 4 times (tightened tighter each time)

Max straightened out link on a chain that was closer to 1/4 inch than 1/8 inch thick

They both tore apart brand new harnessess that were lifetime guaranteed, and they were well within the weight range listed on the box (those go back to the store!).

They are now so freaked out that they protect one another when we try to put a collar on them. Wheee.

I will be grateful for suggestions from anyone who has gone through this. One other question. I am looking for alternatives to chain link fence, but cheap. I don't like the look and trouble of chain link (it will be hard to easily install it where we're going - lots of trees and brush, etc, that I'm not about to clear just to make a dog run). I am considering something like deer fencing (will it hold in dogs who aren't terribly interested in getting out? They only half-heartedly dug here and there at the fence perimeter and when we made it clear that that was not allowed, they shrugged and left off. The only real worry I have is them leaning on it to greet us, and I figure that putting it up on the inside of the trees (using them as posts) would help support it. It would be less visible that chain link, and once they know that they're "fenced in" they most likely will just leave it at that. Any other cheap suggestions would be appreciated. We're moving to an area with few jobs and a very low standard of living, but prices aren't a lot lower than they would be elsewhere. Electric fencing stuff is not an option - simply more trouble than it's worth.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002

Answers

If dear fencing is the plastic stuff I am thinking of, it probably wont work. Electri[ even though you said is not an option]would be worth considering. You can buy a solar electric fence charger for $100 and the step in posts for $1.00 a piece. Insulators and wire isnt that expensive. My dog went under my fence once, he zapped himself good and never went near it again. Another plus it is portable.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), March 03, 2002.

Hello Soni,

I think what you will need to keep dogs in is a fencing called dog wire. It comes in rolls that are 3 to 6 foot high and 100 feet long. It is rather expensive,(5 foot by 100 foot rolls cost me $79 each) but it is heavy enough that they can not dig under it.

All you have to do is set four corner post and the post for your gate. Then you can run "t" bars inbetween every 5-6 feet. That should make it strong enough so that it will not fall.

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Those darling dogs are unmanageable as pups, what are they going to be like as adult dogs? More than fence, you need obedience training for them and for you. ESPECIALLY if they are 'defending' each other against you. This behavior is DANGEROUS to your and your family. You must learn to control them, and they must learn to obey you.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Obedience training will make your dogs a lot more fun to be around, too! I've got three big lab mix dogs and they're a joy to be around ~ all our friends fight over who will get "custody" of them if anything ever happens to Kenny and me! LOL! My sis's dog was out of control, so they just put him on a chain outside. I asked her if I could keep him for a couple weeks and train him. She said yes, and when I gave him back he was house trained, came when called, understood simple commands like "sit" and "stay" and was overall MUCH calmer ~ quit tearing up things and trying to get out of the yard fence. They even let him in the house quite often now!

You would be amazed at the difference in your pups once you learn how to "speak dog" and train them! It's SO worth it! I can't recommend it enough! Good luck!

-- Wingnut (wingnut@moment.net), March 03, 2002.

I've met Sam and Max (females) and they are not dangerous they are just full of energy and want to play. It's kind of hard to train dogs when you work nights and have to sleep during the day. I'm sure that Soni will have time to work with them when she moves. They really are sweet little (big) girls.

-- Sheila in NC (nannie@intrstar.net), March 03, 2002.

I'd get them trained to collars and leads. HINT: train them separately so they can't look to the other dog for protection and distraction. They sound like they are depending on each other too much and not you as senior pack member.

I've never run dogs on trolleys, but that might be an option for letting the dogs be outside without building a large run. They just run along underneath the wire suspended over their heads. But they have to be broke to lines for these to work.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), March 03, 2002.

You guys describe deer fencing differently than what's used here. All exotics require deer fencing, which is 10 foot high V-mesh wire. V-mesh comes 5 foot high. One section is put on top of another section and overlaps a bit to make it 10 feet high. Pipe is used for posts.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

About the deer fencing - Rogo, I agree. The stuff I've seen used to keep deer IN would sure keep dogs in. But deer are a big capital investment, and they can jump HIGH, so the fence costs are justifiable. I get the impression that some of you are using the term to describe something rather flimsy but highly visible, which discourages deer from getting INTO somewhere.

Comments?

-- Don Armstrong (from Australia) (darmst@yahoo.com.au), March 04, 2002.

have you considered an electric training collar with the fence? don't remember the name it is sold by, but seem to work pretty good on the dogs i've seen held in by them. battery operated, i think-if dog goes past a point it gets a mild shock. not cruel, effective, but i think needs to be in pretty constant use. obedience training is by far the best option. training a dog to a lead only takes about 15 minutes a day and some patience. i trained 3 great pyrenese in about a week to walk on the lead-they weigh from 100 to 140 lbs and i can lead them with no problems. i'm a small female with a bad back, so have to have dogs obey on the leash. any one should be able to find 10-15 minutes a day. they have to be fed, too, if they are fed right after training, they'll associate the two and be more willing, in my experience.

-- laura (okgoatgal@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002.

For just about any type of fencing that you may ever need, check out Premier 1 at www.premier1supplies.com. Company is in Washington, Iowa. Either browse or request their catalog. They have everything in fencing.

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), March 09, 2002.