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Healthy Fences, Happy Dogs
Posted by Elizabeth Bublitz at 5:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
If you are planning a dog-friendly yard or garden, the very first element that you must consider is a fence. Fences are a necessary investment for keeping your animal friends safe in their yard–fences prevent them from escaping and keep other animals from entering your yard.
To preserve our precious investment, we must take care of our fences. Those of us with dogs in our families face a few more issues in preserving our fences. Many dogs frequently jump up on fences to peak over at people passing by, squirrels, and other exciting noises that grab their attention. Their jumping weakens fences and causes them to fall apart eventually. Also, if you have the wrong kind of fence or one that is damaged, your dog can accidently get his or her nails caught in the slats, sometimes causing nails to be painfully ripped out and requiring an emergency trip to the veterinarian.
One solution to keeping a healthy fence, and in return, a healthy dog, is to provide windows for dogs. This approach works best for people who have a wooden privacy fence. Dogs will stop jumping on the fence because they can stay at ground level to look at and talk to passersby.
If you own a vinyl fence and cannot create windows, install an “observation deck,” such as a high platform or mound in your yard so that your dogs can look over the fence without jumping over it and/or harming the fence–or themselves.
To create a window, simply cut out a 3-foot-by-3-foot area (or whatever is comfortable for your dog) and install chicken or sheep wire. Be extra careful to make sure that all sharp edges from the wire are removed or adequately covered. You can be creative and carve a dog bone, a dog face, or the first initial of your dog’s name. Your dogs will not mind, as long as they can see “visitors” and bark at them as they approach the property. Remember, dogs bark because they’re just doing their job–protecting their yard!
And don’t just install one window! It’s best to put a few doggie windows in your fence, especially if you have multiple dogs, live next to dogs, or have a lot of foot traffic. Multiple windows ensure that each dog will have his or her own window and that each will be able to follow the traffic along the fence without needing to jump. Just be sure to keep the windows at ground level so that your dogs are not encouraged to jump and put their weight on the fence.
If you own a rail fence, you have the opposite problem–too much space in your fence so that your dog can easily dig under or jump over the fence. In this case, it’s best to secure edge pins at the bottom of the mesh to prevent them from digging. If your dogs are prone to jumping, simply add an extension to the fence with mesh or chicken wire.
Finally, it is best never to leave your dogs unattended in your yard–because no matter how dog-friendly it is, there are always unforeseen dangers. And besides, what is more fun (for you and your dog) than spending a sunny spring afternoon outside with your canine companion?
Posted to Home & Garden | Posted to Tags: backyard, Dogs, Elizabeth Bublitz, garden, safety
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Lisa Rhodes says...
April 13th, 2009, 8:15 pm
I’ve always wondered how to keep my dogs from jumping on the fence. Great and easy solution, my dog and dog walkers who go by our yard thank you.
Eboni Claunch says...
July 4th, 2009, 6:58 pm
We just installed a new lawn in our backyard and our dog has already made yellow spots due to urine. Do you think an electric fence would be ok to install to keep him out of that area?????
Elizabeth says...
July 6th, 2009, 9:59 pm
Hi Eboni: Thanks for the question- I’d really like to address your options for your dog’s yard. Electric fences are very inhumane and dangerous. When dogs get a shock, they scream in pain - no plant is worth that torture. Also, many dogs are mauled or killed when wildlife (coyote, wolves) enters their yard - dogs fear they will be shocked if they leave the yard and end up being harmed. With that being said, let me give you a few other options:
1) Since your dog is a male, it’s best to install “fire hydrants” such as containers with plants, bird baths, driftwood, statues, etc. so he can lift his leg on them. Unfortunately no plant will withstand urine burns so it’s best to improvise using an object for him to lift his leg on. If he’s favoring a couple plants, put the object in front of the plants to encourage him to continue using those areas - when it becomes a habit of his, remove the dead/dying plant and leave the statue for his use.
2) If your dog is urinating in one area, you can tear out the sod and install rock (if he doesn’t eat rock) and a pretty shrub garden that will disguise it so nobody needs to know it’s a bathroom area.
3) You can install an attractive fence to keep him on one side of the yard but make sure it’s a safe and shady area. You always want him to be able to get inside if there is a storm or it’s too hot. He should always have protection from the elements, water and plenty of space to be comfortable.
Please contact me if you have any more questions - I’d love to discuss other options with you if you feel these will not work in your situation. Shock collars are definitely NOT the best solution. Thanks again for asking - take care - Elizabeth (homeandg@aol.com or 303-901-4002)
Jodika McKinley says...
October 10th, 2009, 3:26 pm
Hi,
I would like to comment on your statement that, “dogs bark because they are just doing their job- protecting their yard.” Well that is completely wrong, and you are basically making an excuse for dogs bad aggressive behavior. Yes, it is true that dogs bark to protect. But that should not be to everyone that goes by. That is wrong and the dog is basically saying that IT is ALPHA over you. Anyone with dog problems should go to http://www.theperfectdog.ca . This program did wonders for my dog, Seeka. Remember, dogs are VERY smart. They know when their is ACTUAL danger. But one can RUIN their dog, by letting it bark at cats, birds and passerby’s.
p.s this whole “dog window” thing is cool. But you don’t need it for your dog to behave AT ALL.
Amanda says...
October 26th, 2009, 1:45 pm
Jodika, if you choose to dictate your dog’s every move that is up to you, but it should come as no surprise that most of us here prefer to help our animals learn to make good choices and then give them the freedom to do so. If you’re trying to get business to this place, you might want to consider using a more polite tone in the future.