New Gate

[pindrop]

Yesterday, we headed off to Home Depot to pick up some wood so Oldfox could build a gate at the top of the outside stairs. Previously we had a baby gate with a narrow opening and when bringing in groceries, it was a little too tight - so we thought we would construct something with wood. Hubby did a wonderful job (as usual) and once installed, we figured we could then let Layla on the farmers porch and not have to worry that she would escape (with supervision only of course). Well that lasted all of five minutes. I came in the house and Oldfox was watering his tomato plants when suddenly Layla runs by him chasing a squirrel. Luckly, he nabbed her and brought her back onto the deck - then went back down the stairs and encouraged her to come to him, trying to figure out how she got out in the first place. Lo and behold, the gate was only five or six inches off the deck, she managed to squeeze herself under and down the steps she came. Off Oldfox goes to the garage to fetch his drill and comes back - unscrews the hinges and lowers it by three inches thereby managing to halt any further scrunching by the imp. Raising a cairn is like being a great chess player - you always have to be ten moves ahead of them.

[ScruffynMag]

Layla you little scamp They will always find a way won't they? We had to add another couple of inches all around the bottom of our fence, fortunately he can't dig under as it's concrete all round.

[TazTalk]

They can be such Houdini's can't they? What a clever little stinker! But you and Oldfox are just a bit wiser than her.

[Lynn in TN]

I find it so amusing watching Kelly squeeze into the tightest little places. As of right now she likes to squeeze under the couch crawls on her belly and she loves doing it. I'm afraid she'll get stuck or someone heavy will set on the couch and squish her.

I'm glad you solved your problem!(I hope)You never no with them. They seem to find a way to get into or out of whatever they want at the time.

[Tracy A.]

I can recall when Mett & Bratt were little, if I cold get my fist through it, they could fit through it.

[hheldorfer]

What will that clever girl do next? Every day is an adventure, isn't it? Good think Oldfox is handy with tools.

By the way, are you enjoying retirement?

[Hawkeye]

Thanks for the laugh this morning. It is a challenge to stay one step ahead of them and they are so proud of themselves when they figure it out. We put the gate across the stairs when Radar was young but forgot about the side railing that had rungs, so skinny Radar would zip through the railings. Kind of dumb on our part but it was cute.

Btw: Radar is on his way over with a ladder to rescue his little damsel.

[pindrop]

haha Hawkeye - tell him to hold on as Layla has discovered another section of the gate that she can squeeze out of. Oldfox and I are looking up electric staple guns as we think we can staple twigs between the spaces on the decking. We will have to take a before and after pix so you can all see what we are trying to accomplish.

hheldorfer - so far enjoying every minute. Have to say I now probably have a very clean house as I vacuumed all the walls and ceilings today, then proceeded to wash all the floors. Love the smell of pine sol. Eventually, I know I'll run out of things to clean but in the meantime, hubby and I are doing things around the house that we have put off for years. It's fun doing these things together.

[Hawkeye]

haha Hawkeye - tell him to hold on as Layla has discovered another section of the gate that she can squeeze out of. Oldfox and I are looking up electric staple guns as we think we can staple twigs between the spaces on the decking. We will have to take a before and after pix so you can all see what we are trying to accomplish.

hheldorfer - so far enjoying every minute. Have to say I now probably have a very clean house as I vacuumed all the walls and ceilings today, then proceeded to wash all the floors. Love the smell of pine sol. Eventually, I know I'll run out of things to clean but in the meantime, hubby and I are doing things around the house that we have put off for years. It's fun doing these things together.

Pindrop & Oldfox will be spending their retirement days going to the Home Depot for supplies to keep Layla confined. Can't go there just once - alway have to go back for one more thing.

[MegsMom]

..... we think we can staple twigs between the spaces on the decking. We will have to take a before and after pix so you can all see what we are trying to accomplish.

Aha! Built-in chewy frustration-relievers when she can't get to those squirrels

If they're horizontal, be sure they're not 'climbin' spacin'.

Tip: long ago I learned to always measure the skull width & heighth, and anything I put in had to have spaces smaller than that--especially if meant as a deterrent.

[hheldorfer]

Can't wait for the next installment of this saga!

[Tracy A.]

You can always come over to my house and work on our project list! I'll feed everyone!

Eventually, I know I'll run out of things to clean but in the meantime, It's fun doing these things together.

[Idaho Cairns]

I have been through this one. If you lower the gate, then you can't open it when the snow gets deep and if you raise it the Cairns squirt thru. We ended up with a an upside down small garden fence--the kind where you set off small pieces of ground for low gardens, screwed into the bottom of the gate. When the snow gets deep, we can take it off and shovel out the deck.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Home Depo better keep their shelves stocked! Keep outsmarting the Oldfox Layla!!

[janis]

What we do for our hound pups works pretty well. Leave the gate where it is and get a section of 4x4 post the length across the gate. They can't move it and as soon as their little heads grow, they can't escape under it. You can always lean over the gate to move it.