Fences

[grillywarren]

We are closing on our house in about a month. We are finally

going to have a yard with a fence...(well once we put in the fence)

We are going with metal (gray) ....So, here is my question..for those

of you with fences....is there any thing you rec. we do/don't do regarding

the fence. I am so excited to finally give Grilly (and Madison) a fenced in

yard! So, any helpful hints out there!?????

TIA

ellie

[alaskpat]

Remember these guys are great diggers. Make sure it goes all the way to the ground or below ground.

[chrissysb]

We have a flimsy deer fence so I just got a quote for a green wire fence. We have 1/2 acre and only need 3/4 of it done. I think it worked out to 400ft -> $6,000! I almost fell over when I got the call. I truely didn't expect it to be so much.

I'm going to get a second quote. I asked for it to be installed as close to the ground as possible. Maybe that added the extra $3,000.

Let me know what you decide to go for.

[Tracy A.]

You can also use landscaping stones, like the 12" retaining wall kind to fill any low spots.

We have a 7ft wooden privacy fence, and are using the 12" landscaping stones 2 high all the way around the fence line- when done it will be a planting bed. The thought is that digging to china in a day won't happen, and hopefully they'd give up. Also it will keep the bunnies out!

[Kathryn]

Now I have a wooden fence, but originally I put in a wire fence to keep my dog inside (a different dog, a long time ago, but still a digger). To make sure that dog didn't dig out, I got a whole bunch of metal tent stakes, and I stake the wire fence into the ground every 18 inches or so. That did work to stop the digger from escaping, if not from digging.

[Marge]

We have a wire fence around the dog's area. We had a Golden Retriever that regularly dug herself out of the yard. My DH and my DS dug a trench 18in. deep. We put new wire fencing in and buried it in the trench. Bear, my Cairn baby, digs, but he has yet to dig that deep. If nothing else, it gives us time to find the hole and fill it in. Our problem has been the stairs in the dog area leading into the house. They are plain wood steps with wood railings and slat sides. Bear was able to squeeze himself between the slats, not all of them just this one particular pair that was a bit wider apart than the others. DH put up pieces of wood along the side. Bear went over the piece of wood and out between the slats. DH put more pieces of wood higher up. So, Bear went to the other side of the railing and found another pair of slats he could get out between. DH put up more pieces of wood. Then, Bear dug out below the bottom step, managed to crawl to the end of the wire fencing, and out of the yard. DH put a piece of 2X4 along the bottom of the step and around the corner of the step. Bear hasn't gotten out for a while (knock on wood). However, I have stopped being overly optimistic that he won't figure out a way to get out of the yard. After all, he's smart...he is a Cairn!

MAKE it a GREAT day!!!

Marge

[Maggie15]

Can you describe the fence more? is it picket? chain link? Raised planters along the fenceline will make digging a lot more difficult, also a shallow trench with course stone (line with some filter fabric) would make digging a pain, this will also eliminate the need to trim weeds/grass right along the fenceline! ...the fence then could also be recessed into this 'rock trough' by a few inches...

a

p.s. the weak link could be the gates, so pay attention to the clearances there and have spring loaded hinges that close on their own! thats a cairn saver!!

[CathyAnn]

I definitely agree about making sure your fence sits very close to the ground, as close as possible. Cairns seem to be able to squeeze thru very small openings.

With regard to the gates....we have resorted to padlocking them. I have found our gates wide open at times when letting Piper out. We have tons of kids in our neighborhood and I suspect they come into the yard to retrieve balls, toys, etc. We also have caught workmen, meter readers, lawn service ppl, etc. forgetting to close it when leaving.

Cathy

[kayharley]

Oh good...so when Elliott comes to visit sister Madison they'll have a special place to romp around.

We have a 5' board on board fence around our property and it was designed to follow the ups & downs of the hardscape. Over time I've noticed some minor erosion between the bottom of the fence and the ground in a couple sections so I put some large rocks in that area for my peace of mind.

Last summer I made a special area just for the dogs...enclosed a part of the yard with a coated wire fence (hubby positively hates the inconvienence of my creation; I love the security)

Put some large, heavy landscaping timbers around the bottom of the fence that borders our front yard and our neighbors (escape from the other two sides would bring them into the yard...not freedom) I made a small stone wall for them to play on and put some non-toxic shrubs/perennials around to make it cozy.

As far as advice.... I would look into the best gate system you can find. No matter how careful or diligent you are, that area is the most dangerous for sneaky Cairns to escape from.

[kcsdogs]

Well we have a six foot cedar privacy fence with three feet of concrete underground so they cannot dig out and it is simply the best! The problem that we have had in the past was with chain link fences it seems there are many dogs out there that can climb those. I guess it is just important to have one that goes all the way to the ground. Hope they enjoy having a new yard to play in!

[grillywarren]

Great replies! Thanks so much! I really hadn't given to much thought

to the gate, now I will double up my energy on that area. Our house is

in a "development" which is code for we have pretty close neighbors

We are thinking about an ornamental metal gate. The funniest thing is that

our house is kitty-cornered to a house with a beautiful 2 year old Cairn!!!!

That should be fun....three cairns within four houses!!!

Kayharley.....what date will you be arriving??? We would love a mini-family reunion.

Of course your other two are invited as well!!!

Ellie

[toomanypaws]

Looking back, I wish we had gone w/ the vinyl fence, but to save money we chose a wood privacy, 6 ft around dropping to 3 ft along the back to see the water. We did have a problem when we moved in w/ critters digging under to get in our yard. We ran gravel along the bottom, hard work but worth it. We have a front double gate and a single gate in back that are kept locked. I'm still in the habit of walking the yard to make sure no one has been digging. I never leave the Cairns for any length of time alone. I would be devastated is one dug out.

[Mollyrocker]

we have 4' picket on two sides and 4' wire on the other two sides facing the woods. We installed it ourselves for our fist dog Lucy a lab. It had gaps on unlevel ground where a Cairn could easily pass under or dig under. I have reinforced the fencing all around by attaching chicken wire 12" up the fencing and 12" on the ground. I am reinforcing the ground wire with landscape pins every few inches. The grass and vegetation has over taken the wire on the ground so much that it is no longer visible and I can mow over it. It has been working just fine. I still wouldn't leave Cricket our new Cairn pup out long enough unsupervised for her to be able to dig and escape.

Under the gates, I have put down chicken wire in the grass only so she can't dig to get under the gates.

4' isn't high enough for some Cairns..I know Cricket's Mom can scale 4' xpens and fencing with ease...no problem.

[SARpartner]

Good luck with the fencing. Remember fences are merely a challenge to be over come to a Cairn. Just look at my sig pic. It took him 10 minutes tops to figure out that escape.

[CathyAnn]

SAR....I remember that picture!

Could you post it larger again?

Cathy

[Aurora5000]

We have the 6ft. cedar stockade fence. Our backyard is big enough to put a tennis court in. We live on a pie shaped lot at the top on a culdesac. I walk it every day. On holes they did around the fence, I cover it back in with dirt and place a brick or two over the hole for a while. At the fence line where needed, I will put down a 2 x 4 and put bricks at each end.

Also, for repeated digging at the fence line, I get slender wooden stakes, nail several in a row in the ground placed against the fence line.

I also have a small pile of dirt below a tree that they can dig in. Sometimes when I look out all I see in that dirtpile is a tail.

Have you ever thought of building your own fence? A lot cheaper... Buy 6x8 cedar panels. Posts use the metal ones... Home depot for the hole digger.... and the fence company sent me to the local cement place that has a powder that is a blonde color, pour it in hole, add water, NO MIXING, and is rock hard in 45 minutes. Use screws to attach panels to posts. Get an battery powered drill from Home Depot. Most of the hardware is supplied by the fence co. as a do it your self package. They will deliver.SAVES about 70%, you buy and do it yourself. Get relatives to help.

[Hhoky]

We have a nice solid 7' tall block fence. We used to have a really old wood fence but shortly after we moved into our house 6 years ago my terrier/poodle mix climbed it. I couldn't believe it I walked outside and there he was standing on the top of the fence barking at the neighbors dog! Even noe Izbell will get a running start when she hears the caticorner neighbors kids outside and jumps halfway up the wall. (she really HATES those kids. But I dont blame her at all, when she was still a pup, just under a year they would throw rocks at her! After yelling for days at them I went to their house and told their mom if they did it again I would spank them all since one by one. Well, they haven't done it again but Izbell still wants a piece of them.hee hee)

But back to the fence we put a 1 1/2 foot footer under the entire wall and under the RV gate, we even put a 1 1/2 footer under the new pool fence we are putting in. Just to be super safe. We do the home depo route alot.

[brin145]

We love the wood fence that we had installed this past spring. I was distressed a few weeks back to discover that Gus is chewing on the boards. I couldn't believe what he has already done to some of the boards. He is a big chewer. The boards have a small space between each. Maybe it was a mistake in choosing that design. Just a thought...

[chrissysb]

I was distressed a few weeks back to discover that Gus is chewing on the boards.

Brin145: It's early and I read this as "I had Gus distress the boards." Some people like the distressed look. J/K. I'm actually sorry to hear your fence is getting distroyed. I know how expensive they can be.

[mrskti]

When we got the girls last year, i had a 20x40 yard area fenced in for them. Well, we're going to be taking it down this week. They really dont seem to enjoy being out there and all they do is dig pot holes and get filthy. I think they'd rather be on their long leads and go all over, so it's outta here! I work too hard on my yard to leave them out alone for any length of time....it would look like a mine field!!! We'll stick to our walks about the farm. They love going in the alfalfa fields anyway.

[SARpartner]

CathyAnn,

I would post it again if I could remember how I did it last time. I must be having a CRS (Can't remember s**t) attack. But I would be happy to send them by email if you like.

Chris

[CathyAnn]

Chris....try photobucket.com. Very easy to upload there. Then cut and paste onto forum page.

I just love that shot!

Cathy

[grillywarren]

update:

we have decided on aluminum ornamental fencing. we have had a couple

of estimates, and the funniest part is that we have to go with a "closer picket" does that make sense???? because Madison is so tiny. She fits through the regularly spaced ones! So, our estimate went up ....ahem...lets just say ......more than my first car!

Oh. the joy of a little peanut!! Funny, dh thought maybe we could fit Madison with a life vest so she couldn't make it through (He was jooking) It is a funny visual though!!!!

Any other little-bity-ones out there with this fencing issue. Oh, and I ordered the

self closing gates! Thanks to y'all!

Ellie

[christine72]

My aunt & uncle had a wire fox terrier named Bagel that could get through their iron fence. Every time he went outside he had to wear his "bagel-balls", a harness with old towels knotted to the side to make him too wide to fit through. I wish I had a picture to share, it was ridiculous.

[SARpartner]

Cathy Ann,

Here goes nothing. Dusty the little Cairn that could.