Jerry Rigging a Dog Fence

Amy Nahirny
by Amy Nahirny
2 Materials
$120
1 Hour
Easy
I have a wonderful 10 months old bloodhound/coonhound puppy who has been a bit of a challenge lately. We had to improvise on a way to block access to a retaining wall
This is Jolene. She is 10 months old and she challenges me everyday. She is the first hound I've ever owned so I didnt know that they are very good jumpers. So yesterday she jumped one of our retaining walls and disappeared for 3 hours. I was hysterical. She's training to be my emotional support dog.
We have a 3 tiered retaining wall that separates us from the dessert mesa. Its just outside my sisters bedroom, and the vulnerable point turned out to be the raised deck we put in. The deck is raised just enough that Jo can vault from there and on to the wall.
We have tried several things to block her from jumping but they failed.
you can see that once she is on that first level of the wall she can just run off into the unfenced area of the yard. this is dangerous cause we have lots of coyotes that live in the area.
we needed an efficient deterrent that wasn't gonna cost us a lot and be able to cover the 25 feet the deck spans.
so at lowes we found these A frame trellis's that when opened spanned 8 feet in length.
we got these fence posts that we used to support the A frame
i hammered in the fence posts and we zip tied the post to the wood frame
as you can see it worked quite well
And since this 4 foot wall extends around the whole yard we can continue it as we have money to buy the trellis and fence posts. And because we spent only $100 we can continue this barrier around the wall as she gets older. Now when she goes out there she is cautious of this strange structure and wants no part of it. I told my sister in spring time we can plant creeping plants to grow along the trellis and it will be pretty. But for now this gives me time to keep training NOT to jump the wall.
Suggested materials:
  • Cedar hinged trellis   (Lowes $25 each)
  • Metal fence posts   (Lowes $3 each)
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  • Pennie Collins Pennie Collins on Nov 22, 2017

    I think your companion is adorable! The fencing idea is good, but I think it will become a ladder. I wonder if there is a way to use PVC pipe over the horizontal strips so there’s no grip for wandering paws?

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  • Carey Carey on Nov 29, 2017

    I have a teeny Tiny Poodle, Missy, that is an escape artist. She checks the fence every single day and manages to find an exit. Currently, she is trying to teach her compatriot to dig strategically rather than just for gophers! And she, meanwhile, has refined her digging technique after watching my mini long haired Doxxy, Sweetie, dig for gophers. Sweetie has made my yard a series of trenches and I don't dare even go into it, if it can possibly be avoided. I have discovered that she can go through the smallest of holes, and I saw her lay on her side, flatten out and scoot under a fence gate at my son's house, I didn't believe anyway could she go under there, but she managed it! At first, as a rescue she apparently had the idea that it was better to keep running when she got out and it was a constant hunt for her and fear that she was gone, hurt or worse. Then one day, she was found by a lady who took her in and then took her to a groomer where they put her in a kennel. I had put an ad on Craigslist and that lady called me and told me where she was. I went to get her, and she was screaming in absolute terror! I walked in and said, "That's Missy!" They said "YES!" They brought her out to me and she was so happy to be found and when she realized that she didn't get spanked for getting lost, from then on instead of running, she comes to the front door and barks. Why she won't bark at the back door, I have no idea! I am hoping that my son has come up with an escape proof yard in the new home where I am moving! : )

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    • 18804193 18804193 on Jan 21, 2019

      you certainly have a clever dog. I heard of someone had a similar problem but it was coyotes eating his chickens. He dug the soil and put chicken wire attached to the bottom of the fence and added the chicken wire under the soil. So when they dig they cannot get through. Sounds like a good plan. The other idea, not expensive is bricks, if you can find a place that is throwing out bricks, you can do the same thing with them. Dogs cannot dig through bricks. Something to think about. You just need to come up with an idea of something the dog cannot dig through. Good luck. Best Wishes from Gail.

  • Cre29059150 Cre29059150 on Dec 02, 2017

    We bought plastic stair treading that had points on the back of it to hold it onto carpeting on the stairs. For jumping dogs, flip it point side up and put it in front of a gate or place they are jumping over.

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