So since May of 2007 when I got Atka, I have had a 50'X50' fenced area and the rest of the property (an acre) has been unfenced. I rarely used the 50X50 area... after Atka was trained I did not need it very often.
With the inception of a second dog.. and one that is not going to be spayed immediately since she may be a dog for breeding (after testing and all the rest) I thought a perimeter fence would be a good idea.
Now I don't want some crappy looking fence.. tho two sides of the prperty is thought woods, along a stream and a stone wall, the other two sides are to the cul de sac and neighbors lawn areas etc. So.. I priced things and yikes.. chain link was out of the question (about $20,000) so I decided on other things.
I elected to put split rail across the front and figured 8 sections right by the house and then use 2x4 welded wire and steel posts for the rest...
I went to Lowes and they had split rail but wanted to get rid of all they had. They offered me the entire pile for 50% off but only if I took it all. Well, you have to realize that where I live the ground is very stony and digging holes for posts is an undertaking. I hemmed and hawed.. and took the pile (20 sections).. and a post hole digger (the hand operated sort). I priced renting a hole digger but it was about $400 for 1/2 day and that was taking me out of exspensive to nirvana...
I did get my neighbor to help with the holes (I paid him) but I worked with him and the 20 sections of split rail really made a looks difference. I did some of the holes myself too. I overlaid this with black vinyl coated fence wire (2x3 mesh) and it is hardly visible, so it looks good. Out back along the stream thru the woods and on the stone wall/hedge row I put in steel "T" posts and welded 2X4 inche mesh welded wire. Across the driveway I use every day I got two 6 foot tall by 42 inch wid chain link gates. I laid them on their sides and attached them to the split rail end posts. I painted them black and that really made them look better. For the gates arross the 20 foot span over the "service" driveway (the one that goes to the walk out basement and the furnace, wood pile etc.) I purchased two tubular steel "stock" gates at Tractor Supply.. 10 feet long ea. I sunk separate gate posts for the stock gates and hung them (that was today).
Eventually, when the ground settles around the gate posts I will pour a bit of concrete around them so the gates hang a bit nicer.. and I will install another small man pass down by the stream.
So.. in three weeks nights and weekends after work.. I put up 220 feet of split rail fence, 450 feet of 4 foot high welded wire on 70 Steel T posts (all driven by hand with a steel tube 'post pounder") and 220 feet of black vinyl coated wire over top of the split rail, two gate posts, 2 ten foot stock gates and 2 light 6 foot long chain link gates.
Could a dog get out of this yard? Yes. A determined dog could get in or out (fence is 4 feet tall). However, a dog would have to make a decision to get out and I never leave the dog out loose and unattended in the yard with me not around.
It is an extra layer of security. I have kennel runs if I go out and the dogs are in those.. but having the dogs in the kennel runs AND having the dogs iside a perimeter fence too is very nice.
By having the gates across the driveways it stops a lot of people from coming in and pestering you too. Friends and family will know to close the gate behind themselves (or leave it open if it is open). All others will likely see the gate as a barrier.
Yeah.. its not the "Kennedy Compound" but it is mine and already I am enjoying the business of having a fenced yard!
THE DOG FENCE IS UP!!! :clap2:
With the inception of a second dog.. and one that is not going to be spayed immediately since she may be a dog for breeding (after testing and all the rest) I thought a perimeter fence would be a good idea.
Now I don't want some crappy looking fence.. tho two sides of the prperty is thought woods, along a stream and a stone wall, the other two sides are to the cul de sac and neighbors lawn areas etc. So.. I priced things and yikes.. chain link was out of the question (about $20,000) so I decided on other things.
I elected to put split rail across the front and figured 8 sections right by the house and then use 2x4 welded wire and steel posts for the rest...
I went to Lowes and they had split rail but wanted to get rid of all they had. They offered me the entire pile for 50% off but only if I took it all. Well, you have to realize that where I live the ground is very stony and digging holes for posts is an undertaking. I hemmed and hawed.. and took the pile (20 sections).. and a post hole digger (the hand operated sort). I priced renting a hole digger but it was about $400 for 1/2 day and that was taking me out of exspensive to nirvana...
I did get my neighbor to help with the holes (I paid him) but I worked with him and the 20 sections of split rail really made a looks difference. I did some of the holes myself too. I overlaid this with black vinyl coated fence wire (2x3 mesh) and it is hardly visible, so it looks good. Out back along the stream thru the woods and on the stone wall/hedge row I put in steel "T" posts and welded 2X4 inche mesh welded wire. Across the driveway I use every day I got two 6 foot tall by 42 inch wid chain link gates. I laid them on their sides and attached them to the split rail end posts. I painted them black and that really made them look better. For the gates arross the 20 foot span over the "service" driveway (the one that goes to the walk out basement and the furnace, wood pile etc.) I purchased two tubular steel "stock" gates at Tractor Supply.. 10 feet long ea. I sunk separate gate posts for the stock gates and hung them (that was today).
Eventually, when the ground settles around the gate posts I will pour a bit of concrete around them so the gates hang a bit nicer.. and I will install another small man pass down by the stream.
So.. in three weeks nights and weekends after work.. I put up 220 feet of split rail fence, 450 feet of 4 foot high welded wire on 70 Steel T posts (all driven by hand with a steel tube 'post pounder") and 220 feet of black vinyl coated wire over top of the split rail, two gate posts, 2 ten foot stock gates and 2 light 6 foot long chain link gates.
Could a dog get out of this yard? Yes. A determined dog could get in or out (fence is 4 feet tall). However, a dog would have to make a decision to get out and I never leave the dog out loose and unattended in the yard with me not around.
It is an extra layer of security. I have kennel runs if I go out and the dogs are in those.. but having the dogs in the kennel runs AND having the dogs iside a perimeter fence too is very nice.
By having the gates across the driveways it stops a lot of people from coming in and pestering you too. Friends and family will know to close the gate behind themselves (or leave it open if it is open). All others will likely see the gate as a barrier.
Yeah.. its not the "Kennedy Compound" but it is mine and already I am enjoying the business of having a fenced yard!
THE DOG FENCE IS UP!!! :clap2:
