split rail fence with wire mesh for dog fencing...

[islgrl]

My plan is to put up a split rail fence and have wire mesh attached for the dog’s yard. She will not be outside if we aren’t home, its just to keep her contained if we are outside in the yard, and as a back-up in case she were to slip out the door if someone comes to walk her. What kind of wire fencing would work for this? Chicken wire doesn’t seem substantial enough but I don’t see her challenging the fence so it doesn’t need to be super strong. I also want something that will be easy to attach to the split rail…

Thoughts?

[talkofthetown]

What kind of dog? If she’s small, I would guess chicken wire would be fine as long as you stretch it nice and tight. The next biggest option would be field fence, wouldn’t it?

[My_Two_Cents]

if she’s creative she will be able to slip under the chicken wire. It bends pretty easy even when stretched tight. Field fence would be over kill. Maybe something like this? http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/welded-wire-48-in-x-100-ft?cm_vc=-10005

[Sail_Away]

We used tot and lot wire up on our split rail when we were in our first house. There were overgrown trees planted as a hedge so that kind of kept them from going near the fence. You have to make sure that the seams are securely held together and that you stake down the wire at intervals.

We did have a few issues with it and won’t do it again, but it worked well enough at the time and with the dogs we had.

[ponysaurus]

One of my beagles would climb a wire fence like a ladder and then walk the top of the wooden fence rail like a tightrope.:eek: If she’s not a hound type, though, you’re probably OK.

[islgrl]

[QUOTE=ponysaurus;8843886]
One of my beagles would climb a wire fence like a ladder and then walk the top of the wooden fence rail like a tightrope.:eek: If she’s not a hound type, though, you’re probably OK.[/QUOTE]

Good lord, lets hope she doesn’t do that! I do not believe she is going to be trying to get out. The fence is meant as basic impulse control if she sees a person walking down the road or, god help us, a squirrel… I truly believe she will not work hard to get thru (over/under) a fence…

[islgrl]

[QUOTE=Sail Away;8843872]
We used tot and lot wire up on our split rail when we were in our first house. There were overgrown trees planted as a hedge so that kind of kept them from going near the fence. You have to make sure that the seams are securely held together and that you stake down the wire at intervals.

We did have a few issues with it and won’t do it again, but it worked well enough at the time and with the dogs we had.[/QUOTE]

Sail Away - what issues did you have?

[Sail_Away]

[QUOTE=islgrl;8843942]
Sail Away - what issues did you have?[/QUOTE]

My EC found where we didn’t secure the seams. He was oversized for being an EC and he was able to squeeze through a tiny flap. He didn’t run away thankfully (he was definitely one that stuck close to home). Also, when we got a new neighbor, my Gordon Setter and their Siberian Husky became good friends. At first the would rest their legs on the top rail, squishing the wire top down, and play but then my Gordon started to hop over. The Gordon did have to push his way through some branches but it became worth it to him.

We did end up moving (not because of that) so our next house got real (5’) black chain link. If we had stayed, we would have had to have done something else besides that wire setup.

ETA: Not so much the wire was an issue but it was a very low fence.

[DoubleDown]

We just built out fence for our Boxer with cattle panels and a top rail. Really like the way it looks, and it’s a bit taller than the usual 4’. Like http://milescityacehardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/sheryls-fence-2.jpg

However since we’ve built the fence, we acquired a a chihuahua mix who things the larger holes are a game for him to thread his way through! We’ll go back through with hardware clothe to fix him. Waiting to see if he gets a bit bigger than his current 8lbs