SWMBO and I compromised

[Epimetheus]

Looks like you have a wonderful new friend! I don't see any compromise there.

I might be able to lash the cedar fence to the chainlink fence with rope and solve the problem. Rope might loosen and is chewable.

I don't know. Advice?

Advice from a person that owns and has owned several Siberian Huskies, who are considered to be escape artists extraordinaire. Also a massive Malamute that could bull through stuff. We only let them cruise the back yard when we were home, awake, and could monitor them.

Use wire fencing to fill the gap. Your buddy will simply floss his teeth on rope and cable ties. Get a spool of 4 or 5 ft high welded fencing used for gardens. Double it over about 2 ft on a side, bend it into a long L. Fence-staple it to the wood every 4 to 6 inches. Wire it to the chain link every 4 to 6 inches with bits of wire you clip from the welded fence scraps. If your original fence is higher than the welded fence, create another doubled - over L section and lap it over until it reaches the top.

If your dog starts to dig underneath, add dig guards. Use the same 4 ft welded wire fencing. Cut it into convenient 6 or 8 ft lengths so you can manage it. Bend it into a loooong L, 2 ft on a side. Lay it on the ground and fasten the vertical portion to wood or wire fence every foot or so. The wire on the ground is very annoying to dogs' paws when they try to dig through it, and usually they stop. Usually

Extreme measures... electric livestock fence
Our Sibbies jumped over, dug under, and then simply pulled apart the welded wire fence. We added 2 strands of electric livestock wire, 6 inches and 18 inches high. The physical fence slowed them down. The electric fence popped them every 1 second and was totally annoying when they were engaged trying to bust through the welded wire. Yes, 3000 volts hurts. I tried it on myself first before my dogs. It stopped them until one of them pried loose a dig guard, folded it down, shorted out the electric fence, and dug under the shed to get the skunks.

BTW, the first AKC recognized Alaskan Malamute was named "Rowdy" because he was very, very calm.

 

[Beernik]

Thanks!

He can't dig under the cedar fence. There is concrete around the posts and concrete driveway on the other side of the fence.

I think I have some wire fence that I can make work with that kind of setup. I need to get bailing wire for doing the ties.

Cheers.

 

[mikescooling]

Dogs like to be part of things, meet new people, see new things, in general be part of the family. IMHO, don't stick him in the dog run by himself for too long. He will get board, and dig and freak out more than a dog than runs free in the house; and if he can't run free, than he is with you all the time. Everything you do with him is training, even if the lesson is that he is loved, that is the best lesson.

 

[chocotaco]

My family had a couple dogs when I was a lad. My parents used this book "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by some dog-raising monks. It worked great. The gist of it is:

1) Your family is The Pack.
2) The dog is the lowest member of The Pack, BUT
3) The dog is still a valued member of The Pack, and The Pack will always look after him/her.

Our beloved dog Selkie was raised this way; she never really tried to escape, and was fiercely loyal to her Pack. Cushing's disease eventually claimed her at age 12, but she was a lovely dog to the end. I named my Irish Red Ale "Selkie Smooth" after her (she was named after the Irish mythological Selkie because she looked a bit like a seal - black lab mix of some kind)

 

[sablesurfer]

I really makes me happy to see so many posts here that understand and care for dogs. It is desperate times out in the real world where 'we want a dog' turns into dog in back yard for 20 some hours out of a day. Last year, renters next to us would leave their dog out all night through snow storms. Granted it was a Newfoundland, but DAMN, take care of him and love him. Instead he was left to bark for hours and hours on end until I finally had to buy a sonic bark deterant to make him point away from house when he started up.

Sliante everyone! I will pour one of mine to toast you all when I get home.

 

[Beernik]

I've worked him up to a 1.5 mile walk. He gets a little tired towards the end of it.

Also it looks like he made a new way through the fence. My wife put him out there for a few minutes for his morning potty while she made our daughter breakfast.

I can replace the slats easily enough with some spares. But he'll still be able to bust through it again. I guess I'll be stapling the wire garden fence the whole length of the fence so he can't push on individual slats.

I have the feeling by the time I finish dog proofing the backyard it will be goat proof too. (I've thought about getting a goat in the past.)

 

[sablesurfer]

Goats! LOL....the GF threatens to get chickes all the time, I tell her I will retalliate with goats. They she says, "fine, but I will not milk them!"

 

[Beernik]

So this is what I'm working on.

Do you think it's better to screw the new bottom rail sandwiching the wire fence into the existing rail like I did the top or into the individual slats?

 

[Beernik]

I decided to go into the bottom of the slats with the new rail. And I used 16 gauge rebar wire ties to tie the wire fence to the chainlink fence.

I guess we shall see tomorrow morning if he decides to attack the gate next, push on the fence above the middle rail, or if I have won.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Better safe than sorry

 

[ChefRex]

Is he neutered? I had a Malamute mix, he found every weakness in my fence till he was fixed.

 

[Beernik]

I don't think he has balls.

I know he has separation anxiety.

 

[Dolomieu]

I don't think he has balls.

I know he has separation anxiety.

Peanut butter filled kongs when you leave. Thunder shirt also help with all forms of anxiety. Did winders for my MIL Boston terrier with respect to fire works and well thunder.

 

[MikePote]

I don't think he has balls.

I know he has separation anxiety.

Pretty funny.

Also, Nikola Tesla is one of my favorite historical figures. He has shaped our world and gets no credit in the history books.

 

[Beernik]

He did not break out this morning.

But I was outside unpacking my wife's car the whole time he was out there. She just got back from a 3 day road trip with the dog. So he could hear me moving around outside.

 

[Beernik]

Update:

It appears that I've won the battle of the fence. We can be gone for 3 or 4 hours without him trying to break out. But it does take about 15 minutes for him to settle down when we get back home.

My wife finally got him into our vet. Things the vet said:
- He's about 8 years old and his weight is 95lbs.
- His teeth are worn down because he was probably neglected at a puppy and was a big chewer because of it. (Also explains the seperation anxiety.)
- His rear legs aren't as developed as they should be. It may be because he has a hip problem on the right side. (I think it might also be because of the neglect.)
- his microchip ID was installed in his armpit. The vet recommended having a new one put in at the back of his head.

Next weekend we will see how he does with me brewing in the driveway all day. I'm looking forward to making him some spent grain treats.

 

[CUrchin]

I am down to one dog from two. One dog is good, two dogs, a bit much.

A bit of advice- You should probably let your insurance company know about your dog, but when you do, don't claim any knowledge of breed other than "mutt". We have a wonderful, well behaved mutt and I made the mistake of saying he might have some chow-chow in him when I was updating my insurance. The insurance company freaked out and almost dropped me. I had to get my vet to vouch for me.