Pardon the Silence
Irradiated by LabRat
Yesterday was a “no room to breathe” day. Today had some, but while I was wracking my brains for content that would fit into said space, Kang was working on her latest project. While I was hitting the science news feeds looking for something to say that someone else hadn’t already said better, she took about three years off my life by turning up at the front door, wagging cheerily. Fortunately for all involved, she was less interested in taking the neighborhood tour than she was in investigating all the places rabbits had ever gotten away from her from the mysterious other side of the fence, and she responded reasonably well to a recall. (Followed by a hefty reward of cheese.)
Further investigation revealed both gates securely closed, all possible starts on a digging tunnel filled with gravel and rock as previously secured… and a place where she had simply ripped one of the cedar planks off the fence, as well as one more where she’d made a good start of it. Apparently, dogs don’t need to go to ingenious lengths of tunneling or gymnastic feats of climbing if they are strong enough to just tear the thing apart. This is a new fence, mind you- we put it in ourselves when we moved in a few years ago.
All planks are nailed back in place, as well as a fresh one nailed crossways for good measure over the weakest point, but really this is only a temporary solution. My first thought is invisible fencing inside the fence line- Kang would bull straight through a conventional invisible fence without flicking an ear, I have no doubt, but perhaps if it’s actually painful for her to be at the fence line, she won’t have time for demolition work.
I’d like to not have to go to that length, but at the moment I’m not coming up with better long-term options other than “never leave them out unsupervised ever”, which would nearly defeat the entire point of having built the damn thing in the first place.
ARRRRRGGGGHHH.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:26 pm
We had the same problem with Stormy - she didn’t care at all about invisible fencing (she’d stand ON THE FENCE LINE just to be difficult) and would dig/chew/tunnel through absolutely any physical barrier. We finally installed an electric horse fence around the lower perimeter of the fence using electrotape (basically flat rope that conducts electricity). You’ll need a charger, and it’s a good idea to keep it at a low voltage, but we had absolutely no breakout attempts short of the gate physically blowing open or something for a few years after we installed it. As an added bonus, deer and rabbits both absolutely hate the stuff, so they’ll stay out of the yard, if the akitas weren’t enough of a deterrent. If you decide to check out the idea and internet research doesn’t do it, let me know and I’ll ask my dad for specifics on installing it.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I feel your pain, Labrat. The escape isn’t the worst of it, either . . . the worst is, the dog(s) look so darn proud of themselves for figuring out how to escape! They really look as if they expect you to praise their ingenuity!
*Sigh*
July 31st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Wish I knew someone in your area to refer you to. This is the kind of thing that electronic training collars are very good for - but… you need to work with someone who really knows what they’re doing.
I have used them to train mine not to pee in specific parts of our yard (like herb and veggie beds) and not to go beyond unfenced boundaries. While it requires much more attention and effort in the beginning - the nice thing about a collar - as opposed to a fence - is that you can take it with you hiking, on vacation, to visit family, etc. The collar is also a lot kinder than a fence.
Contrary to popular, politically correct notions (rolls eyes) - you do not need to shock the living bejeezus out of a critter to train it electronically. Proper application of low to moderate levels are kinder and have much better long-term effectiveness.
August 1st, 2009 at 6:08 am
Chain link, perhaps? To keep the dog away from the fence?
August 1st, 2009 at 7:54 am
Or a hot wire.
August 1st, 2009 at 12:41 pm
What you need are HurriQuake Nails. They’re designed to resist pulling out or breaking under 170 mph winds and earthquakes. They should hold up against a dog.
Then, you just have to hope the wood itself holds…
August 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Bolts, large-area washers, locknuts? Unless they can mangle the boards themselves, you should be ok until they figure out crescent wrenches.
Jim
August 1st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
As you may know, little Ataika is not let out in the yard unsupervised because if she gets bored she leaps the 8- foot wood fence (or strolls along the 3/4 inch top like a mountain goat).
None of the others have ever tried. We just got used to it- rather hard to make a hot wire at the top because all she’d do would be to leap down on the wrong side anyway. She has no other behavioral issues- just a strong will.
Smartdogs- I thought of the collar but knowing her I’m reasonably sure she would soon figure out it only hurt with the collar on!
August 4th, 2009 at 7:09 am
My old dog, Scalawag, did that to us more times than I can count. We moved in, he dug out. We put mesh and concrete down so he couldn’t dig, he climbed the damn fence. I couldn’t figure out how he was getting out until I happened to look out one night and watched him climb/scramble all the way up! So, we put a lip on the top of the fence to prvent that. Two weeks pass, we feel pretty good about outsmarting the dog, I’m playing catch with him, I accidentally overthrow the fence. He goes through the freaking fence! Through it. Cedar planks nothing. I think I actually threw my hands up and said, “I give up!” Finally ended up with almost as many 4×4’s as actual fence boards. No wonder I am old and gray prematurely.