Increasing fence height ready for a home check - advise

[JulesRules]

As you may know from my post yesterday we recently lost our little chap.

I have been in touch with a rescue about getting another dog and we were discussing the home check that we will need. I have been advised that our fence needs to be 6ft all round which I think is fairly standard for most rescues.

However, we have open countryside at the end of our garden and don't want to lose our view. The fence posts are about 3 ft and concreted in and replacing them would be a major job. We were thinking of using a chain link fence or similar to increase the height so we can still see through it, but I'm not sure how we can secure it without replacing the post with taller ones.

I was just wondering whether anybody has any experience of doing something similar? Anyone got any ideas?

We also have a standard height 5 bar gate between the garden and the drive. Will we need to make this higher too?

All advise welcome as I much prefer to give a home to a rescue dog. We didn't live in this house when we got Spike so it wasn't an issue last time I had a home check. Our current home is much more suitable for keeping a dog, but I don't want to fail the home check due to the fencing.

Thanks

 

[*Whinney*]

I suggest some aluminium rod or tube 1.5 - 2 metre length.

You can get 4 metres of 1" ali bar here for £53

http://www.metals4u.co.uk/aluminium/round/1-diameter/detail.asp?prd_id=328

Fix each one vertically to the current posts using brackets similar to this, try somewhere like Wickes, Travis Perkins etc. These ones are called conduit saddles. You should be able to get quite a few for not too many pounds. Try the Screwfix website too.

Fix the poles to the concrete posts then tension your chain link between them using whatever fixings are normally used.

Oh, just found this for £153.

http://www.weld-mesh.com/fencing/fe..._POSTS/10175?gclid=CP7H7JG3yr8CFcbJtAodcAwAAg

Eta - meant to say good luck and so sorry to read about your loss.

 

[AmyMay]

We only have a small dog - so boundary hight isnt a problem, however digging underneath is

 

[Clodagh]

Stupid thing is, unless you get a lurcher or a husky most dogs wouldn't jump over 4'. Rescues to annoy me! (sorry, off topic).

 

[frankie7]

Seems an odd request (for the rescue) surely it depends on the dog. My husky mix could easily get over a 6ft fence when she was younger, the JRT would go under so they were supervised in the garden.....

 

[lexiedhb]

Mine would defo jump 5ft given the right encouragement, like a cat on next doors shed!!! And hes a staff x! Think whinney has it right.....

 

[TGM]

We were faced with this problem years ago - it was impossible to refence the whole garden for various reasons, so we fenced off a small dog area with six foot trellis which actually looked quite attractive and was found to be satisfactory with the rescue.

 

[JulesRules]

Thanks Peeps. I'm now panicking that we go out and spend lots of time and money on fencing and they fail us anyway due to wanting to leave the dog home alone for a couple of hours or having a cat or something, having read a few stories on here :-0

The dog we are looking at is a bit bigger and livelier than Spike so I guess there is a chance she might jump a fence. I could have left the gate open and Spike wouldn't have gone anywhere - he knew which side his bread was buttered

 

[Spring Feather]

My fenced in area behind my house is almost 8ft tall. One of my dogs gets over it no problem. I can't make it any higher and I don't want to or it will look like Fort Knox! Most dogs cannot get over 8ft fences, most won't even try to get over 6ft fences. I don't know if you can get these in the UK, I suspect you can, they are galvanised pole holders that you screw into the posts (concrete or wooden) then you place galvanised poles into the holders. This can increase the height of the fencing. Then you'd have to buy tall chainlink and strain it all the way along. The pole-extensions will hold the extra height of chainlink. Might not look fantastic but it is doable. And as to you going out for a couple of hours every day, I'd be inclined to not mention that ...

 

[2Greys]

I don't agree with lying to the rescue about your situation, how can they match you with a suitable dog that way? You could end up with a dog that struggles to cope being left & have to return it.
If you are turned down by one rescue there's plenty of other's to try and they all have their own policies, some are more flexible regarding working hours & boundary height, though if you can alter, it will give more choice in rescues & suitable dogs

My friends Parson Russell is an escape artist & they had to increase the boundary height to about 6ft keep him in. Small dogs can be more athletic than larger ones so shouldn't be under estimated.

 

[JulesRules]

We will be honest with the rescue. Its important to us to find the right dog, not just any dog.

I decided to email to ask them to visit and advise and then come back after we have sorted through fence. Hopefully they won't mind as they will know we are serious about taking a dog.

 

[SpringArising]

Stupid thing is, unless you get a lurcher or a husky most dogs wouldn't jump over 4'. Rescues to annoy me! (sorry, off topic).

Yes, me too. What do they think you're planning on adopting, a kangaroo?

 

[Leo Walker]

I grew up with Irish Setter one of whom would regularly scale the 6 foot fencing. I currently have whippety lurchers who will jump full up post and rail out walking but wouldnt dream of being so rude as to hop over my 3 foot fence

 

[planete]

Border collies can also jump five-bar gates with ease. You cannot blame a rescue for making sure the dog they are placing is going to be in as safe a situation as possible. I found out an applicant was lying about having their own dog vaccinated and about the state of their fencing. Sorry, no dog. The applicant will probably go and play russian roulette with another dog but not one I have carefully brought back to health and rehabilitated.

 

[JulesRules]

Yeay, the rescue came over and had a look. They have advised us to increase the fence in a couple of areas, but were very sensible... then we are good to get our new dog

 

[PorkChop]

Great news - lucky dog to be

 

[splashgirl45]

good news. of course we will need pics when you get your new dog...