Yeah, this is a tired subject but I really DO need advice.
The last fence we built was a 7' suburbia privacy deal /w lattice on top–It's been great for the dogs & looks good, too. But expensive and very hard work.
Now I'm moving from the Middle of Nowhere to the Ends of the Earth: a half acre on the edge of a massive county forest, no nieghbours for miles. I'm not as young (or wealthy!) as I once was, and won't have family or friends nearby to help.
My question to those of you in more rural areas: Is there any type of tall & inexpensive wire livestock fence that B's won't climb like ladders? Or any way to rig the top of chain link (safely, no barbed wire obviously!) so they can't get over the top if they climb? Maybe a circular plastic topper their claws would slip on when they got to the top? I'm looking for 100% containment.
I'd like to securely fence my entire property so they can run around while I garden etc. and I don't have to worry about someone getting out. I'd like to keep critters OUT, too--I don't want to worry about them encountering a skunk or racoon if I let them out after dark. If you have any suggestions for building board fences easier or more inexpensively, I'm open to that as well.
Thanks in advance!
Check into deer fencing. It should prevent climbing, and if it doesn't or isn't sturdy enough I would back it up with invisible fence, (will also prevent digging out) or even good old electric fence for stock….....also good to use partway up a climbable fence.......make sure the regular fence is grounded, and the dog will learn the fence "bites". I wouldn't want to use this at the top of a very high fence, as the dog will likely take a tumble when he hits it!
Another option would be electric goat fencing, which is a mesh fence. Trust me, if a goat isn't going through it neither is a Basenji! Something like this might work:
http://www.kencove.com/fence/Electric+Net+Fencing_detail_NP7G.php
There is also this alternative:
http://www.bestfriendfence.com/dog-fencing-info.asp
I haven't used any of these personally, and my guy is a climber. I did put PVC pipe on the top of my wire fence, and that tends to deter him, but I would not trust this guy without supervision…....unlike my last four that were no problem with climbing, or digging, for that matter. If I had to leave him unsupervised, I would likely use invisible fence as a back up to the physical fence, as he is familiar with shock collars and would stay away from it once he figured out the boundaries.
A little off topic, but "scat mats" work well for counter surfers or for keeping dogs out of rooms if they tend to go over baby gates.....
I have posted this before. It's essential that our Basenjis are contained because we have sheep. Our fence has an extension on the top which swivels. It slopes inward so that when the B looks up he/she can only see the barrier fence directly above his head.
Should the Basenji still attempt to climb he will find the top fence moves as a swivel We've been on this property for over 25 years and not had a Basenji escape over the fence.
Patty,
do you have a pic? I'd love to see.
I have field fencing and a dog-strength hot wire inside my fencing. (It is not invisible) This works well for me and mine, but my dogs are not outside unattended.
I've heard that a 45degree angle inward Is enough to stop any cat from climbing over a fence…(heard on animal planet- my cat from hell)..so I imagine it would absoloutely keep a basenji in
Does the inward angle stop other creatures from getting in? Coyotes & foxes may or may not be a problem–there are lots in the county forest, but probably well fed.
Does anyone have experience with "coyote rollers" or a DIY version thereof?
I would think they would be similar to what I did with PVC pipe, but you are trying to deter a critter from getting in, not out, so position accordingly. Of course, coyotes are good jumpers, so your fence would have to be high enough. The inward angled top might make it a bit more difficult, but really, a "V" top would be best if you are trying to prevent fence climbing from both sides. Of get your Bs their very own "livestock protection dog". 
The B's do have a nanny dog, a blue heeler/shepherd X but she's semi-retired and getting sick of our antics: these days if I ask her to check up on one of her B siblings she sighs & rolls her eyes instead of jumping to her feet and charging off to bark a toilet paper thief into submission. She might actually cheer the coyote on instead of chasing him away.
I tried to photograph but it doesn't really give the idea. No I assume it might not stop an animal from outside but I think that probably the swinging of the top fence would deter. We did have a LPD (a Kangal) but sadly she died some years ago. We all (Basenjis too) miss her dearly.
I have used the Field fencing (I think it is called Fabric Wire mesh or fencing), whatever the first link that eeefarm posted. I have not had a problem with it yet. We have about half an acre fenced in with it and plan on doing the rest of the acreage (probably another 1.5 acres) for the dogs either this fall or next spring. You can get it cheapest at Peavy Mart in Canada. I will try to get a picture of it for you. It is 1"x 2" squares.
@krunzer Did you install it yourselves? And is there any chance a B would be able to climb the 1"x2" mesh? I'm worried I'll spend a pile of $$$ on fencing and the opening size would be too big, and they'll climb it like a ladder. My DH says "Just bite the bullet & install 6' board fencing" but of course they aren't his dogs so he's not paying…and of course, he'll be the first one to say I Told You So if livestock fencing doesn't contain them.
The 45degree angle will only stop creatures from getting in on the side it's angled…you could potentially create a Y at the top of the fence so both sides have the 45degree angle...I'm really not familiar with rural fencing but Im doing some research myself since you brought up the topic
We installed it ourselves. We had some round fence posts already in the ground and used some 6 foot green metal posts inbetween those to make sure that we had enough support. We used metal staples into the round fence posts. I do have to say though that my dogs are NOT climbers. If you make the bottom tight and the top a little bit looser I don't think they will like the feeling of the fence bending and moving and try not to climb. But that is just a thought….. You could maybe run an independant line half-way up, hook it to a battery with a solar panel and run a low voltage through it, even on each side to keep other animals from coming in.
Yodelma, I don't blame you…my ex would have said the same...damned if you do and damne if you don't! My two cents is this: I know I would worry,worry worry all the time if the fencing wasn't secure and for me it would be worth the peace of mind to spend the difference. The worst thing will come if you get the fencing and the first time you let them out your standing there watching and worrying thinking " I can't believe I'm worrying about this!"
Before we erected the top swinging fence Bungwa got out several times and did some damage to my sheep. Afterwards he soon gave up trying. We us pig netting for our fences which is a rectangular holed wire. Pig netting is a loose netting and our Basenjis feel very insecure when they try to climb it.
@Krunzer, Which Peaveymart? I tried to find it in their catalogue, but all they have is wire mesh. We hope to do Cricket's back yard next year, but if I can find this now, I'll get it!
@Krunzer, Which Peaveymart? I tried to find it in their catalogue, but all they have is wire mesh. We hope to do Cricket's back yard next year, but if I can find this now, I'll get it!
I think it is called Wire Mesh or something similar to that….I wanted to say wire fabric though. We got it in the PeavyMart here in Grande Prairie.
