Sunny's Story

Sunny was that perfect dog. Not only was she a fantastic obedience dog, heeling off-leash before she was 4 months old, she was a natural hunter, fantastic with children, loved to visit nursing homes and curl up at your feet at home. I rarely had the need to put a leash on her, and only did when walking along a very busy road, just in case. She was highly trained and I never had to worry about her.

We moved to Maine the spring of 2007. While there is a fairly fast road, the house is up on a hill and we have well over two hundred acres of field and woods surrounding us, not all ours. One morning in late November Sunny and I went out to feed my mare like usual. Sunny was right by my side as I measured out grain, but it didn't worry me when she walked out of the barn. She had only left my sight perhaps 30 seconds, and I called her back as I wanted to go back inside. She didn't come. I was getting annoyed, how unlike her to not come when called! Finally, after seeing she was not in the back field I walked down my long driveway to the road and saw a sight I never want to see again. A police officer and two other men were dragging her off the road. She had been hit by a utility truck and never stood a chance. The dog who never left my side, died only moments after leaving it for the first time.

I tell this story here, as I cannot count how many times I have been told that a person's previous dog never left their yard, and they are sure they will train their new puppy to do just the same. They have over an acre after all! Sunny had well over a hundred, and WAS trained and it still happened. Invisible fences aren't much better than no fence either, at least not for the Brittany. I know far more dogs who have run right through them (and then they don't come back) than I know who never have. This breed is smart, and a very driven hunting dog. Even if not trained to hunt, a Brittany's instinct is to find game and their prey drive will cause them to chase it if it runs. Invisible fencing requires a shock collar to work. Yes, for many breeds eventually you no longer need one but not the Brittany. They will know the moment it isn't on, because this breed is constantly testing what they can get away with. And if you do plan on keeping a live shock collar on your dog for his entire life, ask yourself why you want a dog in the first place.

 

The Solution

I understand that fencing can be quite expensive, but it doesn't have to be. I have quite a large area fenced off and between the fencing, stakes, lumber for my large gate, cement, and posts it cost me $500. $500 to keep my dogs safe and a place to play without worry. Compared to the costs of veterinary fees to save your dog if he lives through an accident, or the heartache if he doesn't, $500 is nothing.

What you will need:

	Lengths of 6' tall welded wire fencing (5' if you cannot get it)
	7' steel t-posts (6' if using 5' fencing)
	T-post driver
	Wire clips
	Yellow plastic tent stakes (this type works by far the best)

Optional:

• 2 pressure treated wooden posts
• 2X4 lumber
• Cement
• Round concrete forms
• Shovel
  

The first thing you need to do is decide where you want your fencing. I highly recommend having it come off your house. Not only does this give you more area, but it makes letting your dog out so much easier! You want to place a stake as close to the building as possible if you do this. When it comes time for rolling out the fencing you will wrap it around that stake and attach it to the building using U-shaped nails.

Place each stake roughly 5-6 feet apart, no more than 7, and drive well into the ground using the driver. If you are adding a gate, take that into account. I recommend at least cementing your wooden posts into the ground before stretching the fencing.

This second part you will need a extra hand. It is important to try and stretch the fencing as tightly as possible from post to post. One person on either side will make it easier to put the clips on. We used a pair of pliers each and it went fairly quickly. Make sure to have the fencing as tight to the ground as you can at this point.

When the fencing is completed your next step is to take your tent stakes and place them 2-3 each section driving them firmly into the ground all the way, making sure to catch the edge of the fence. This will prevent weak areas your wily dog can squeeze through. Eventually a thin edge of grass will grow there helping to that effect as well.

You're done! A small note if adding a gate; either place cement blocks inground below the gate, or give your gate a wooden bottom. If I were to change one thing on mine this would be it. I suspected that would be the case but my "help" was strongly against it. Now it's just ugly, badly placed cement blocks added afterward to prevent my lovely dogs from digging out!

Happy dogs!