Fencing

is that construction fencing strong enought for a grown dog?

http://www.easyfencerental.com/FencePages/EasyFence.html

i can get it used for $85 a 6' x 10' panels out of the Heavy Equipment Auto Trader, figured i need 16 panels to build 3 pens

seems expensive tho! considering i would have to make a concrete footing to make sure they don't dig out and i have to put a roof on it!

i was going for (3) 10' x 10' pens

 

thats cheap buck id go for it....

 

I have a couple of the heavy duty kennels look just like that. i got em at local lumber yard for 400 for a 10x10 and that had a gate and shade top plus the ones i got are "petsafe" powdercoated.

 

For that price i would rather them have been chain link. I've seen the welds break on the smaller gauge stuff, then it just falls to pieces. What gauge is the welded wire?

 

i like the chain link and i have a few 12x12 but only use em if the dog is on a chain inside. My dogs grab it and just tear it apart. they cant get a hold of the welded wire.

 

o and i would never use a chain link again for a puppy.

 

not sure but i will ask the guy , didn't thing they would chew it , its for the pups till they get to 5 months old or so , and welping bitches, primarly tho!

 

I would be careful using construction fencing. If you can, put on a work-glove and grab hold of the wire somewhere at dog-level down near the bottom and a little above. If you can squeeze/twist/deform the wire even a little bit I would say pass if you intend on using it as "secure kennel material" for a strong, heavy, or determinded dog.
The down-side with that stuff with construction panels is that the spaces are generally a little too wide/long, so unauthorized muzzles can often get beyond the barrier-and you don't want that. A lot of times, dogs can just weaken and break the wire/welds down just by rubbing along it while scratching-and you don't want that either.

The up-side is that if it is that if you can get them cheaply enough, they fit together tightly/easily, stand in the ground well and can make good "play-run" material in a situation with non-climbers and pups small enough not to break wire/big enough not to fit through the gaps. But, you have to keep watch because the wire probably won't hold anything back for long should dogs that don't get along accidentally meet at the fence and things go wrong.

If you can get an especially good deal, you can invest extra and re-cover the frames with more appropriate/heavier guage wire. Lacing/attaching a few strands of heavy guage reinforcing wire from a roll (the stuff they use at the top and bottom of heavy duty chain link fences) or hog panels along the bottom can also help bulldog up the security factor. Plus, they make good kennel tops for the right sized kennels.

 

I was thinking it would be good to have 3 pens for the pups and expecting bitches. I could always plywood the bottom 4' of the pen (including the door) with 1'' plywood(with full 4'x 8' sheets) all round. Each pen.

i don't see having them in it too long till the pups reach 5 monthes or so.

I still bring the pups in at night till about this age and i can set up a 10 x 10 easily in the shop at night for them. Just gets cool around hear at night. And the bugs would carry them away here!:rolleyes: kind of a swampy area around use.

 

That sounds like a plan. You probably would't even need ply that thick. Plus, your method would have the added benefit of keeping wind/eyes off your pups and stress down for expecting bitches . Just don't forget a proper, safe outdoor paint and half inch of ground clearance for the wood to keep it from wicking moisture from the ground and going to ruin in short order. I'd still be a little extra careful with an especially determined bitch, but frankly, you've given me food for thought with the wood around the bottom idea. I've been looking for a way to build some convenient winter runs and now I realize that with the addition of some heavy plastic sheeting, a few tarps and well sloped roof-your idea might work for me. Thanks.