Guide to dog fences > new fences to keep dogs IN > barrier fences
NEW FENCES TO KEEP DOGS IN: BARRIER FENCES
Guide to Barrier Fences: The Basics
One can create elegant and affordable barrier dog fences with polypropylene fencing (products 14-00 and 14-01) or metal hexagrid fencing (products 14-08, 14-09, 14-10, 14-15, and 14-16). The polypropylene (less expensive but also less elegant and enduring than the metal hex) is black and comes in 4 and 6 foot heights, while the metal hex (also black) comes in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-foot heights.
If you are worried about digging, get the metal hex (essentially small-gauge chicken wire with one-inch mesh and a black PVC coating), fold the bottom foot inward toward the dog, and stake this one-foot width down with a ground stake (product 18-01) every four feet. Alternatively, run an electrified wire a short distance off the ground (see Electrifying a Barrier Fence).
For posts use green painted U-posts (products 09-31 and 09-32), heavier green or galvanized T-posts (products 09-19 thru 09-23 and 09-19A thru 09-23A), or galvanized round posts painted black to match the fencing—round posts that come with 2.5-foot drive sleeves and caps (products 15-03E1 and 15-03E2). One can also use wood posts obtained locally. Irrespective of their type, these posts should go 1.5 to 2 feet into the ground. If the posts are thick, the soil is heavy, and one needs to worry about frost heaves, then they should go deeper (below the frost line).
Place your posts 10 to 20 feet apart (closer spacing makes for a tighter fence). If they are metal posts, secure the fencing to them with heavy UV-resistant black zip-lock ties (product 17-06), using 3-5 ties per post. If they are wooden posts, secure the fencing to them with U-nails (product 17-02), employing 3 to 5 U-nails per post. If using round posts (products 15-01E or 15-01E2) apply one zip-lock tie every foot and a half; then put a brace band (product 15-12) at the top of each post and secure the fencing to it with a zip-lock tie (product 17-06) to prevent the fencing from slipping down the post. Another handy tool is a drive cap (product 15-03C) , which is used to install the drive sleeves that come with the round posts without damaging the sleeves.
If your fence is tall (5 feet or more) and there is a real chance of heavy snow loads or falling branches, consider protecting your corner, end, and gate posts against sideways stress. If using wooden posts, you can do this by setting your corner, end, and gate posts deep (at least 3 feet) and bracing them. If using metal posts, you can set the corner, end, and gate posts in cement footings. To further strengthen these posts, insert earth anchors (product 16-11) at points opposing any sideways stress and connect them to the tops of the posts involved with a heavy wire such as product 02-07HT1 (see drawings below).
If you are using wooden posts, it will be helpful to put a rail along the top of the fence that matches the post material. If you are using metal posts, it’s a good idea to run a line of 11-gauge nylon monofilament cable (product 16-01) along the top of the fence to support it from above. The nylon line resists UV radiation well and is reasonably durable, having an expected life of 5 to 10 years. Either the wire or the nylon cable can be connected to the fence with zip-lock ties (about one tie for every foot and a half of fence), and the whole run can be anchored to end or corner posts with U-bolt cable clamps and can be drawn tight with circular wire tensioners and a handle tool (see products 16-08, 16-09, and 16-10).*
If the fence is long (over 600 feet) it may be advisable to terminate the wire or cable at each corner with a U-bolt cable clamp in order to minimize future maintenance. However, if the fence is relatively short, one can get the cable or wire around the corner with a corner knob insulator (product 07-13A), which is secured to the corner post with a piece of wire.
To make a gate with polypropylene or metal hex dog fencing, use your own materials or get one of our convenient access gates that come with support posts and are offered in a series of heights to match your fence (3, 4, 5, or 6 feet, see products 19-02A, 19-02C, and 19-02D).
Product List
- Fence rolls (polypropylene products 14-00 and 14-01 or metal hexagrid products 14-08, 14-09, 14-10, 14-15, and 14-16)
- Fence Posts (U-posts, products 09-30, 09-31, and 09-32; T-posts, products 09-19 thru 09-23 and 09-19A thru 09-23A; or round posts with drive sleeves and caps, products 15-03E1 and 15-03E2)
- Fasteners: Barbed 1.25 inch galvanized steel U-nails (product 17-02), black heavy-duty Zip-lock ties (product 17-06), and brace bands for round posts (product 15-12)
- Top cable (product 16-01) and accessories (products 07-13A, 16-08 thru 16-10, and 17-06)
- Earth anchor and connecting wire (products 16-11 and 02-07HT1)
- Gates (products19-02A thru 19-02D )
- Ground stakes (product 18-01)
* This thick nylon line should be tightened with a daisy wheel tensioner and handle tool (products 16-09 and 16-10), should be run through a corner knob insulator (product 07-13A) at each corner, and should be attached to the fencing material every foot or so with zip-lock ties (product 17-06). Start by going to your first post, threading the nylon line through the eye of a little u-bolt cable clamp (product 16-08), running the line around the post, bringing it back the other way through the cable clamp, and tightening the clamp so that the nylon line is secured to itself and cannot move. If you come to a gate, terminate the run of nylon line with another u-bolt cable clamp and begin another run at the other side of the gate. Terminate the cable at the other end of the fence or at the post where you started (if the fence goes full circle) with another u-bolt cable clamp.