My dog is super adventurous, and that’s why he loves to do everything – especially the things which I don’t want him to do. For example, I tell him not to chew my charger lead, he does exactly the same. I tell him that he’s not allowed to sleep on my bed, and he slides under the sheets as soon as I changed into my pajama bottom.
It’s strange to mention, but it’s also his naughty behavior that makes me love him even more, and that’s the very reason why I never tried so hard to correct him.
However, it’s also a fact that this transgression is only bearable within my property, and I can’t stand that if my dog becomes a hassle for my neighbors or other animals around. Sadly, it took quite a long to make my doggie understand this rule since every time I took him out in the yard, the ran toward the fence, trying to climb to the other side.
Over time, his growling and barking also got intensified, signaling that I needed to find a solution quickly. Since I have a wrought iron fence installed around my yard, I couldn’t replace it.
Some dog owners suggested covering the fence with plastic mesh fence but it turned out that my dog is not only super adventurous but also a great chewer.
Thus, after researching for several days and trying a dozen of different techniques, I finally found something actually helpful to keep my dog in the iron fencing. So today, I’m going to reveal those tactics that helped me to keep my dog within my boundary.
How Can You Keep Your Dog in a Wrought Iron Fence?
It’s alarming to note that, according to a survey, more than 10 million animals are lost every year, due to their owners’ negligence.
Keep in mind that dogs are probably the most intelligent animal out there, and they can be insanely creative – especially when it comes to escape. That’s also the very reason why keeping a dog in the fence is so difficult – because they always find a way to cross it.
For example, if you install a tall fence, your pooch will make tunnels beneath the fence to escape. On the other hand, if you install your wrought iron fences close to the ground, he will jump over them. And if none is possible, he’ll try to squeeze his ass off through the gaps, present between your fence pickets.
Therefore, you need to block all the ways through which he can flee, to ensure your dog’s safety and containment. No doubt that proper training can stop your dog from jumping the fence but still, his rebellious mode can get activated anytime so it’s wise to stay prepared for it by making the dog fence secure, using the following tips:
Make Sure That Your Wrought Iron Fence Is Tall Enough
Most dogs can jump about three times higher than their heights, and if your dog is young and fit, he can jump even higher. Therefore, make sure your wrought iron fence is tall enough to deter your dog from climbing it. And how much tall is considered tall enough?
Well, it’s different for different dog breeds. If you have a labrador, golden retriever, or a husky, then your iron fence should be at least 5-6 feet tall. Don’t feel revealed by your pup’s small size because a puppy reaches adulthood and grows into a big dog just within 6 months. Therefore it’s better to get prepared beforehand.
On the other hand, if you’ve moved into a house with pre-installed iron fences that are not tall enough, you better extend them using L-footers, lean-in, trellis, toppers, or extra railing to make your fences higher.
To reinforce his climbing instincts, install a small gate and cover the remaining perimeter with the best wireless dog fences. This will make your pet understand that he should only use the gate to go out and remain within the designated invisible fence.
Look for the Gaps in the Fence
In addition to being a good jumper, dogs are also super flexible and can squeeze through the small gaps present between your fence bars. Generally, the gaps of 2-3 inches are considered sufficient to keep your dog in, but if the distance between rods is more than three inches, you should consider filling in these gaps.
For this, you can opt for chicken wire mesh and hardware cloth, but only if your dog is not a chewer.
In other cases, you’d need to think of a more serious solution to fill in the additional space between the bars, like attaching a sheet of chain link fence to your wrought iron fence’s base or installing wood or metal rods between the pickets to reduce the space between them.
Bury the Fence Properly
Dogs love digging holes underneath the fence when they are bored, lured by a smell, or catching prey. This constant digging not only puts your dog’s security at risk but also makes your iron fence weak and unstable. Therefore, it’s important to bury the fence properly and firmly into its place at the very first point.
For this, make sure that your fence is buried under the ground to about 2 feet. If possible, add horizontal bars and welded wire to discourage digging behavior further. In the end, secure the entire fence line by pouring concrete along the fence perimeter.
Fill the Bottom of the Fence
It’s not only your pets, but sometimes, other burrowing animals can also dig around the fence, making a tunnel underneath the concrete post. If you have a small dog or a puppy, covering the damage gets even more important because this tunnel will be wide enough for your pooch to flee.
Before moving towards the solution, let’s recall the prevention tips so these burrowing animals couldn’t dig holes around your fences at the first point. For this, it’s best to measure the fence and buy one large sheet of chicken wire accordingly. Then, simply roll it around your fence’s bottom.
Sometimes, the contractors fold the chicken wire around the bottom while installing the fences, but over time, this sheet may get loosened. If that’s the case, jam tight this sheet in its place with wire and cover it with the rocks and soil.
Soil erosion may also make the gap more prominent so edge your fence line with decorative bushes and shrubs to prevent erosion.
Are Wrought Iron Fences Sturdy?
Yes, the wrought iron fence is the sturdiest fencing option out there and there’s no second opinion in it. Experts confirm that wrought iron is most difficult to cut and penetrate, and that’s why it’s ideal to maintain high security.
Most importantly, the wrought iron is least prone to weather damage and can absorb a lot of shocks and vibrations to last a lifetime, looking as fresh as new.
Another interesting fact about wrought iron fencing is that breaks or cracks tend to occur slowly in this fencing option. Resultantly, these fences will give you several warnings before falling, unlike other dog fences.
How Much Does a Wrought Iron Fence Cost?
Considering the sturdiness of wrought iron fences, we can’t expect them to be the cheapest fencing option, but the good thing is that they are not the most expensive either.
The overall cost of a wrought iron fence depends on several factors, such as your yard’s size, different types of wrought iron, the height and width of your fence, fence thickness, and finishing. Generally, to cover an average-sized property with this fencing option, it will cost you around $2000-$4000.
However, for more decorative fences, with detailed design, or for fences taller than 5-6 feet, it may cost around $7000-$8000.
Note that we are only putting down the cost of the fence. You should add installation charges and the cost of extra services too, before locking the deal. However, if you want to install the fence yourself, calculate the cost of equipment and materials to draw an estimate.
Some of the Benefits of a Wrought Iron Fence
There are plenty of benefits one may unlock after having a wrought iron fence installed around his house. Some of these benefits are as follows:
Durable
Do you know that wrought iron fencing is also called hundred-year fencing? Well, that’s only due to its incomparable durability.
Indeed, they are not as resilient against rot and rust as aluminum or dog-eared fences, but if maintained properly, they can endure an incredible level of physical and chemical trauma without getting damaged or deformed.
Low Maintenance
As mentioned before, wrought iron fences don’t deform or damage under environmental or physical pressure, and that’s why maintaining them to look as new as original is also quite easy. All the upkeep it needs is a fresh coat of paint and rust protection solution, once a year.
Keeps Your Dog Safe
With a wrought iron fence, you don’t have to struggle for finding the answer to questions like how to dog proof fence since it doesn’t matter how sharp teeth your canine friend has, he can never chew the wrought iron bars ever.
Some of these fences also come with different designs and decorative spears which keep your dog from climbing over them, making him stay inside, even when you are not around to supervise.
Adds Value to Your Home
Wrought iron fencing looks luxurious, and that’s why they add so much perceived value to your property. Estate agents believe that the iron fencing increases the visual appeal of every property, making it look more secure, durable, and lavish. In this way, it’s a sort of investment that keep generating profit, generation after generation.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has helped to answer how to keep dog in wrought iron fence by outlining some potential solutions for you!
It doesn’t matter how creative your dog is, he couldn’t outperform a human brain when it comes to thinking out of the box. I used 100% of my brain (even though scientists say that a human uses only 10% of his brain, throughout his life) to find out these most effective, easy-to-pull-on, and affordable ways to keep a dog in the wrought iron fence.
If you have any other ideas which you think can be employed, let us know in the comments!
