Lynn
Posted : 10/23/2008 9:52:17 PM
Ok, I'm not getting that fence. I want to sincerly thank all of those with positive help. Jennie and Callie and some others have now convinced me that small dogs have a variety of absolutly amazing abilities. To think that JRT's - or pugs! - could do the things you described is amazing. You know, smaller dogs can be more *trouble* in some regards, apparently, than (smoe) bigger dogs can be! My taller guys have never even tried to jump up on a counter, and they have never gone over the 2 1/2' , yep 2 1/2' barricade keeping them out of the kitchen when I am not here. No jumping from my guys. But, the things you guys described in what your dogs did is something that was hard to imagine. I do believe you now, there appears to be plenty of evidence of the jumpers, and squeezer-thrus. But, really hard to imagine for someone who hasn't been around smaller dogs. Thank you for the education.
Janobonano and Callie brought up two excellent points. The collars getting stuck and the the hazards of the shorter spikes. I appreciate mentioning this possiblity b/c I had not at all considered either. The shorter spikes was supposed to be for keeping the puppies from squeezing thru, and I didn't notice the obvious of getting the head stuck and then being trapped with the point. Yep, that is clearly not a good idea. Thank you both very much for pointing this out as I had not considered either.
Mudpuppy and Janet Rose, yes I do like that fence. But, I want a more permanent type as this is in my front yard. I don't have a back yard. But, it is a good suggestion, and would certainly have been much cheaper.
There were several other people that were helpful as well, thank you as well.
For the person who thinks my dogs should 'hold it' until I get home b/c that is a sign of a 'housebroken' dog, well to that statement I say 'shame'. It is a type of cruelty to ask a dog to hold their urine for long lengths of time, and sets up the possiblity of bladder infections. Asking a dog to 'hold it' for 8-12 hours or more a day when I may need to be away from home that length is more than inconsiderate, in my opinion, and certainly in my dog's opinion as well. Even worse for smaller dogs. Don't give me that talk about the dogs get used to it and it doesn't bother them. When I get home after a 7 hour absence and my 45 lb is crying to get outside, and then pees for what seems like forever, well then, it is the person who is cruel to ask their dog to hold it longer, b/c gee, they are 'housebroken'. People should go to the bathroom before they leave for work,and not ever go to the bathroom until they get back home and see how it feels every single day. And, no, I will not withhold water just b/c my dogs may need to pee in another few hours. I'll apologize now, b/c I know this paragraph wasn't that friendly sounding. But as someone who has 'irritable' bladder, I take this 'holding your pee' think in a whole other light, and it really bothers me that people ask their dogs to do this (b/c it really hurts to hold a full bladder and I don't think most people really understand this and have unreasonable expectations of their dogs to never drink any extra water). So, yeah, if the dogs can go outside to pee on their own, and not be loose, then why wouldn't that be a good thing?
And, no, my dogs are not 'too much of a bother'.
Thank you for your helpful remarks and I appreciate you all teaching me how very suprising smaller dogs can be. Clearly, I will try and make a careful choice on which type of dog, exactly, it will be. For example, I adore JRT's, but I don't have the stamina to want to always be 'one-step' ahead. And as for Tink, she must be spring-loaded, 'cause again, never would I have dreamed she could do that! And a peke going thru a 3" space is also shocking - she must be all puffy hair! 
I am putting up a 4' fence around the dog area. But, *if* a dog does jump over the 4' fence, there will still be a 5' barrier fence around the yard. I am getting a straight, normal fence, with airspace of 3". Normal airspace is almost 4", so this does reduce it somewhat. If I ever do have a dog that is small enough to get thru this, then I can put up the fine, black mesh that is difficult to notice from a distance, but will be a barrier to the tiny dog getting out. I will endevour to find dogs that will be large enough that this won't be needed. But, there will be no spikes at the bottom, just straight metal going up, as that danger was so clearly pointed out (thank you again).
Thank you very much.