all about dogs

Manas best friend is one of the best companions a person can have in life. Theyare great for relieving stress and having a friend that will never abandon you. However, one place that Fido shouldnat go to is your friendly neighborhood trampoline. While funny to watch if itas not your dog, trampoline can be dangerous for the unsuspecting canine, and itas best to keep them away, but sometimes that can be easier said than done.

In my experience, dogs love to chew on trampolines. They have no concept that this new people-toy is not an expensive chew toy for all the neighborhood dogs to enjoy. With a little foresight, however, you can keep your pricey toy all for you ans safe from dogs. One thing you can do is to install a fence.

Fences can come in a variety of styles and types. The most obvious being an actual fence that goes around the trampoline or blocks the trampoline area from where the dog has access. Several important considerations include how strong the fence foundation will be (will it be secured by cement blocks, wooden stakes, or will it simply stand on top of the ground), what the fence will be made of (lightweight wood can break more easily when impacted by the force of a dog running into it than a metal chain link fence can), and how high the fence will be (bigger dogs can, and will, jump over smaller fences if they really want to get to the trampoline).

You can make an existing fence more unfriendly to the dogs of your area by adding something like chicken wire to the top. Although it won’t look pretty, it will work. Most dogs won’t hurt themselves just to play on your trampoline.

Another thing you can do is to “hot wire” your fence, or install an electric fence. This is markedly more effective than a regular fence. The amount of electric current you introduce to your fence can easily be controlled, and the fence can be made to just sting if it is touched. Most dogs seem to be able to detect electric fences without even touching them, and will just stay away.

You can also keep unwelcome guests off of your trampoline by increasing its height. Keep in mind the height of the trampoline when you make your selection at the store. It is certainly better to purchase a taller trampoline than to try and increase its height on your own. Safety is paramount, not only for your friends and family, but for anyone that may make their way onto your trampoline. Don’t try and place your trampoline on a stack of cement blocks. You will need to spend some money to get a safely higher trampoline, and one that is secured to the earth safely.

Better than keeping the dog away from the trampoline may be keeping the trampoline away from the dog. Even though it takes time and effort to set up the trampoline, taking it down is a certain way to keep unauthorized parties off. Consider a “nursery trampoline” as an alternative to some of the larger trampolines you may see for sale. You can fold it up and stored out of sight and out of mind so that nobody uses the trampoline when you don’t want them to. As an added benefit you stand to save a good deal of money, as nursery trampolines are typically much less expensive than their full-sized counterparts.

The cheapest and best option of all is to keep the dog inside your home. Exercise your dog regularly, and he or she will be less apt to try and play with the trampoline. Just keep your pets in mind when you consider purchasing a trampolinepets are a bigger part of your life than a trampoline should ever be. Never forget that the choices you make today could harm your best friend tomorrow.