Fences

They say fences make good neighbors.

We have GREAT neighbors already.

But our dogs didn't get that memo.

Our neighbors, Rick and Chris

are cat people.

And then Rick retired.

And then Chris retired.

And she was bored.

And she "rescued" a dog.

A pretty little female.

They started going to training to learn

to be a therapy dog.

But Dixie was pretty shy.

So they switched to agility training.

And she was GOOD at it!

So they started going to shows.

And then Rick decided to join in.

So he bought a male dog of the same breed.

And Apollo is the exact opposite

of Dixie.

They are both beautiful.

And Shadow hates them both.

(Actually they were good friends until

we got Bandit and Shadow decided to be

her Mom and went all Mama Bear on Dixie.)

So now whenever Dixie or Apollo are out

(Chris only takes them out one at a time

and on a leash) Shadow sticks her head through

the wire fence and tries to eat them.

There is always lots of barking and

jumping and it's not fun for either side.

We built a "dog yard" and keep our

dogs out there all day.

They have lots of room to run and play

and Rod and Kyle built them a raised

patio with a metal roof so they have a place

to get out of the sun or the rain.

But mostly they dug UNDER the patio

and have a nice cool cave.

But it still sometimes gets crazy.

Friday, Chris opened the back door to

let her cat out (or something) and Apollo escaped.

I was outside feeding the animals, so my dogs

were all loose running around the yard.

Apollo saw them and came running.

He can EASILY clear the 4' fence if he wants.

Chris was terrified he was going to do that.

So she was screaming.

Shadow had her head through the holes and

was barking and trying to bite him.

So I was yelling at my girls to get back 

in the garage.

It wasn't pretty.

So after all the dogs were contained,

I asked Kyle to take a day off work.

And this is what we did.

This is "before".

Looking out our side yard into their side yard.

This is after putting up a couple of panels.

We bought 14.

I miscounted.

We had to go back and get 3 more.

And some lunch.

Cuz we were HUNGRY!

And this is our new fence.

The dogs can't see each other.

Chris can let her dogs out without a leash

and not worry about them.

I don't have to worry about my dogs

eating her dogs.

(Apollo is a space cadet, but he keeps winning

Best In Show

for his breed and if she bit him it would

be devastating.

And expensive...)

Chris is over the moon happy.

And they offered to pay for half.

And you can still see over the fence

so although it looks like we are all

fenced in (we are) it's not claustrophobic

or anything.

Unless you look over there, you don't

even really notice it.

I actually REALLY like it.

We might paint it the same color as the house.

But that's later.

I learned to use the screw gun.

(I already knew, but I was TERRIBLE

at it, Kyle helped me with some

tips and tricks and I'm still terrible,

but with little letters.)

I also got to use the big table / miter saw

and cut a board.

I always wanted to do that!

Good thing I learned all that stuff 

cuz I still need to finish

securing the fence. 

Kyle is out of days off.

We only put in the

screws in the middle - we need to install

more 2 x 4 supports on the back.

But it's up.

And it's pretty.

And it works.

And I was EXHAUSTED.

LOL