Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Dogs And Trampolines - Not In My Backyard!

By Jane Bracken

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.

Something people donat think about when trampoline buying is that the trampoline seems to be synonymous with achewing toya for some dogs, but with a little bit of planning you can save your expensive toy from the dog, and your dog from it. One popular method is to use 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).

Adding some further barriers to the top of the fence, such as chicken wire, can make jumping the fence even less desirable for pooch. While it may not look the best, it sure does work. Most dogs won't want to get hurt, and will avoid jumping over the fence to stay safe.

Another idea is to install an electric fence or to hot wire your existing fence. This is probably not a first option for many people, but should prove useful in harder circumstances. You can easily control how much of a shock runs through the fence. The best thing to do is to just have the fence provide a stinging sensation. Most dogs will stay away from your fence without ever having to touch it to test it.

Further, you can keep dogs off of your trampoline simply by setting its height. Keep in mind the height of the trampoline when you consider your choices for purchasemake it high to keep the dog away. Don't try to make the trampoline taller on your ownit is probably not safe. You can build a sturdy foundation under your trampoline, but don't just stack up a few cinder blocks. Be certain that your trampoline is safe for anyone that may use it, and consider that it must be securely fastened to the earth in some manner.

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. - 16004

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