{"id":118,"date":"2013-03-08T10:30:48","date_gmt":"2013-03-08T15:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/?p=118"},"modified":"2015-08-21T10:26:56","modified_gmt":"2015-08-21T14:26:56","slug":"iron-aluminum-fences-and-small-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/iron-aluminum-fences-and-small-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Wrought Iron and Aluminum Fences for Small Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dogs<\/a>
Dogs and Iron or Aluminum Fence<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fences and our four-legged friends go hand-in-hand.\u00a0 It allows you the peace of mind that your dog will not run off in the neighborhood amongst people and allows your dog more freedom to move around and explore than a leash will.\u00a0 If you have a medium or large sized dog, most iron or aluminum fences will keep them in so long as they cannot jump over it.\u00a0 But what about the little guys?\u00a0 We get a lot of folks with smaller dogs calling in and wondering if they can get in-between the pickets.<\/p>\n

The air gap on all heights and grades of our iron and aluminum fences is 3.75 to 3.875 inches.\u00a0 National code typically requires the air gap between pickets to be less than 4″.\u00a0 Beware of ‘economy’ or cheaper fences that will widen that opening to use less material in the panel and charge less (or worst, the same) as a properly built fence.<\/p>\n

To see if the standard spacing will work with your little guy, you need to measure their head and shoulders.\u00a0 Every dog is different (and unlikely to stay too still while you measure their head and shoulders) so err on the side of caution and go a little wider.\u00a0 For instance, if the widest part of their body is 4″, I would be willing to bet that they could wiggle through the standard opening with enough force.<\/p>\n

\"Measure<\/a>
Measure Your Dog at It’s Widest Point<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If your dog is small enough to get through the standard opening, you can address this in a couple types of ways.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Temporary Plastic Mesh Fence<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you have a puppy that can get between the fence pickets, but will grow up to an adult size that won’t fit through the opening; a temporary solution may be all you need worry about. \u00a0Most dogs reach adult size by 6-8 months, so you may just need a solution for right now that can be removed later. \u00a0In that case, your best bet is something inexpensive that will look ok, but be easy to remove later. \u00a0For this we recommend going with a plastic style mesh fence. \u00a0You can find these by the roll in the fence section of most large home hardware stores. \u00a0You simply roll out the plastic mesh fence and then secure it to the fence pickets with zip ties. \u00a0You can cut the sections to fit between the posts or simply roll out the mesh in one large sheet. \u00a0Once your puppy reaches adulthood, simply snip the zip ties and remove the plastic mesh fence.<\/p>\n

\"Plastic<\/a>
Plastic Mesh Fence Sold in Rolls can Make for a Temporary Puppy Barrier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Welded Wire Fence\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you have a small dog that isn’t going to grow larger than the 3.88″ gap between the pickets, welded wire fence makes for a cleaner and more permanent addition. \u00a0Its an inexpensive solution that will complement the fence and get the job done. \u00a0Welded wire fence can be found easily online and in some home hardware stores in rolls.<\/p>\n

A 2ft height is usually sufficient and if you go with a black vinyl coated version, it will look like its part of your wrought iron or aluminum fence. \u00a0Go with a heavier 16ga so that you have a more rigid frame that won’t sag. \u00a0There is a variety of opening sizes you can go with. \u00a0A smaller wire opening will be more visible than a larger one, but it will also prevent the dog from sticking their head through.<\/p>\n

Like the plastic mesh fence, you will simply secure it with black plastic zip ties to the pickets. \u00a0You can cut sections to fit between the posts for a cleaner look, or simply roll it out over the fence panels and posts in one piece. \u00a0If your little one likes to dig, you can also bury a couple inches of the mesh fence below the surface to keep them from tunneling under.<\/p>\n

\"Welded<\/a>
Welded Wire Fence Accents Iron and Aluminum Fence and Will Keep Your Small Dog Contained<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cast Add-on Decorations<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you are looking for something a little more upscale, but effective at keeping your little one contained, we offer a variety of cast pieces that affix to the picket. \u00a0They not only complement the fence, but they are extremely beautiful. \u00a0These pieces simply fit over the fence\/ gate pickets and are secured with a self-tapping screw we provide. \u00a0We offer 5 different add-on decorations that can be used to close in the picket gap:<\/p>\n