Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Trampolines - Keep Rover Away!

By Jane Bracken

Dogs are man's best friend, and in reality they really do make great best friends. They help to free you from stress and they will always be there for you. Be warned, don't let your dog near a trampoline! It may be quite comical to watch, especially if it's someone else's dog on your trampoline. A trampoline can prove deadly for any dog. The best thing you can do is to keep dogs away from your trampoline, regardless of how hard it may be.

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.

The best fence is the fence that keeps the dog away from the trampoline. You can have a fence designed to suit just about any taste. Consider the way the fence is builtyou can pour cement to hold the poles, you can drive the posts into the ground, or you can get a custom fence that sits on top of the grass. A fence made of some cheap or lightweight material can save you money, but fail when it is needed mosta steel chain link fence is probably much better than a lightweight wooden fence when the dog tries crashing through. One more important factor is how tall you will build your fence. Large or fast dogs can jump or climb over smaller fences with impunity. If you will be installing a fence, do it right.

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.

An option to the traditional fence is by hot wiring it ia also known as electric fences. While this is more extreme than a traditional fence, it can prove to be much more effective. Running electric current through a fence can be regulated to non-harmful levels that will only sting lightly if touched. And, because most dogs have an uncanny way of detecting live wire fences, chances are they would never approach it close enough to even test its strength.

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. - 16083

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