repairing a cow fence: can it be dog proof?

The least expensive fencing to keep dogs in and cows out is hog wire with a strand of barb wire on top. You will need 6 inch posts for the corners and can use 4 inch round pressure treated posts or metal posts between your corners. If you have a long distance between corners you will need some wooden posts at least every 150 feet that will be used as pulling posts when you tighten the wire. Visit your local farm supply and they will show you all the materials you will need and how to put up the fence. Offer to split the cost of the fencing with the owner of the cows along your common property line and then just run the same fencing around your property. At your driveway hang a galvanized tubular farm gate that will keep cows out and your dog in. Also, Liftmaster makes an automatic gate opener that will work with this type of gate.

Why don't you fence in a portion of your yard for the dog? Then he won't be able to complain about your dog messing with his cows. Even in rural areas, its not a good idea to let dogs run free. There are coyotes out here, which will kill dogs. There are also lots of raccoons and other animals who carry rabies, and animals like beavers can really tear a dog up. Cows and horses can both kill dogs as well if they decide they want to. I believe Georgia has a law that you must restrain your animal. Some counties don't allow animals to be tied outside, but I think that's more in urban areas.

As for the wandering cow problem, if they are bothering your neighbor get her to call the police-not 911, put in a complaint at the town police office or by phone. I had someone do that on a farm I was watching once, though it was a horse, not a cow, and the man said he was going to shoot it unless we kept it up. It took a good bit of explaining to the nice police man who came after the neighbor called to convince him that I didn't own the farm or live there, and he'd have to take it up with the owner when she got back. They can tell him he needs to fix his fence. Which they will.At the very least, wandering cows are a problem for gardens and crops, as well as a hazard on the road, and they could injure themselves. You can also call animal control or the humane society if it comes down to that, they will talk to him and get him to fix it.

That's not the best solution as far as keeping good neighbors goes, but if its obvious he isn't going to fix the fence and if he's already hostile toward you, there may not be any other way. You can offer to fix the fence for him if he will buy supplies, or try to take up a collection to do so, but if he's already pegged as a 'mean old man' you might not get any sympathy.

Its a situation thats bad, but the end of it is that HE needs to keep his cows on his property. Yes, you need to keep your dog up, but the cows are more of a problem for more people.

Build your dog a kennel and dog run. You will gain some piece of mind knowing your dog is secure. It will also be essential if you ever get a new puppy. Invisible fences don't work because if your roly poly fella were to run through he would have problems getting past it to come home. We are allowed to shoot harrasing dogs, no questions asked. The next time the cows come over BE NICE and call the old fella. Ask him if he needs some help fixing the fence. Who knows maybe he will give you some nice steaks in the future ( sounds like you would be his only friend out there) even if he doesnt, at least you were neighborly, which after all is what country living is about. Don't behave like a city dweller would.

Mark

BTDT! We moved off the family farm a few months ago. While my dogs were trained pretty well to stay in our yard and out of the pasture (getting popped with the hotwire will do that!) they would wander. Pretty much always harmlessly, I don't remember him chasing cows but maybe twice in the 3 years we lived there. But I was always in the yard with him when he was loose, always. And he knew to cut it out and come home when I yelled after him.

First, we lived (still live) in a rural SC county and we DO have a leash law. No dogs are supposed to run loose ever. Does everyone abide by that, of course not. I get chased by dogs everytime I walk up my road. However, one has to be responsible for one's own pets. So my dogs are fenced or on a cable in the barn. Secondly I wouldn't doubt that the old guy would shoot your dog. Like I said we were on the *family* farm and my own family members threatened to shoot our dog if he was harassing the cows. That's just how it is. Honestly, cows - and calves - are pretty much defenseless to aggressive dogs.

Secondly, just as you are responsible for your dog the neighbor is responsible for his cows. In our county if your cows get out the 3rd time police are called you get fined. I don't know if the same would apply if the cows were in your yard as opposed to the road. I would begin by being neighborly and talking calmly. Tell the neighbor you are going to take care of keeping your dog in your yard but you've noticed his cows in your yard as well. Let him know you expect that to not happen again either. If that doesn't work I would just let him know you will call the police when it happens. But you have to keep up your side of the bargain - your dog has to be kept up as well.

btw it was probably coyotes that killed his calves - not dogs. And I bet he's just harassing you now b/c you sent that other lady who was complaining to you his way LOL. I do know a bit about the good ol boy network ;-)

Hard to keep a dog out with a fence cause some dogs can climb a fence. Best would be one of those invisible fences you buy to keep dog in yard.

Now for the old farmer with cows. Call the department of agriculture and tell them about your problem. They will tell you what to do that will help you out.

You know you can pin his cows up in your yard and then call department of agriculture have them send someone out to you place. They will contact the old farmer and in order to get his cows back he would have to pay for anything they damaged in your yard. If he did not want to do that then they could sell the cows to cover the cost.

Try the call to them it will help I think.