Trampolines - Keep Rover Away!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 ·

By Jane Bracken

Many people consider their dog as more than just "man's best friend." In fact they consider their dog as their own personal best friendand one that will never abandon them. Dogs are great for relaxing with on a bad daybut not on the trampoline! It may be humorous to watch a neighborhood pooch on the backyard trampoline, but it may prove disastrous to the dog. Keep dogs away from your trampoline, I implore you.

When considering the purchase of your new trampoline, don't forget that dogs love to chew on what they will consider their new chew toy. Be alert to how your dog interacts with you in the back yard and consider what may come of your new trampoline at the hands of your dog. One good way to keep dogs away from your trampoline is to use a fencethis can save costly damage to both the trampoline and to the dog.

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).

The fence can be made additionally unwelcoming by adding accessories such as chicken wire to it. While not particularly appealing visually, it certainly does the trick. Jumping over a fence becomes very difficult and dogs wonat risk injury for it.

Another thing you can do is to "hot wire" your fence, or install an electric fence. This is markedly more effective than a regular fence. The amount of electric current you introduce to your fence can easily be controlled, and the fence can be made to just sting if it is touched. Most dogs seem to be able to detect electric fences without even touching them, and will just stay away.

The height at which the trampoline is placed could also be a deterring agent. You can keep the height of the legs in mind when trampoline buying to make sure it will be high enough to keep the dog away. This is usually the sturdier and safer option than trying to do your own additional mounting. You can also mount the trampoline only a foot of two higher above the ground by placing a higher foundation under its supports. Of course, putting the trampoline higher does not mean simply placing a few cinderblocks under the legs and being done with it. Safety is priority number one, and you have to ensure that the trampoline is safely secured to the ground in some manner.

One of the best ways to keep Fido away is by keeping the trampoline away from the dog. Larger trampolines are cumbersome, and once setup most people are reluctant to put it away soon after. The nursery trampoline is a great alternative to larger trampolines. Small and compact, it can be easily folded and put away when not in use, and it ensures no unauthorized use takes place both by the dog and the kids. A nursery trampoline is also typically less expensive, so it makes for a great introductory purchase when trampoline buying.

Finally, one can always keep the dog away from the trampoline by keeping the dog inside the house. While many people like their dogs being able to play in the backyard, as long you take them out for walks and let them romp around in the park frequently, then likely the dog will forget all about its forbidden trampoline love. Simply keep in mind that when youare out trampoline buying have the pets in mind, as theyare a part of your life as well, and will likely end up interacting with the trampoline in one way or another.

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