[Pturner]

Originally Posted by cloglova

Hi
I have purchased a home in The Villages, and will be closing on it in August. I have a beautiful, wonderful Bichon who is used to my backyard at my current house. He must go in and out of my home at least a dozen times a day, and loves the freedom of the yard with a fence enclosure. He is not a walker, and I don't really know how to handle his exercise outdoors, if a fence is not allowed. I would appreciate any suggestion you could offer. Are "bird cages" the answer. Where can I go to have one constructed as an extension to my lanai? Thanks for your help.
Clotilde and Roy

Welcome to TV and TOTV! I know you will love it here. An electric fence is probably your best bet. You might also be interested to know that there is a free dog park in TV in the Village of Springdale where you can bring your dog off leash for exercize and socializing. It has separate areas for large and small dogs. It's a great place to meet other dog owners. There's also a popular commercial dog park nearby called Doggie Do Run Run.

Congratulations on your new home and life in TV. All best wishes!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

I have seen bird cages with a grass floor and a doggie door to let the dog outside when ever he wants to go out. There is one on Churchill Greens. I have also seen a birdcage with a special room with a grass floor for the pets. It had its own door so they could put their two dogs out and leave them out there.

Caveman, I had heard that such birdcages existed, with grass floors. And I enquired about them earlier this year as we were adding another large birdcage with a concrete floor; and I thought we might also add a separate little cage for the dogs with a grass floor.

We were recently told by a couple of different construction companies that The Villages will not approve a birdcage with a grass floor, even though they did it in the past. And that the floors must be concrete. Perhaps the "rules" have changed.

I suppose you could put down artificial grass on top of the concrete as Bogie suggested.

[Russ_Boston]

First let me say that I'm not a dog owner.

Why would anyone want dog smells in their lanai? You can pick up the solids but the urine will still smell. Yes?

[Army Guy]

Right on Russ!

Army Guy

[BUC]

Fences don't hurt anyone and should be up to the homeowner. IMO

[Bogie Shooter]

No fences.

[Army Guy]

AGREE! NO FENCES!

Army Guy

[otherbruddaDarrell]

Originally Posted by BUC

Fences don't hurt anyone and should be up to the homeowner. IMO

I agree!.........................as long as it is not in TV.

[graciegirl]

NO FENCES. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

First let me say that I'm not a dog owner.

Why would anyone want dog smells in their lanai? You can pick up the solids but the urine will still smell. Yes?

If you want to know how it smells.....linger at your postal station.

[Fourpar]

No Fences! Get an electric (underground) fence put in and you and pooch can be happy...and the neighbors as well!

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

If you want to know how it smells.....linger at your postal station.

Oh, I know what it smells like!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

First let me say that I'm not a dog owner. Why would anyone want dog smells in their lanai? You can pick up the solids but the urine will still smell. Yes?

I can never resist a thread on dog doo.

I suppose that someone would put down rocks in the doggie birdcage and hose them off several times a day. Just a guess. But I agree that idea is not an attractive idea at all. And it would probably only occur to people who are desperate for ways to contain their pets.

When my spouse made it know that he wanted to sell our Courtyard Villa and move to a larger house with a huge garage, I was desolate. I never, ever thought I'd be a fan of invisible fencing. I thought it was inhumane and cruel.

But I've found the Invisible Fencing works very well and has exceeded my expectations. Even when ducks waddle up from the pond in back of our house and taunt the dogs, they don't go through the boundary. They hear a beep from their collar, they don't need a correction. The guy from Dog Watch was great. He helped us train the dogs and did follow-up visits regularly. And the dogs are not confined to a small area, they can use the whole yard. (Also, I take them daily to the dog park for some real exercise).

[villages07]

Bare.... slightly off topic...but, when you return to the bubble in October, will you have to re-train the pups on the electric fence?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by villages07

Bare.... slightly off topic...but, when you return to the bubble in October, will you have to re-train the pups on the electric fence?

Good question and I've wondered about that myself. I'm almost positive the dogs will remember the boundaries. As soon as I arrive, I'll do a refresher course with the collars that beep, no current.

I've found that animals can remember anything important to them. After six months in exile, my Himalyan cat (almost 18) can remember exactly where I feed her. I feed her in the bathroom, away from the dogs. When we arrive at our house in TV, she immediately goes into the bathroom and sits and stares at the empty floor until I put her food down.