[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by Fuzzyjourneyfan

This is my first time posting, so I hope that I am doing it correctly. We would like to move to The Villages by summer. We have two small (15 pounds each) dogs. We would like to get a house with a large birdcage to keep them safe from wild animals. I think that they would probably tear up the screen if they saw something interesting in the backyard. What do pet owners do to avoid this problem? Is there something waterproof that we could put up against the screen?

Geeez, really? I hope they are not yappers. Coyotes, yes, coyotes, are still still around and they will tear through the lanai and snatch them before you know it. I know of someone who lost his cat that way. He destroyed the lanai, blood everywhere and didn't bother to take the cat with him. Ate him right there. Owner wasn't home. Coyotes have lost their natural habitat and will hunt and kill anything; they have become more aggressive.. Same goes for alligators. Use common sense

[Rwirish]

Remove the bird cage.

[Eg_cruz]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Easiest question I have ever responded to. Train them properly.

Train wild animals.....how does one do that????

[J1ceasar]

Several responses. There is dog resistant screen , much heavier .
Second is adding aluminum sheets
Lastly never leave dogs alone in bird cages . We have eagles and hawks here . I did see an eagle tear and crash thru a roof screen into a pool .

[gwenhwalker@yahoo.com]

I'd be more concerned with wild animals tearing the screen to get in to your dogs

[Neils]

Buy a roll of old fashioned chicken wire. Very inexpensive barrier. Look for it at Rural King or Tractor supply.

Dogs will not scratch through it.

[Stanajudy]

You can also install kick panels along the bottom section of your screen.

[Pedrocarrasco01@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

I have read on previous threads, that Lowes sell some screening that is raccoon proof.
Lining the bottom 2-4 feet of your lanai with it will probably stop your dogs from destroying present screen from inside.
However, two small dogs alone in lanai may encourage raccoons, bobcats, to try their luck from the outside, and they can rip open lanais.
Six of one, half dozen of the other!

Plus Coyotes, Bears, Alligators, Eagles, big hawks, Owls, rattlesnakes and cottonmouth snakes, never leave them alone outside with just a screen to protect them.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

This thread blows my mind. Why is the overwhelming solution getting some kind of dog proof screen instead of taking the responsibility to properly train your dog. Our dog would never damage a screen, and we use exclusively positive reinforcement to train our little girl.

The perfect response! You dont change things to suit a dog. The dog adapts and is trained to act properly

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by Pedrocarrasco01@yahoo.com

Plus Coyotes, Bears, Alligators, Eagles, big hawks, Owls, rattlesnakes and cottonmouth snakes, never leave them alone outside with just a screen to protect them.

Lol. Do you live in a jungle? Most of all that is rare or non existant!

[photo1902]

Slightly off-topic, but I would imagine there are hundreds of pets that are in screened in lanai's and birdcages at any point of the day here in The Villages. Is the problem of wildlife entering these areas and killing/eating pets that widespread of a problem?

Not to mention all of the dogs who spend a good portion of the day outside, within the confines of an Invisible Fence. There are three in my neighborhood alone.

Good grief.

[Mohawksin]

Originally Posted by Fuzzyjourneyfan

This is my first time posting, so I hope that I am doing it correctly. We would like to move to The Villages by summer. We have two small (15 pounds each) dogs. We would like to get a house with a large birdcage to keep them safe from wild animals. I think that they would probably tear up the screen if they saw something interesting in the backyard. What do pet owners do to avoid this problem? Is there something waterproof that we could put up against the screen?

We used the plastic lattice panels that are available from HD and Lowes. They come from the factory as 4 by 8 foot sections. We used 2 by 8 foot sections. You can cut them yourself lengthwise, but one or both of the stores have or will make the 2 foot high sections. You will need to cut enough off the 8 foot directions to fit between the vertical structures in your cage. Colors are white and green. We bought small white, painted self drilling screws to attach each panel to the horizontal structure that runs about 20 inches from the floor of the cage. All the additions are inside the cage so ARC approval is not not required.

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by Girlcopper

Lol. Do you live in a jungle? Most of all that is rare or non existant!

>

Actually, The Villages has Coyotes, Bobcats, Eagles, Hawks alligators and venomous snakes. Leave your small dog outside and wait, you will see them. Nonexistent? I've seen all of them here.

[zendog3]

Two dogs. Never any trouble with them tearing at the screen -- even with squirrels. However, the neighbor's dog drowned in the pool soon afterr they moved in. I took our dogs out and put them in the pool . I showed them were the steps were and put them in over and over again until the learned to dog-paddle over to the steps to get out. They have never fallen in, but the training may save them if they slip.

[Curtisbwp]

Where are you from that causes you to worry that your dog could be eaten? The GUARANTEED way is to leave your dogs behind