Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

I was just wanting to ask if anyone here uses the chain set up, but uses concrete as flooring? Someone I was talking to said they pour the concrete with the pole in the middle, they make sure the concrete is poured a few feet longer than what the chain will be (in his case 20ft chain)....sounded like a good idea to me...but was curious what others thought? Also, does anyone have thier dogs in pole barns, or access to them? I was considering using a 40x80ft pole barn, cutting "doggy doors" every 10ft-20ft of each other, using posts/poles to hold the cable, and have it 5ft x 60ft total, indoor and outdoor access, with 8x4s in between dogs (just to block view) while being inside...where they would each have a dog house & etc... whats your opinion on the cable set ups, along with the indoor/outdoor access? Anyone have experience with this? Has anyone used the metal "calf" or "goat" shelters? I have one that my last dog used when she was outside, it had a face on the front with an opening cut out & used the blue barrel type dog house, both were filled with bedding,even though barely used.. it was (i think) 4ftwx7ftl....

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

i was thinking of using making a concrete base for a axle chain setup. IDK if you searched one of the threads on here i think chain setups there is a real nice yard setup w/the concrete base your mentioning. the only thing with the concrete is that its harsh on the dogs elbows front and back and over time if your not putting something on them they will get that nasty elbow look to them. i was thinking myself of making a 10ft concrete base for a chain set up and allowing 12-15ft of chain so the dog can get off the concrete and lay out on the grass or even use the bathroom on the grass. your poll barn idea sounds good and i have thought about that once before myself. the metal calf/goat shelter i would think that you are using it right w/the barrel house under it, but just as long as the dog has a house it really doesnt need the metal calf/goat shelter. i had a uncle that only had his bulldogs on cable setups. if done wrong though they will fail you. just be careful. show the results when your done with them

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

My buddy used to use the concrete chain setups.Only thing he didn't like about it is the dogs had concrete sores all the time from laying on the concrete,but his concrete had a real ruff broom finish,probably wouldn't have been so hard on the dogs had he went with a real light broom finish.Also the chains wore out a lot quicker.The pole barn idea sounds pretty sweet,if you have 40x80 barn that you don't have any other use for.I damn sure wouldn't spend the money to build one for them though.Ive always had my dogs on chains,and i think its one of the best ways to keep them.But when i move im gonna try out the cable setups on a couple and see how it works out.I also noticed you said you where gonna use 8x4s for dividers????Either its a typo or overkill,if you have 8x4s that's custom cut lumber and i wouldn't waste it on a dog divider.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Concrete is porius with urniation and seems like it would be hard to rearrange setups also down the road while concerning chain spots. I would definitely seal it up good so it wouldn't be so suspect to bacteria growing years down the line. My setups change every so often as I get better ideas that more effective for my dogs. If I used any type of concrete it would be for kennels so that your home is still marketable if you ever deceide to sell it whereas chain spots aren't so appealing to most normal dog people. Hardluck that was a good idea for the dogs to get off concrete to grass or dirt, concrete gets hot during the summer months depending on the area. Your dogs feet would be tough as nails.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

thanks picasso. i hate the sight of them beaten up elbows on older dogs. you would have to make sure you are going to be living there for a long time if you do decide to pour concrete down like that. that is the only reason i havent done it yet. i own my house, but i'll be moving south w/in the next couple of years. im trying to get out this snow lol. never thought of the wear and tear of the chain on it. definantly would have to go through more chains than not. my next move i will be doing this setup there.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Good looking out on the chains wearing down also. What would be cool though is to pour house and maybe a small lab all in one. The houses the canadians and alaskians use like this http://www.wildlifesafari.us/concrete_dog_houses.htm I heard they are awesome for hot weather and cold weather and will out last any dog in years. I saw a guy who used rail road ties and some type of gravel, certain kind can't remember that was really cheap but it kept his dogs in good shape and hard pads on their feet at the same time. The gravel would work like a filter too I would guess.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Thanks for the replies, information, & suggestions/opinions.. I think I am going to try the barn & cable set up.. I am wondering though, do you have to change the cable often? Is there a certain "type" or thickness of cable that is recomended? Also, is there a suggested length to the chain attatched to the cable? Oh..and what type of chain do you suggest? Is there a make/thickness/size/strength that is preffered by ya'll? Just want to get the best I can-and what will last longest lol.. Hopefully it will work out...The 4x8, i have a few from a friend I recieved for free.. thats what gave me the idea. The metal goat shelter, was my grandpas idea lol .. if i didnt have a barn, i would probably buy something like the goat shelter, just b/c when it rains they have more moving space without having to get all wet.or an all day rainer..i know i know, sounding like a nutter lol, but i cant help some things lol.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Oooh I saw the site with concrete dog houses,, has anyone built one?

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

I have kennels put the idea sounds good

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

i have rubber convail belts.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

I would think a 41 foot circle of concrete (op stated a 20' chain) would not be a cheap date. It would be hot in the summer. The dogs would all have contact sores from constantly laying on it. The only benefit of it would be keeping it clean and not having to cut nails. Soft earth is the best in my opinion.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

AGK, i agree.. I was thinking easier to clean/no mud & etc.. but I heard rock dust or something can be used for that? I am thinking about laying it down for part/full outdoor run..but unsure.. I just dont like how muddy things can get..

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

http://
200 ft cable run

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7404/picture2272.jpg
top end of cable run, black drum holds water

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/4012/picture054jb.jpg
top end of cable run

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9677/picture2291.jpg
insulated kennel at bottom end of cable run

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8841/picture2281.jpg
self water bowl at top end of cable run in shelter

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2933/picture038kc.jpg
cable pulley

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

i personally wouldnnt want my dog on concrete while o the chain. concrete sores and not to mention the joint problems

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Someone I was talking to said they pour the concrete with the pole in the middle, they make sure the concrete is poured a few feet longer than what the chain will be (in his case 20ft chain)....sounded like a good idea to me...but

Never ever do this or you will wind up with a dead dog.
reason being the dogs chain will get rapped around the
Pole, in the Oil Field there use to be a term called "Throwing the Chain"

This is how they use to put drill stem pipe together and take it apart
use a car or truck axle buried below the ground.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Very nice setup.What size diameter cable are you using?And where did you get those badass pulleys.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

got the cable from a mate. 10mm diameter. 8mm would be plenty mate.
lol...the badass pulleys are made by me, along with the insulated kennels etc.
thanx for the complements.
D'S....

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

I use mostly tieouts but also like an overhead setup too.


Don't do the cable and pully setup though. All chain. 5/16" wrapped between two trees or posts locked with superglued quicklinks on each end. i ran that chain through a 3" oring connected to some 3/8" chain connected to a swivel and oring.

I like using an oring vs pulley because these less parts to break. just need to keep an eye on the constant metal to metal rubbing when using an oring on chain.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

behavin the pulley you made looks like zip line pulleys. if you made that its really nice and man you must have alot real-estate there for the dogs to be on to allow them to move like that. they have really nice zip line pulleys with very high readings of 7000-14000lbs readings and higher, but are somewhat expensive if you have a large yard. im sure yours run very smooth from the looks of it. i would not replace a proper cable setup and replace it with chain and have an O-ring gliding past the chain continuously especially if the distance of the set up is like that of Behavins. little short distance up to 10ft, but not long distances. i made a big elaborate post but i dont know were it went. let me just say that i would not trust a cable run if it didnt have a jaw and eye turnbuckle on both ends of the run to tighten up the cable and provide strength to the dogs pull on the cable. a good cable setup should have very little give to the dogs pull on it and thats were the turnbuckles come into play. here is an example of how to use a turnbuckle for people that dont know how to use them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnkqCpc9DIs although his example is showing a jaw and hook turnbuckle, i would only use a jaw and eye turnbuckle for a dogs cable run. you can wrap a cable manually or a chain around a tree or post and try to tighten it up manually but guaranteed that chain or cable that you wrapped will have too much give and put pressure on the setup when the dog pulls. IMO you have to use a good turnbuckle to make it right if your keeping the dogs there on it to live. a o-ring used as a pulley will not be able to stop. the dog will wrap its self up in a tree or post if that oring doesn't have a stop. you can always put a stop on the line for a pulley.

 

Re: Yard Setups & Concrete? Also barns & cable set ups?

Very nice pulleys D's,I'm gonna use something similar on my setups when i do it.Naus I don't think the chain would be a good idea for me as i plan on doing something similar to Behavin's setup, the chain would probably sag to the ground at a long distance,and i think it would cost alot more.