We have a very open garden with hedges on two sides, and a piecemeal bodge of hedge, trellis, posts and chicken wire dividing us from next door.
Next door have always had at least one dog, usually an elderly rescue. We have always had at least one cat and an assortment of small dog snacks pets in pens on the grass. So far it's worked fine -- the cats would sneer a bit through the fence, the resident dog would have a quick wuff and everyone would go back to their own business.
But the current dog is a lot more lively, and has appeared in our garden several times over the past week. Dog is a whippet/Staffie cross, strong enough to barge holes in the elderly fence, fast enough to catch pretty much anything. Yesterday it came within a whisker of grabbing our newish, brainless kitten -- not a nice moment.
The owners are elderly and ill, and adore the dog, which is company for them. I doubt they can afford to re-fence between the gardens, and even if they can, the dog tends to break away fairly regularly and appear round the front of the house. We really need our garden fenced all round, I think, to be sure off keeping her out. But although we aren't skint yet we don't have spare thousands to spend on fencing.
So, any suggestions for dog-resistant DIY fencing? It would have to run alongside the current hedges, I think - would chestnut palings work, or newer trellis, or are we talking 6-foot chain mesh? It's probably safer if the cat CAN get through the bars so it isn't trapped in a corner if they do find themselves the same side of the fence.