How can I adopt a dog with this garden?

[Scientitz]

Hoping someone will have some magic solution for me as I'm losing hope!

Finally in a position to get a dog, ideally a rescue. Until now I haven't minded what breed but because of my garden I've had to broaden the dogs I've been looking at.

I rent on an old cottage with a small back garden. It is securely fenced on three sides BUT it shares a walkway with the other neighbours all with open access to their gardens. This area is secure with the only access to the road through a side gate which is locked. I have been turned down by all the rescues I have approached because the dog might enter a neighbour's garden. I cannot fix a gate as there is no post to fix it to - I looked into a buying a large dog pen but they seem a bit grim and will take up the whole garden. Is there anything anyone can reccommend? Something like a baby gate but for dogs and very secure?

I'll draw a diagram because I don't feel I've explained myself very well!

Fingers crossed the diagram pops up

Trying to figure out how to post a picture!

Ah. I need to be a member for 48 hours I think? Bugger. I will return! (in 48 hours)

Whatever the gap is, fence it yourself? Sorry if that's not possible, can't understand without a diagram!

It's the entrance to the garden - it's small, only about three or four feet but nowhere to secure a gate to?

It definately needs a diagram. And a fence

My dog is scared of the garden (rescue) so she never goes out there!
Can you say that the dog would never be left unattended in the garden?

I did - I spoke to a lady at Lurcher Link who reccommended that I always be present and keep the dog on a long line while out there - something I'm happy to do - but rescues have to take my word for it that I would actually do it and I can understand why they would be suspicious. Add to that the flight risk of a new rescue dog!

I know some rescues home to people in flats without gardens so I enquired with them but because I have a garden they have to account for it as the dog might not understand why it can't go out there! It's lose-lose!

www.argos.co.uk/product/4627788?clickPR=plp:8:20 this should do it, for a small dog

Thanks, @postdatedpandemic but they said it has to be at least four feet tall in line with the fence.

Sorry five feet! Her actual words were 'we cannot see our dogs respecting any temporary structures' so I'm guessing I need to build an actual fence + five foot gate + trellis to increase height of exisiting fence which is going to be ££££££

the dog might not understand why it can't go out there

What?

Is that really what they said?!

Yes! I'd be prepared to discount the garden altogether but it really, really limits the dogs I can rehome - because the back door has a glass panel in it their thinking was that the dog would be able to see me out there and get confused or stressed.

That seems mad. I used to volunteer in a dog rescue and would have been happy with a) The dog won't be unattended out there b) A long line or c) some kind of temp fence.

Could you maybe look in to a senior dog who would be less likely to make a run for it?

www.argos.co.uk/product/5722369?clickPR=plp:16:20 almost tall enough?

We got a tall gate to fit the awkward gap in our garden and then wrapped it in chicken wire. You can aways get a post fitted or raw plugs into a building

That's SUCH bizarre reasoning...

DDog definitely doesn't understand why he can't eat my dinner most nights - nor why he can't come into the shower with me... I don't think that's a reason I shouldn't have got him 😂

@allfurcoatnoknickers - that's good to know - initially of course I wouldn't let the dog out there alone anyway. Initially I thought it was the particular breeds I was looking at - lurchers, greyhounds, whippets etc so I've broadened my scope but have met a lot of resistance. I've been looking on The Oldies website and will keep my eyes open.

@Postdatedpandemic that's a pretty good height actually!

@Ladybee28 hahaha. I could understand if I was lording it up out there while the dog looked on for hours pitifully, but I would literally be hanging out washing or something.

We use these - cheap and you can move them inside. Unclip and they give a longer run rather than a pen
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171670833275

We had to up all our fences to 6ft for this monster

@Simbacatisback - I offered to buy one of those but the lady (who was actually very nice!) said the dog 'wouldn't respect a temporary structure' which I think means it would just jump/knock it down?

@Postdatedpandemic Yup. I'm down to five feet because I've had to scale my dogs down from the lovely lurchery big leggy boys :(

@Postdatedpandemic OMG didn't see the photo! What a beauty!

Rubbish- all of our dogs see a barrier as a barrier

@Simbacatisback I know, right? I actually proposed this one as well - apparently the concerntina effect confuses the dogs enough that they can't judge the distance to jump it. www.pdotwolf.com/collections/flexipanel-dog-fencing/products/flexipanel-foldable-dog-fencing

[quote Scientitz]@Simbacatisback - I offered to buy one of those but the lady (who was actually very nice!) said the dog 'wouldn't respect a temporary structure' which I think means it would just jump/knock it down?

@Postdatedpandemic Yup. I'm down to five feet because I've had to scale my dogs down from the lovely lurchery big leggy boys :([/quote]
But, but... If the structure was put in place now, before the dog became family, the dog wouldn't view it as temporary, would it??

I had to change our iron side gate to a solid one because DD barked at things she could see through it - only if I went out the gate to the car.

She had no interest in leaving our house to start with and then no interest in leaving the garden after given time and lots of love.

@PepperPepperManpepper That's a really good point. It wouldn't know it a barrier was temporary or solid if it had always been there, would they?