Handlers' Academy

PHD Blog 23 - Building Fence

May 21, 2021

PHD Handlers' Academy #10

Welcome to the latest in a series explaining everything herding:

So you need to build fence

Many of you are new to herding and don't have a paddock or pasture for livestock. This blog will show you what it takes to build a short length of fence.

We already had the perimeter fence in place and just added a short stretch to make a smaller paddock. Since I would be training on sheep, we used woven wire instead of several strands of barbed wire. Cattle panels could also be used but are more expensive than woven wire.

The main keys to building fence are:

the knowledge, muscle, tools, and materials to install the fence
clearing the path of the fence from overhanging branches or physical obstructions
strong end posts, usually a set of 2 braced together
straight lines of fence runs
stretching the fence tight
placing one strand of barbed wire along the top of the fence to protect it from cattle or horses reaching over it

The following pictures show the step-by-step installation of a stretch of fence.

Note: We hooked on to a solid fence at one end and a tree at the other as our end posts. We did not girdle the tree with the fence. Instead, we stapled the wire to the tree and left plenty of room around the tree for it to grow. (Normally we wouldn't use a tree as an end post but it was the best solution in this situation.)

This installation of fence took my husband and me two days:

If you are not a member of my private FB group, Positive Herding Dog, just ask to join and answer a few questions so I can get to know a bit about you and your dog(s). You may also ask questions about this training in that group.