Puffiun's Run

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Puffin's Run

        I have been asked several times to describe Puffin's run - it is a fenced in area gong directly out from our back porch door. All of the dogs that we have owned have never been allowed to run off leash or unrestricted, for their own saftey as well as for respect of others' property. I am a firm believer that no matter how well trained a dog is, they are still going to respond to natural instincts and go after that bunny or cat at just the wrong time.

        The run was originally built by my dad for my first dog - the firsrt edition had grass in the outer area and flagging along the section by the house, with regular 4-foot high rectangular garden fencing using the drive-in stakes securing the perimeter. When we rebuilt it for Puffin's arrival, we were contending with the Lyme Disease endemic in this area, as well as not having the ability to open the fence and cut the grass, etc.... so, behold the AstroTurf PuffinRun. The first pass had the original grass area replaced with AstroTurf - which would have been fine on it's own had Puffin not turned out to be a little digger... literally. Within a week of her eleven week, three pound arrival the remaining flagging area was also AstroTurfed - wonderful thought to have one little puppy peeing and pooping on $130 dollars worth of AT. But, I do have to admit that it has worked out great. The artifical surface is most inhospital to ticks and other little creepiecrawlies, and it is fantastically easy to maintain.. just sweep it clean and occasionally hose it off. On several instances I have slogged it down in the warm weather with a disinfecting solution if we have not had regular rain. The AT is perforated so water runs through and drains easily. We also have a Doggie Dooley installed in the one corner - which is essentially a personal pooch septic tank. After digging a foot deep hole you insert the Dooley into it, add the enzyme digester and water, and scoop the poop in. There is no odor (regular maintenance includes adding digester and water at regular intervals) - and it is a great way to take care of the obvious problem while creating some real good fertilizing drainage - the grass at the edge of the run as well as the herbs near by grow like wildfire.

        Puffin loves it - in addition to her duties, she loves having reign over the back yard from it, will spend lazy times basking in the sun out there, and let a human enter her territory and it is automatic ground for demanding a game of fetch with the ever present tennis ball. She is also a winner by the luck of the draw - the back of the porch, from where she goes out into the run, has a generous overhang extending out over a stretch of about eight feet, with a four foot overhang - so her little feetsies don't have to get wet to pee in the rain. Or poop for that matter. Anyone wishing to determine the weather conditions over the last few days only has to look in the run - if all the poops are by the door you know that it has been raining.
        PS - these pics were taken before the new windows and doors were put in the porch - she now has full length doors to view the realm with. From a couch.


Looking out the back porch door......	Out in the yard looking in....

Looking in from the other end......	From the "skinny" end looking to porch & garage
	And - for those high energy times, Puffin has an overhead trolley tie out out the back kitchen door.....
From garage end....

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