Cheap & Fast

building Thunder's pen

This is an inexpensive portable 32x32 pen with double wire panel entry. This pen is difficult for most Wolfdogs to get out of, however it is NOT a fortress.
To make it sturdier is simply a matter of lumber.

Cattle Panels are heavy guage welded galvanized steel. They come 16' x 50" and can be cut with bolt cutters.
You can only get these panels at "Tractor Supply" stores. General price is 18. - 22.00.  16 panels makes a 32x 32 pen.

panels are hog ringed together, and hog ringed to the dig wire if you are using a wire dig guard. You can also use 36" panels for dig guard, also available or cut the large panes in half lengthwise. You must file all sharp points which can take weeks.

tops of fence will be above the posts to make it wabble at the top.

An option is to add a 2x4 or 2x6 rail across the top and 45 the wire.

another option is to use 1 cattle panel bottom and hogring field fence to it as a top. This requires lean ins to be constructed.

livestock tanks full of water are good to place near fence for easy filling and one less place to hold down.

big rocks 100lb plus hold down the dig wire

Wolfdogs chew plastic buckets, so it is recommended that stainless water and feed buckets be used fastened to the panels.

for pups and smaller animals, a panel with 4' squares is also availble for approx. 30.00

secure double gated entry. outside gate should open out. inside gate should open in.

double gates with panel gate inside

a scrap piece of panel can be used to cap corners. climbers will find stability in corners.

Cutting the panels for wire gates requires extra panels. The gate must be larger than the hole for obvious reasons. A space between gates is easily created with 1 extra post or a 45 across the inside of a corner.

There are many ways to acheive a secure Wolf Dog pen. However this is the least expensive, easiest and most portable if you want to move it.
We use 8' pressure treated landscape timbers as posts, simply due to cost. Cattle panels are so strong that once all corners are secured, they would actually stand without posts.
Posts are 2' in the ground set in 30-40lbs of concrete. That is 1 bag per 2 posts. I do not concrete the posts in until the panels are stapled so that they form themselves to the terrain better. If you have a hill, the posts will not be set by a level, or they will be uneven with the panels.
Always use heavey galvanized fence staples, and panels should be fastened inside the posts. This prevents loosening as the dogs bounce off them.
Set your posts every 8' for strength and if you can afford to, I recommend a 2x4 rail across the tops.
Now you have 6' posts, and 2 panels stacked are 8'. The top 2' of panel will bend in if the animal attempts to climb. You also have the option of bending it slightly to discourage climbing.

Panels are secured together with Hog Rings. These too should be heavy galvanized FENCE rings and not the actual light weight ones available at most places. We have found the 9 guage galvanized here.
Call Mark 810 721 0300  and ask for LH3-9 . You will also need the pliers.





Build or place doghouses and other large items inside the pen before placing the final panels up or you may have trouble getting them through the gates.

Roll field fence flat and full length of each side. Hogring to bottom of panels and secure the dig wire with heavy rocks, hardened concrete bags or ?? always take care that no sharp wires are exposed.

Remember these animals jump high, and are very unpredictable when it comes to ingenuity and escape. They can open latches, and find ways to do things by watching you.
NEVER put a doghouse that they can climb up on near the fence. All that does is lower the fence to them.

Containment should not be a negative place to them. A Wolfdog that spends all it's time trying to get out is an unhappy Wolfdog. Fixing the emotional issues is far more important than plugging the holes.


YOU WILL NEED  (32x32)

18 posts
9 bags 60- 80 lb. concrete
18 cattle panels (for double gates)
Fence Staples
Hogrings
130 ft of 36" field fence

CLUB MID - play video
APROXIMATELY 4000 SF , 3' wire dig, double cattle panels, 8' posts. total cost including house under $2000.