put up a 6 ft fence, using the 1x6 pickets from Home Depot.

how can i put in a little swinging dog door that won't be stupid looking?

it will have to be on the side of the fence facing the road, want it to not be TOO noticable.

can i just cut 2 pickets ~12 above the bottom rail, and hinge them?

Problem is i can't put the doggie door on the side, because i have the invisible fence running down the sides, so the pooch can't get over there (at least not without a new hair do)

wife "wants the dog to be able to get around back in the shade to be cool"

i say: it's a WHITE dog - that's all the cooling it needs!

if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy

 

My friend I have done just what you are speaking of. I made a frame and attatched it along with hinges to the pickets. I then cut out the pickets top and bottom and effectivly made a 22"X18" doggie gate. I will snap some pic of it in the AM and post them tomorrow night. Mine is on the fence between my neighbors yard and mine, so they can open it and let the dogs run back and forth. No more digging under the fence to get to each other.

 

Duh.

 

Begle,

is that for the wife, or the dog?

 

It'll put a whole in the fence, dog or wife.

Although, depending on thickness of fence, you might want some sabot rounds in there.


Automatic shotguns: is there any problem that they can't solve?

 

<shaking head> Begle you just ain't right.... I think that I like it!

 

I got my pictures submitted. Waiting on approval though. Check my gallery when you get on and see if they are there.
I didnt see any point in taking a picture of the other side, it looks just like a normal fence. If you get up close you can see the line top and bottom where it was cut. Works great. My neighbor watches my dog during the day and lets him over to play with their lab. The latches are on their side since they tak care of my dog for me.

 

so, how does the dog open that?
i mean my dog is pretty smart, but.....

j/k

that is NICE....you are a craftsman.

i am pretty much able to cut in a straight line sometimes on even numbered days with a northeast breeze.

i was really thinking of a hang down type door, like in a house, where the pooch could come & go as she pleases.

yours would be fine, hinged from the top, but she could only go one way, it would not fold back open onto itself.

that is nice work, though.
now my wife is gonna gripe about how bad mine looks.....

 

My neighbor unlatches it and Ralph comes and goes as he pleases. She unlatches it and puts a lock in it so it doesnt close back and has a crack in it. He sticks his nose in the crack from the frame side and wiggles it open and from my side he just pushes it open. Im serious. The hinges are set up so the gate naturally stays closed. Its all how you mount the hinges to get this effect. Or you can purchase the hinges with springs.
Then your dog has to figure the idea out and he will use it I promise.
You can hinge it from the top and adjust the frame work a little so it will pivot both directions. Pretty easy to do.
I showed Ralph one time and he had it from there. Blue Heelers are great thinkers and great problem solvers anyway and a little gate aint gonna keep him from coming and going. I also have a latch on it so you can latch it open and keep it there. Works great.
Like I said though, you can move that top frame board down a litted and hang a hinge from the top and still have it look good and function as you want.
P.S. I am a metal working kinda guy. I dont work good with wood. If I can do this, anybody can I promise.