Cedar Deck for Round Pen

[Circle C]

Well, Mandi and I finally finished the cedar round pen. It works great, the horses cannot see out, however that also means we have trouble seeing in. We figured the best way to fix this issue, was to build an elevated deck looking into the round pen.  Here are some pictures during construction.  I am not sure what other projects Mandi has in store for me this week.  When I woke up this morning, first thing I asked her, is "What project are we working on this afternoon"

Thursday evening. Getting post set.


Friday evening. Floor joists, and decking.




Saturday. We did not get much done on the deck. JML and his wife Laura came over along with some neighbors and friends and we BBQ'ed and had some nice cold Shiner's.

Sunday. Slept in as a result of BBQ and Shiners, then had ice skating practice for our girls, then about 4:00 started working on deck again.


One of our supervisors laying down on the job


Siding complete


Interior view


Steps


Supervisor again


Almost done


That damn pig showed up while I was working.


There is still some trim work to be done, a gate, table chairs and umbrella. But for the  most part I am done with it.

[matt_aggie04]

Chris....you done good!!  That looks awesome man.  I think you have inspired me to try and find some of these planks and trim out a few areas of my kennels with them.  I could also make a short section of fence into more of a privacy fence with them where people cant see into my dog yard.  I just really like the look and smell of cedar, adds a classy touch to all wood projects.  Did you brand the wood or paint your brand on the steps?  Good looking white pup there, looks like he is gonna be a real leggy dog when he grows up.  I can't believe Delta is that big!!  She was so small when we cought her and that was just back in December, unbelievable.

Matt

[Circle C]

Matt,

   If we do the Bastrop sale/ hunt on the 17th, you can get all the cedar you want for your kennel projects.

Here is my favorite pic of the new pup so far.

[Bryant]

VERY nice!!!  I think I remember seeing in a previous post where you came across that cedar.  Was it a one-time deal or is it someone that usually has it readily available?
 

[Circle C]

  The man has a sawmill, and he calls me when he has a load ready. He is in the Austin area.  As soon as I am finished with my projects, I will release his contact info.
To date with all my projects I have done, I have paid a total of 60.00 for the cedar slabs.  When you figure in fuel to go pick up the cedar, it runs closer to 220.00.
I have a couple of loads that I have to get picked up soon.  I have 125' of 6' privacy fence to build, and about 300' of 4' pipe fence that is built, I just need to attach the cedar slabs to it.
Here is a picture of the pipe fence with the cedar attached.

[aladatrot]

The pup is a full brother to Ugly Dog's "Cotton", "Smoochie", and Ensor's "Moon". That should give you an idea of what he should turn into. His name is "Clorox", and someday he hopes to be just like his siblings!

The deck is getting "mood lighting" under the railing where you won't be able to see the lights, just the glow from them. It is also getting a galvanized table and chairs with (hopefully) a Shiner Bock umbrella. We have the table and chairs, looking for a Shiner umbrella.

It's a shame we can't bay pigs in our neighborhood because this thing would be a perfect bay pen. At least we know how to build one now and we can build them at our friends' houses (hinting) :O)

M

[Bryant]

The pup is a full brother to Ugly Dog's "Cotton", "Smoochie", and Ensor's "Moon". That should give you an idea of what he should turn into. His name is "Clorox", and someday he hopes to be just like his siblings!

I believe that would make him a brother to my Zeus also.  Should you decide your low on kennel space, I can probably find a spot to squeeze him in! 

[Circle C]

How about we just trade.

You can have Clorox for 2008 and 2009, I will take Zeus for 2008 and 2009, then we swap!

[Clay]

good looking deck chris now it just needs us sitting up there relaxing with a cold one...

[aladatrot]

Clay, Chris was toying around with the idea of having a dorm fridge up there, but couldn't figure it out without the fridge getting wet in rainy weather. Maybe we'll have one of those neat looking cedar covered ice chests to keep things cold.

Bryant, I am getting used to the whole "male puppy" thing. I haven't raised a male pup in years, nor have I  raised a non - Aussie in the house ever. Clorox shows me how smart he is in that he is already knows "sit" and "come", as well as he knows to stay in the back seat and not try to get into the front. What I can't get used to is the fact that boys have more "accidents" on the floor than do females. We will get through this crate training thing and then we will be on the same page. Other than that, he is a joy to live with and a total ham for attention. He helps me feed the animals and is happy to eat the chicken eggs. I had orders to raise him like an aussie for the first year, I just don't think Krystal knew that he would be a spoiled rotten house dog :O)

As I type this, he is asleep in my lap at the office.
M

[jml]

Looks good, what does Mandi have in the works next?

[Bryant]

How about we just trade.
You can have Clorox for 2008 and 2009, I will take Zeus for 2008 and 2009, then we swap!

That's too good of a deal, Chris.  You better re-think that before throwing an offer like that on the table! 


Mandi,
Right on with the pup!  I'm not a fan of doing a whole bunch of human socializing and making pets with the strike/bay dogs but I think the bulldogs are a different deal.  I agree with your tactics.  Just don't get to liking him so much that in a year your scared to let him go to the woods! 

All kidding to the side, deck looks GREAT! 

[aladatrot]

Bryant,

I don't think anyone could be more attached to a bulldog than I am to Meat Head. I love for him to go in the woods because I know he lives to catch a hog. The only downside to sending in a catch dog that you care this much about is that come H*ll or high water, I'm going in right after him. If this means that I have to walk across snakes, vines, or razor wire, I'm coming. Also, if he goes missing, I'm staying right there until he's back. Trust me, I've ruined a hunt before by yelling and hollering for Meaty to come back to me when a bay broke and Meat chased the hog into the woods. We weren't going anywhere until Meaty was back safely.

I'll probably be the same way about Clorox. I know there is a chance every time you hunt that it may be a bulldog's last. However, it's also a chance that every time I climb onto a horse or into a truck that I might not climb out. There's danger in everything but it doesn't stop us from doing what we love.

Do you raise your catch dog puppies in the house? If so, can you tell a difference in a bull dog you have raised versus one someone else raised (relating to a desire to catch)?

Thanks
M

[Circle C]

Looks good, what does Mandi have in the works next?

Jason,

   This weekends projects consist of
- Tying in electrical from the sub panel in the barn, to the round pen, equipment shed, and pasture for an                 electric fence charger.

-  Painting 60' of pipe fence, and attaching cedar to it.

-  Time and weather permitting, I will build a 12 x 16' loafing shed for the horses. I have the posts in the ground, just need to put up stringers, siding, and roof.

[BrownThumb]

I LOVE IT!!!  I'm going to have to think of a place that I could use a deck so you two can come build it for me!   I will be there for moral support, but y'all do such a great job....I would hate to get in the way by working on it with you.     Just kidding...  Seriously though, it looks great! 

[Bryant]

Do you raise your catch dog puppies in the house? If so, can you tell a difference in a bull dog you have raised versus one someone else raised (relating to a desire to catch)?

Never raised a catchdog pup, but Chris has made me a pretty sound offer on yours.  Just kidding.  I just started hunting with catch dogs a couple years ago when the thrill of bay and shoot started to diminish.  I just started owning a catchdog about six months ago when two came along that I felt beyond a reasonable doubt that I could keep around and trust with my two young boys.  My kennels are all back behind the house.  To clarify what I said above, how I handle my catchdog is much different than my others dogs.  Each time I'm following behind the catch, I'm potentially placing my safety into the hands of a dog.  For that reason, we have a little stronger bond and he gets a few extra belly scratches each afternoon.

In my opinion, what can be messed up with too much handling of a strike dog is their independance which in turn can mess up their hunt.  A dog that is more dependant on petting or praise from an owner is less likely to be independant enough to venture the woods alone.  As with everything, there are exceptions but this theroy seems to be consistant with about every old time type dog man I have ever talked with about it.  The hunting aspect is not nearly as important with catch-dog stock so I don't see it as being that much of an issue.

Once again, my opinion and rambling about it! 


Circle C,

I failed to see:

- Going to the woods to tie a hog

included on your list.  Where are your priorities???

[Circle C]

Getting in the woods is up there in my priority list. Might have to fit a hunt in sometime this weekend too.

I joke about Mandi having a list of things for me to do. In reality, we pretty much do what we want, when we want, and take things as they come.  It just so happens that Mandi and I run the roads almost every weekend. In doing so we have neglected some things around the house that we have been wanting to get done.  I have a problem with starting a second project before I finish the first one. So we made a list of things we would like to get done around the place. No deadline, but more of a project list, to keep on track.

[aladatrot]

Yep, Bryant - you sound like me except that I pretty much coddle the catch dog. Well, I don't coddle Tyson because he is still learning boundaries (you have four feet to walk on and don't need to walk on mine too, etc.). Meat Head came to work with me today, and gets cuddled on all the dern time when he isn't broken out with his mange. Even then, he is patted to show that he's the favored one. The other catch dog we have is Hunter, a 5 year old Mountain Cur who has zero hunt in him, but is our idea of the perfect running catch. He hangs out close to horse or four wheeler and rolls out to catch as soon as he hears a bay. He gets loved on as well, because in our minds, he is also the equivalent to a bull dog.

 Cur dogs are another story. I'm a little harder on them and have recently been shown that you get a better relationship with them by making them "wait" to eat. I feel like a lion tamer when I'm going in to feed them! Each has to sit quietly on their chain before I allow them to eat the food that is sitting in their bowls. I can tell you that this practice has made things much better in our pack. We don't experience the arguing among curs, and I can only credit that to the new feeding situation. After a good hunt and on the way back to the truck, the cur dogs are fair game for petting. They seem to appreciate it but not require it. I guess that's the nature of the beast and the independence that you speak of.

I am always so amazed at the difference between my fur dogs and the hog dogs. My aussies are independent to a degree in that they will get ahead to embark on a job without being made to do so. However, they usually look to humans for direction.  I do have one that is driven like you wouldn't believe. You cannot waive her focus on a ball. It wouldn't matter if a nuclear bomb went off in the barn yard, Lacey would be focused on that ball. We watch her and wonder what it would be like if a dog were so focused on finding hogs. That same Aussie and her daughter Lena (my blood trailer) will hunt barn mice with strategy. It's pretty neat and I wish our curs would learn from them and apply it to hunting hogs. All I have to say is "Where's a Mouse" and the two dogs will hunt silently for hours without losing interest.

Crazy
M