Friend/client needs the decking on their back porch replaced. They have 6 Burnese Mountain dogs (must weigh from 80-120#)
View Image and a Keeshond View Image (we had one like that, but had to put it down 2 years ago.)
The dogs have chewed up the Ipe decking and used the ipe balusters for toothpicks. They would like to replace the decking with something a little more canine tooth-resistant.
Short of anything metallic, any ideas?
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Invictus, by Henley.
Replies
Theres is a product that used by horseman called " Chew Stop" , It's used by equestrians it' stops chewing and cribbing it's clear and non-staining . It's made by Farnam , i used it on S-Y-P for a barn dog that was chewer, the S-Y-P soaked it up and detered the dog with repeated applications. And eventually he moved on to other activities, more imporatnatly this a disorder that the owner should address after the fix. There are diversion's that they can investigate and employ with the dogs. There not enough activitivity or something to that effect.
Regardless, the stuff goes 27.00 bucks a gallon, the active ingredient is : cinnamic aldehyde . i layed it down with aroller and sprayer (pump) .now i dont know how this will soak up with ipe. as you know dense is an under- state- ment. There are alot of homespun remedies , this one worked for me . regards
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Other than stone I would hire him first:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/dogwhisperer/
Then replace with the same stuff.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=91581.1
WOW those dogs chewed up an Ipe deck? Ipe the destroyer of sharp saw blades everywhere? Ipe the how in the heck can this 2by4 weigh this much Ipe? Ipe the most insanely dense wood most people will ever see? So dense that it sinks like a stone in water?"
Those dogs must have bionic jaws or way to much free time. Really, if they can chew thru Ipe what can't they chew thru? I'm with the other posters in that the owners need to train their dogs not to chew on the deck. Either that or you are going to have to build the entire thing out of metal and concrete.
Nice looking dogs though.
Daniel Neumansky
Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA. Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/
Oakland CA
Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer
Maybe it was Ipe lite.