My new place has a 12 foot retaining wall in the back of the house keeping the hill from eroding and sliding into the house. You can walk around either side and up the hill to get on top of it.
Do I need to worry about my GSD puppy falling off of it, or doing something stupid like jumping?
Reg: 08-29-2006
Posts: 2324
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Will second Jennifer on that.
My very small pup went off our (much lower) retaining wall. He was so quick that I couldn't grab his drag line in time without hanging him. Remembering that fall still makes me shudder
Cathy Goessman Webboard User Reg: 12-03-2007
Posts: 1231
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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I have been told several times by both vets and kennel managers that it's better to let a small dog hang itself with a slip lead than fall out of your arms onto the hard floor. I don't know if that applies with a larger dog though.
I am sure it applies to larger dogs as well (although I wouldn't want it to hang itself either). Puppies through adult dogs have trouble with depth perception, so it may be a good idea to put up a temporary barrier, especially with a GSD pup who may go after a butterfly and end up falling.
Reg: 03-28-2008
Posts: 47
Loc: Delray Beach, Florida
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A general rule of thumb to use with pups is if there is any way that they can find trouble, then they'll find trouble. If there is any way that you can block off the dangerous area so that the pup can't get there I would strongly suggest that you do so. A 12' drop is a long way down and if the dog lands on his head then it's all over.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: Christine Garrit
A general rule of thumb to use with pups is if there is any way that they can find trouble, then they'll find trouble. If there is any way that you can block off the dangerous area so that the pup can't get there I would strongly suggest that you do so. A 12' drop is a long way down and if the dog lands on his head then it's all over.
Melissa Thom Webboard User Reg: 12-04-2007
Posts: 2781
Loc: Upper Left hand corner, USA
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Just a thought but have you thought of terracing it down 4 or 3 feet at a time? A four/three foot bump is signifigantly less painful than a 12 foot bump.
There's no way to terrace it. It's facing the house and close, and I'd need all sorts of city approval to do anything to it. Which means I would have to pay an erosion specialist to come in and do an assessment.
I'm thinking I might have to do a plate glass railing along the top of it. It's about 70 feet wide, so that might be a wee bit expensive. I have a kid on the way also, so I have to do something anyway.
Even putting in a railing is going to require association approval.
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Tall retaining wall in backyard... should I worry?
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Just for preventative measures. 
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