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Installing a Trolley System
Easiest Method | Real Cases | How to Sink a Post
A trolley isn't the best solution for helping a chained
dog! Please consider building a fence or bringing your dog inside. Dogs
need to be able to run free. You wouldn’t want to live on a chain, and
neither does your dog!
If your dog is a fence-jumper, there are alternatives to chaining your
dog.
However, a trolley/dog run is better than a fixed chain. Your dog will
be attached by a leash to a line like a clothesline. The leash is
attached to the line by a rolling trolley. The dog can run back and
forth the length of the line.
You can buy dog runs from Petsmart, Walmart and other pet and discount
stores. Trolley kits include easy instructions. You can also buy the
individual parts to a trolley (line, trolley, hooks for the posts/trees)
at home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.
We
think the best trolley is:
Prestige® Skyline Aerial Dog Run. The attachments are made of metal
rather than plastic, so they are stronger and less likely to break. You
can attach a stronger downline (leash), such as the
Prestige Beast Tie-Out to the trolley for strong dogs.
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The Easiest Method
The easiest way is to run the trolley between two trees. If you don’t have two trees, you can easily sink posts into the ground and run the trolley between the posts. Or you can use a tree and one post.
Important!Put the trolley
in a place where your dog won’t get tangled up or be able to jump a
fence. |
The trolley kit should include “stoppers” you can put anywhere on the line to stop the trolley. If you want the dog to stop four feet from one end of the line, put a stopper four feet from the end of the line. The trolley won’t be able to get past the stopper.
You
can buy extra stoppers at home improvement stores. Ask for rope clamps.
Pick the size that works best for the size of your line. If the clamp is
too big, it will slide around.
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Real Cases: Lady and Maggie
Here's how Lady's and Maggie's lives were improved by installing a trolley.
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Lady, before: Lady was chained to this clothesline post. Her yard is not fenced and the owner isn't planning to install one. |
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Lady, after: We ran the trolley between the two clothesline posts that were already in place. Now, Lady has about 10 times more area to run around in. She loves running on her trolley (though she would love a fenced yard a lot more!) |
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Maggie, before: Maggie was chained next to her doghouse for six years. Her chain was about six feet long. Maggie's guardian doesn't want her to have access to the entire yard. |
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Maggie after: We ran her trolley between a tree and a post we installed. Because Maggie can jump the fence, we had to keep her from getting too close to the fence. Otherwise, she could jump over and hang herself. We put a stopper (rope clamp) on the line a few feet from the fence. The stopper keeps Maggie from getting too close to the fence. Now, Maggie has much more room, and RUNS back and forth on her line. She seems to enjoy having her choice of spots to curl up and sleep now. |
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How to Set a Post
Materials:
- Strong wooden post. The post should be long enough to allow for about 1.5 feet under the ground, and 5-7 feet above ground. Ideally, the post should ne tall enough for someone to walk under the trolley line. The post needs to be several inches thick so it won't snap.
- One 40 lb. bag of concrete mix is plenty for one post. You can use quick-set.
- Stick or dowel.
- Water from a bucket or hose.
- Shovel or post-hole digger.
Instructions:
- Dig a hole for the post. The post needs to be at least 1 1/2 or two feet underground.
- Put a few rocks in the bottom of the hole, then set the post in the hole. It’s easiest if you have someone to hold the post in the center of the hole.
- Pour about one-third of the concrete mix into the hole (pour it around the post). Pour about half a gallon of water into the hole and stir the concrete around with the stick.
- Keep adding concrete mix and stirring in water in until the hole is filled with the concrete mix. Refer to the directions on the package.
- Cover the concrete with the dirt from the hole you dug. Pile dirt or rocks around the bottom of the post to keep it in place while the concrete sets.
- In 24 hours, you post should be set with regular concrete. With quick-set, your post will be ready in an hour.
