acbunker

So like anyone else here, I'm a pond fan. A big one.
I have plenty of space here at my new house (5 acres) and my husband and I have different ideas about having a pond. I want something right now even if it's small, our budget is pretty, pretty tight once we just bought the house. And he wants to wait until we can have a big pond with an island in the center and, of course, a brick bbq on it.
Finally I convinced him to make the small one for now. And I even thought about digging a hole, put some 6 mil, use a pump that came in a font with the house and call it a pond.
BUT we have a problem, it's black and it's called a labrador retriever who loves water, or just Boris. The pond will be his next house, I know that for sure, so the 6 mil is out of question.
I have a few questions:
1) What is safer to buy, a 45mil pond liner or a rigid, preformed liner? I know with the 45 mil I can shape it as whatever I want and it's cheaper, but would it be resistant enough with a lab jumping in it all the time?
2) If I use 45 mil, should I make it deep enough so he would be swimming and not stepping or not so deep so he has firm ground and wouldn't scratching it while swimming?
3) What minimum size is ideal for the fishes to share the pond with Boris? I'll make sure they have places to hide in, like rocks and plants.
4) What about racoons? Will they eat the fishes? If yes, how deep should I make it?

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

gremlin

Since you have the room, I would almost suggest doing a dog pond for puppy and a separate fish pond with either a raised wall around or a fence/plants around. at least until you can do a much larger pond so the fish can really hide. For something like that, it may be better to use the flexible liner and layer it with slate or some other large flat rock so that none of the liner is exposed. I haven't done anything large, mine is just a preformed and puppy is not allowed in it. With it being above the ground and a wall around, she doesn't seem to be too interested in it other than getting a drink of water every once in awhile.

Charmaine

I would suggest that you make your pond whatever size you want and once you are done cover it with the small hole bird wire so that way Boris or a racoon wont bother your fish.