Inexpensive Fencing Choices

During our Adoption meetings, we often discuss fencing with our Adopters. Not all of the dogs we offer for adoption need to go to a house with a fenced-in yard, but once you have a hard fence you will never regret putting it in! A hard fence eliminates the worry of your dog door dashing and getting loose in the neighborhood. Visitors will know when they are entering your yard. It gives your dog freedom in your yard so they can exercise off-leash. Fencing does not need to be expensive. If you live in a location where you have to adhere to Home Owners Association Rules though, prices may vary.

Chain Link Fencing

Chain Link is the most common type of fencing people think of when installing a fence for their dog. Chain Link is very durable and secure, but may have a higher price tag than what many people want to spend. It also can come in panels that can be attached together to make a pen that your dog can be off leash in. You can put many panels together to make a bigger pen. This can be an option if you want the dog to have a more restricted yet, off leash area in your yard.

Rolled Wire Fencing

Rolled Wire Fencing: Rolled Wire Fencing is easily purchased from a Home or Farm Supply store .It comes in a multitude of wire spacing depending on what the purpose of the fence is. For dogs, the mesh is often called 2 x4 inch mesh or No Climb Horse Fence. The wire can be galvanized to improve the durability of it. It also comes in varying heights. Fence posts can be wood or metal, and the wire can be attached to wood frame for more support. The possibilities are endless when using rolled fencing. The gates need to be custom built. Home Supply stores sell Gate kits that supply the hardware you need to build the gates. You can also purchase metal gates. You can bury the fence for dogs that are inclined to dig, and install a high enough fence so your dog won’t jump it (4 feet is the minimum that we suggest you choose). 5 or 6 feet is what we usually recommend depending on the yard and size of dog. Wire fence can easily be installed in any shape to fit the size of your yard. A wire fence can be seen through by your dog, so if a visual barrier is better suited to your dog you may want to consider a fence made of solid wood

Wood Fencing

Wood: They sell preassembled Stockade Fence Panels that you can attach to wood fence posts. These are likely more expensive than a DIY wood fence, but for the privacy, it may be worth it. You can also assemble a Picket fence or line a wood fence with wire for more security. The possibilities are endless both in price and looks.

Poly Deer Fencing

Poly Deer Fence: Poly Mesh fences are very easy to install, but are not for dogs that will be pushing on the fence, or chewing it. It can be easily moved from place to place, and can be configured in irregular shapes, but should only be used when the dogs are supervised in the yard. Dogs cannot climb this fence because of instability of the mesh. It is almost invisible when installed so it is a good choice for homeowners who don’t want the look of a fence in their yard.

Invisible Fencing

Finally, we need to mention both Wired and Wireless Invisible Fences. Although not as secure as a hard fence, invisible fences are often chosen for being inexpensive, easy to install, and they don’t change the look of your property. Invisible fences come in two varieties—a buried wire that emits a tone when your dog approaches the boundary, and then a shock when your dog crosses the boundary. There is also a more portable version that emits a radio frequency and again will trigger a tone when the dog gets close to the boundary and a shock when the dog crosses the line. Some are Smartphone and GPS compatible.

Some of the downsides to the Invisible fences is that if your dog does go through the line, it will shock your dog if they try to cross back over the wire to go home. It also does not prevent other dogs and animals from entering your yard. Even more important, the boundary is invisible to people visiting your home, such as delivery people, and they may unknowingly enter your dog’s territory. If your dog is at all territorial, an Invisible fence is not a good choice for your home.

In addition, training invisible fences uses aversive training techniques that inflict pain/discomfort and should not be used unless it will increase the safety and overall welfare of the animal. You can work with an Invisible Fence expert to help ensure you have the right settings, visible markers, and training procedures necessary for proper use. If your dog has a history of fear or aggression we recommend consulting with a behavior specialist before using this method.

If you have any questions about fencing your yard when you are adopting one of our dogs, we are happy to discuss this with you.