Necessary Fence?

[ShellyK]

Off topic...but BRAVO to Shara and Natalya.   When I got my spaniel, I lived in a condo.  We walked and walked and walked.  My little spaniel got 10 times the exercise as many dogs w/ yards that I knew.  And now that I do live in a house and have a yard...I'm still in the habit of walking my boys.  Every morning and night, we make the rounds.

So, I agree whole-heartedly...if you have a house, a fence is a great idea (and the bigger the fence the better.)  However, not having a house/yard doesn't automatically mean that home isn't a good one.

Shelly K.

[Julie]

To clarify, I don't think that just because you don't have a yard you're not a good option for a puppy home. I was responding to the question of the new puppy owner who asked about building a fence. IMO, he should. There are lots of great homes out there that don't necessarily have a fenced yard. As far as I'm concerned, my yard won't really be fenced until it's got a physical fence around it.

Julie

[oscarsmom]

Sorry I went off topic! Julie, no worries, I think we all knew what you were trying to say - I just had to throw in my thanks because, well, I'm darned proud of my urban hound's life!! 

~Natalya

[Keeper]

there are exceptions to every rule. 
Just as there are excellent owners who don't have a fence - but use a leash when the dog(s) are outside - there are also dogs whose backyard is safely fenced, yet 'escape' when the front door is opened. 
The point made about trying to call off a RR who is in high gear prey drive is true even of a well-trained obedience dog.  Watch a coursing dog on the side lines and you will see that prey-drive trying to be controlled.   
Let's face it, there are dogs who can easily clear a 5 ft fence and they aren't agility trained dogs.  I have seen one  RR scale a 6 foot kennel fence...and he didn't jump...he climbed it!   

To date only one of my RRs has shown a desire to go over a fence.  She was one of my puppies who came back for boarding.  She lived on 75 acres near Traverse City and pretty much had the run of 5 fully fenced acres.  She had learned to 'jump' the fence when the owners got a covered hot tub...and placed it next to the fenced area in the corner of the yard.  She would pop up on the cover of the hot tub and bask in the heat...and then one day she put her front paws on the fence and over she went.  When she came for boarding the owner mentioned that as he got in his car.      We put a solid tarp over the top and lobster claw clipped it snugly over lapping the kennel run.  She tried several times to go over it.  That made my decision to  put her on a 16 foot flexi for yard potty time.  Whenever she comes for boarding...we add the kennel fence topper. 

To begin our training we do not allow any of our puppies to stand on hind legs and put their front paws on us, the counter, fences, gates, etc.  When a dog does this they are gauging the height of an obstacle.  We discourage neighbors and friends from allowing or encouraging the dogs to come up so they can pet them over the fence.  I think the idea of adding a hot wire to a short fence might be a deterant for dogs who are already exhibiting the desire to jump.

Even where we live, the law requires dogs to be fenced or on leash.  The only exception is bird hunting or rabbit hunting seasons. 

Sandra

[caro]

I have always stressed to puppy buyers that there should be some sort of barrier between the front door (or whatever door is used most to go into and out of the house) and the road.  An exuberant puppy can escape through someobdy's legs all too easily and if there is nothing to stop them, out into the street.  Have seen it happen all too often where this has occurred and the dog has been hit by a passing car.  I have no problem selling to somebody in an apartment provided they are an active person and enjoy taking a lot of exercise.  And I agree by having to go out with your dog frequently does increase the bond between you.  I have sold to people in town houses where the front yard is the street, but in those cases I have recommended that a gate be placed in front of the front door so that when the  door is opened, there is no possibility of the puppy escaping between somebody's legs.  It takes time to train a puppy to be a reliably trained dog and it is that period before they are reliable that is dangerous.

Caroline

[Tracey]

One of the first things I told my pup's breeder was that I have an enclosed garden. To me, it's as important as having a place to walk regularly, and a piece of lawn. I have a wrought iron fence at the front (6ft) so that Mushi (and before her, Chunqa) can see out into the road, beyond her territory. The sides and back of the property is solidly walled - not quite 6ft, though (perhaps 4). Mushi, like all RRs, is very athletic but hasn't been over the back wall yet and I don't think she will unless she's left in the backyard for a while.

[acft90364]

Hey thanks for all the input.  I really enjoyed reading all your advice and tips, and thank you for not cutting me up for the fence question.  Although, I think Julie may have gotten the wrong idea.  I was by no means planning to have my boy off-leash, or have him out of my control.  I've done a lot of research, and talked to many breeders to not know better.  My fence question was merely something to pick the brains of more knowledgeable folks.
     That being said...  Big thanks to Shara for your post.  And, again thanks to everybody else.  I will definitely take all the advice to heart.

Damien

[PaulaEdwina]

I had a 4ft fence when I lived in town and that was good enough. Then I moved to the woods. WIth their prey drive,  I went with the Benner's heavy duty deer fence that finishes to 6ft. That worked great with the boys,and then I got a 'return to rescue' foster that I ended up keeping. She found ever space/gap to get under that fence to go walkabout in the woods. I then strung a hotwire (visible - the type you use to keep in livestock) on the inside of my fence and nobody challenges it (knockwood). I've seen them chase a squirrel right to the perimiter and make a hard turn.

Just my experience.
Paula

[hewathe]

The back of my property is not fenced, and it just means I'm out there with him on a leash.  I would never trust him off leash - as much as he is a dog that sticks to my side, I know that it's not worth the risk.  The leash goes on before I so much as touch the door knob.

It's a hassle, but he definitely gets some extra exercise! We are planning on finishing the fence though, and it'll be 6 ft wooden fence.  I could go lower than that if I wanted though, Jenga doesn't show much interest in crossing barriers.  I could leave his crate door unlocked and he wouldn't figure out how to get out.