Stray Thoughts Summer 2017
Ask the Trainer
What is the Best Containment Solution for Your Dog?
By Mike Jahnke
Y
ou love your dog and would probably do anything
to keep him safe! In order to give your dog the
best life possible, it is crucial to find a way to keep him
contained in your yard and out of undesirable locations.
Luckily, depending on your specific situation there are
many great ways that you can do this. Options include
a physical fence, an electronic fence, and boundary
training. Each of these methods has its advantages and
disadvantages, so it is important to think about all of your
options before making your choice.
There are definitely some drawbacks to physical fences.
The biggest one is often the cost. Installation for a quarter
acre yard will generally start around $4,500 and go up
from there. In addition to the installation it is important to
think about upkeep. You will need to ensure that the fence
stays in good shape so the dog remains contained by it.
This could mean additional costs each year.
Another problem we often see when dog owners have
physical fences is that they do less training than they
would otherwise. Dogs are often left to act up in the
back yard because it is their safe place. It is important
to teach dogs how you expect them to act while in the
yard. Teach them not to bark at everyone, not to fence
fight with the neighbor dog, not to try and jump the
fence, not to dig out of it and not to run out of the gate.
Having a physical fence should not be an excuse ignore
your dog’s undesirable behaviors!
Physical Fencing
Electronic Fencing
Physical fences generally provide the best peace of
mind to dog owners. A good physical fence should keep
your dog in and other things out of your yard. There
are a large variety of physical fences available and it is
important to consider both height and material. For
medium to large sized dogs, we would recommend a
physical fence that is at least 5-6 feet tall. This should
help prevent the dog from being able to jump over
the fence. The fence should also reach as close to the
ground as possible to make it harder for your dog to
burrow under it.
Electronic fencing has become a very popular option
for keeping dogs safely contained at home. Most
electronic fence systems work by burying a wire around
the perimeter of the yard. This wire emits a radio signal
that is picked up by a collar on your dog. When the
dog comes close to the signal a stimulus is provided
and your dog will return to your yard. For the typical
well behaved dog, an electronic fence is an excellent
solution. One of the biggest benefits of an electronic
fence is that installation is quick and very cost effective
compared to a physical fence. Electronic fences
keep your yard feeling open and spacious, as well as
complying with most HOA requirements.
When looking at materials, don’t just go with the cheapest.
Some inexpensive wood fences can easily be broken by
a large dog. If you go with a picket type fence make sure
to consider the amount of space between pickets of the
fence. If the space is too large dogs can quickly escape. A
small dog can get through an amazingly small space! This
can become an issue if you have an HOA that restricts the
type of fence that you can have.
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