A fence is an enclosure that keeps people and animals in or out. And the fence you think is just right for your dog, may not be able to keep your pooch safely enclosed. Dogs like to dig. And some dog in their natural environment must dig.

There are two types of fences: Electronic and Physical.

ELECTRONIC FENCE

An Electronic Fence consists has three components: TRANSMITTER, WIRE  and RECEIVERS (attached to dog collars that are worn by your dogs). 

The signals in an electronic fence system can be low power pulses or low frequency radio signals (kind of like AM radio, except at a much lower frequency).

The Transmitter is a small box (normally install in your home) that connects to a AC Outlet for power and a pair of twisted wires that run out into your yard. 

The Wires (twisted pair) coming from the transmitter split into a single wire that loops around your yard to form an electronic fence.  Both the single and twisted pair wires are normally buried in your yard, to avoid a tripping hazard. At locations were the wires are twisted (like coming from your house) there is no signal.

The Receivers (s) are small boxes (with electronics and batteries, mounted of a dog collar) with metal contacts which press against your dogs neck.  When your dog gets to close to the buried wire carrying the signal, the receiver first beeps and, after second or so, give your dog a mild electrical shock. 

    After installation of an electronic fence systems, you have to spend time training your dogs
    so they will where the fence is and where the areas of their yard are that they can play.

More information on electronic fence systems see the web site of Dog Fence Electronic.  For those home owners that do not want to use a physical fence, electronic fence systems are a good way to contain your dog. Like all fences, they are not fail safe. The electrical power to your home can fail, the batteries in the receiver can run down and there can be breaks in buried wire.

Electronic fence systems do not keep other people's dogs from coming into your yard (and doing their business).

PHYSICAL FENCES

A Physical Fence can be make from a verity of materials. Some of the materials you may not think of as a fence.

CHAIN LINK & WELDED WIRE FENCES

Chain Link or Welded Wire fence, that should do it, right. Unless the fence is constructed with both a top and "bottom" rails, some dogs can push under the fence. If the chain link or welded wire fence is more the six feet high, it may also need a middle rail for support.

And since the welded wire and chain link fence stops at ground level, you can have the digging under problem. One solution is installation of a 2 to 2 1/2 foot strip welded wire fence 3 inches below the ground, with about 6 inches passing under your chain link or welded wire fence. 

Welded Wire and Chain Link fencing comes in standard heights of 4ft, 5ft, 6 ft
and up. So if you going to bury a 2 foot or 2 1/2 foot sections of metal fencing,
you will have to cut down a 4ft or higher section of fence. Yes, you could use
chain link fence for your in ground project, but it is far harder to cut.

Another approach is to lay 2 inch thick by 12 inch by 24 inch gray stepping stone (they come a various sizes) around the inside of your dog's fence, with a cement slab or slate under the gate. Gray steeping stones is a fancy name plain old cement.  This is far less work than burying the welded wire fencing, but not guaranteed to stop a really determined large dog.

WOOD FENCES

Wood Fences come in many different styles.  Common are board on board, solid board, picket, spaced picket, stockade, lattice top and basket weave.  Style and height of a wood fence depend whether you want complete privacy, a fence that let air past through the fence or just a safe place for your pets.  Wood Post & Rail fences, along with the old style Split Rail fences, with chain link or welded wire installed on the yard side of the wood can provide safety for your pet .

Material used in a fence effects both the life of the fence and cost.  For prolonged the life and lower maintenance cost, many wood fences are constructed using Cedar, which cost more.

When your fence is for protecting a dog, method of construction is important.  To control cost, many fencing companies assemble fences using nail and stable guns.  A large active dog can quickly render such a fence useless.  You can request that your fence be assembled using screws for a additional cost.  If you are a handy type person you can drilled holes and install screws yourself later (square sets recommended).  Lots of work.

And since the wood fence stops at ground level, you can have the digging under problem. One solution is installation of a 2 to 2 1/2 foot strip of welded wire fence 3 inches below the ground, with about 6 inches passing under your chain link or welded wire fence. Even more work, but worth it. 

Welded Wire and Chain Link fencing comes in standard heights of 4ft, 5ft, 6 ft
and up. So if you going to bury a 2 foot or 2 1/2 foot sections of metal fencing,
you will have to cut down a 4ft or higher section of fence. Yes, you could use
Chain Link fence for your in ground project, but it is far harder to cut.

Another approach is to lay 2 inch thick by 12 inch by 24 inch gray stepping stone (they come a various sizes) around the inside of your dog's fence, with a cement slab or slate under the gate. Gray steeping stones is a fancy name plain old cement.  This is far less work than burying the welded wire fencing, but not guaranteed to stop a really determined large dog.

More information on wood fences, see the web site of Dog Fence Wood. 

CEMENT WALLS

How about a stone, brick or cement block wall. If it is high enough it will keep your dog from going over the wall. But a cement wall normally sits of a foundation that is only a few inches deep.  And if your dog is a digger and determined, it will not take long.  Like wood fences, the dig under problem with a cement wall, one of the solutions is the installation of a 2 foot strip of chain link or welded wire fence 3 inches below the ground. 

Another approach is to lay 2 inch thick by 12 inch by 24 inch gray stepping stone (they come a various sizes) around the inside of your dog's fence, with a cement slab or slate under the gate. Gray steeping stones is a fancy name plain old cement.  This is far less work than burying the welded wire fencing, but not guaranteed to stop a really determined large dog.

More information on brick, stone or cement walls, see the web site of Dog Fence Wall. 

DO IT YOURSELF

If you are a handy type person with a possible interest in installing your own wood, metal or vinyl fence and would like information on how it is done, with a little searching on the Internet, you will find a number of fence vendors that provide good installation instructions. Try "installing chain link fence", and with wood or vinyl in place of "chain link"

SWIMMING POOLS

Many locals have regulations that require swimming pools be protected by enclosures built to a code by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Also check out your home owners insurance requirements.  These enclosures can be made from welded wire fences or metal picket fences, made with larger post and stronger fence material.

Dogs and pools do not mix.  Drowning by very young and very old dogs in swimming pools are common.  The area used by your dogs should be separated from the swimming pool area by a physical fence or an electronic fence. You can see how an electronic fence works with your swimming pool by viewing the drawing at Dog Fence Electronic.  Check your local regulations.

MAINTENANCE

With age, all Fences and Gates require maintenance and none are fail safe. Like everything else in your dog's life, your attention is required to keep your friend safe.