Which Fence is Best for Dogs? A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing the right fence for your dog can be a tough decision. You want to keep your furry friend safe and secure, but you also want a fence that fits your budget.
When it comes to choosing what type of fence to install to keep your furry friends safely in your yard, dog owners will find that there are plenty of options!
Several fence types for dogs have their pros and cons. In this article, we go over some popular fence types to figure out which are the best dog fences that would be a good fit for your pooch!
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If you are looking at your new fence solely as a means to keep your dog in your yard, and you're not interested in privacy, a chain link fence can be a great choice. Chain link fences are made of evenly spaced metal posts connected by long sheets of galvanized wire. Sometimes the metal wire is coated in colored acrylic.
Of all the fencing options, chain link fences will be the most cost-effective and will do the job of keeping all sizes of dogs from running away. For your backyard, make sure to get a chain link fence that is at least six feet tall if you have a larger dog. Larger dogs could potentially jump over shorter fences. With small dogs, you can even put up a three or four foot tall chain link fence in the front yard and let your pets play out front as well as in the backyard.
Keep in mind that unless you put slats into the chain link fence or cover it with some other type of material, passersby will be able to see into your yard. Some creative ideas for filling in the metal wire include using panels of artificial grass or growing flowers or other plants that climb the fence.
Chain link fencing is the perfect choice for homeowners who don't want to obstruct their view but need to keep their pets in the yard!
For pet security as well as looks, wood is a great choice for fence material for a pet fence. That is because a wooden fence is strong enough to keep your pets in the yard and all but the most determined dogs from chewing their way through. A nice cedar or redwood wood can also offer major curb appeal for your home.
A wood fence can also provide privacy along with making sure your pets are not able to get out of the yard, depending on the style of fence you choose. For pet owners, a good style of wooden fence is the dog ear fence - and not just because of the name!
The dog ear wooden fence consists of wood panels with tops that look like the folded down page of a book, or floppy dog ears. The panels are attached to horizontal rails near the top and bottom and placed closely together. Wider, vertical posts are placed evenly along the fence for extra support.
A wooden fence in the dog ear style will give you the security you need knowing your pets will be safe in the yard. It will also still be relatively cost-effective - costing less than metal or vinyl fences. On top of all that, you will have privacy in your backyard with a dog ear fence. Make sure you request a fence that is at least six feet tall if you have a larger dog!
A picket fence is beautiful but does not work very well as a pet fence - in most cases. While a picket fence is attractive and has always been a classic front yard fence, except for the smallest or laziest of dogs it is not secure enough to keep your pets in your yard. And even then, you probably would not want to leave them outside unattended.
The other downside of a picket fence for use as a pet fence is that it is usually around three or four feet tall. That will not stop even medium sized dogs from escaping your yard. And a large dog could easily jump a fence of that height. Long story short, you do not want to use a picket fence as a pet fence.
If your heart is set on a white picket fence, there is one way to still have that picket fence look and be a responsible pet owner. Install a taller, more secure fence in the backyard and have the shorter picket fence in the front yard. Most of the time pet owners keep their dogs in the backyard anyway!
For a pet fence, a privacy fence in any style is going to be a good choice. That is because "privacy fence" is a category of fences where there are no gaps or only very small gaps between the panels. You will not be able to see through it, and pets will not be able to get through it to escape the yard!
One example of a type of privacy fence is the horizontal fence. This can be made of any material, but a nice reddish colored wood like cedar or redwood with black metal rails and posts gives off a sleek and modern look. It will also function nicely as a pet fence.
The panels will be right next to each other with no spaces between them, so there are no gaps for pets to get out of the yard either. The metal rails and posts will reinforce the fence as well, in case you have a larger or more determined dog. There is no getting through this one!
Speaking of 'not getting through this one' - the metal fence is the definition of secure. When the posts are placed closely enough together a metal fence can be a great choice for a pet fence. The posts, being made of steel, will be strong enough to contend with even the large dogs.
Since the posts can be skinnier than wooden panels but still be stronger, there can be gaps between them. This will allow you a view outside of your property, even in the backyard where you have a taller fence. Just make sure that the fence is at least six feet tall back there to make sure your dog is not able to jump over the fence!
The only downside of a metal fence is cost. It will cost you more to install than other types of fence materials like wood or chain link. However, metal fences are the strongest and most durable. They can easily outlast a wood fence, or even a vinyl fence.
They don't require as much maintenance as a wooden fence either which can become time consuming. With a metal fence you can spend more time playing with your pup and less time worrying about things like staining your wood fence or treating it with harmful chemicals.
A vinyl fence is the perfect choice for a pet fence when you are also interested in your new fence increasing curb appeal and being durable. Although vinyl, or PVC, will cost you a little more up front than a wooden fence, it can outlast a wood fence. A high-quality vinyl fence also requires much less maintenance than a wooden fence does.
For a pet fence, a type of vinyl fence that would work perfectly is a vinyl privacy fence! A privacy fence consists of solid vinyl fence panels that are placed in between the fence posts. That means there are zero gaps between the fence panels so there is no way for your pet to get through it.
Vinyl can be bought in many different colors, but white is always a good option. Another benefit of vinyl for a pet fence is that dogs cannot chew through vinyl like they could chew through some kinds of wooden posts.
As you can see, there are plenty of choices for fences that can keep your doggo safely in your yard! You do not have to keep your furry friend in a dog kennel or some other kind of containment system to keep them safe. And you do not need to install an electric dog fence or invisible pet fence to contain your pet.
Still, some fences would work better than others as a pet fence. Keep fence height, material, and presence of any gaps in the fence style in mind when you are deciding on which type of fence you want. ,If you are ready to get started with your fence project and install a fence that will keep your pet safe, call up our experts at Ergeon!
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