The Back Yard

When we think of an outdoor dog fence we usually think of a limited back yard fence, a fence that goes around something less than the entire back yard. This impression can be mistaken. That’s because people who can afford it and who like treating their dogs well may choose to make the fence follow the boundary line of their back yard or even the entire yard.

One of us recalls being at a suburban party where the owner referred to his outdoor dog fence. At first the fence seemed invisible. When finally spotted, it showed up as a practically invisible fence that followed the property line and was camouflaged by the woods behind.

Camoflaging an Outdoor Dog Fence

As this suggests, especially where there’s a wooded or green background, having your outdoor dog fence follow the property line makes good visual sense. But long fences cost money, so if often makes better sense to opt for a more limited fence. This latter option puts a premium on having a fence with both good looks and low visibility–because a fence standing out all alone in the back yard will be seen.

Fence Length

It’s also important that an outdoor dog fence be long enough to provide your pet with the exercise it seeks. To run around effectively, even a little dog needs an outdoor fence a hundred or so feet long (roughly 25 feet on a side), and for dogs that aren’t small 200 or more feet should be the norm. Such added length turns out to be not only in the interest of the fence seller (we love selling long fences) but also in the interest of the dog and its master. That is, too small a play area can lead to boredom, canine discontent, and an inclination to challenge the fence that can in turn create problems for both the dog and its owner.

There are of course exceptions. Older and/or less energetic dogs require less space (sometimes much less) than frisky younger dogs. And certain breeds like border collies can be expected to challenge fences of almost any length. What’s more, sometimes the yard is small, and in such cases a short outdoor fence is likely to prove better than none at all. So it’s really up to the owner to assess all the variables and figure out what’s best.

Reliability and Cost of an Outdoor Dog Fence

Two variables that play a big role are reliability and cost. If you have a dog, you should have an outdoor dog fence that can be counted on to do its assigned task. That fence should be affordable in terms of both material and installation costs.

We pride ourselves on offering outdoor fences that besides having good looks and low visibility are affordable and capable of meeting a wide variety of needs. We also make a point of explaining which outdoor dog fences are suited to which needs on our product pages. So we invite you to browse our products, starting with the kits below and then (as needed) proceeding to our Parts, Gates, Quotes, and Installation pages.

Our Dog Fence Kits

Click on one of the photos below to visit the product page for our 4-foot metal hexagrid, welded wire, or polypropylene dog fence kits. Use the menu at the top of the page to select a taller kit.

metal hexagrid dog fence — Metal hexagrid dog fence

A Handsome McGregor Dog Fences — Polypropylene dog fence

Barrier vs. Invisible Outdoor Dog Fences

Generally speaking, with regard to outdoor dog fences, barrier fences are reliable. Either they work to begin with or can be modified to ensure they do. In contrast, the invisible dog fences, also known as “electric” or “shock collar” dog fences commonly sold in pet stores, despite their high-tech allure, produce spotty results. Some dogs dislike the shock so much they simply stay inside. Others, once trained, will go outside and stay within the flagged boundary until they see another dog, or some animal like a cat or squirrel, and then they’re gone. To put it another way, people considering invisible dog fences need to realize that at heart this class of fence is a psychological barrier. If the psychology is wrong it won’t work, and that’s what often happens.

Create a Fence

Besides being prone to fail, these “invisible” outdoor dog fences have other problems. The ones with wires are vulnerable to anything that may break the wire. If the wire breaks they stop working. And diverse things (spades, rototillers, etc.) can break the wire. They’re also dicey to install if the homeowner does it; and they’re expensive to install if professional installers do it.

So one might think that the “wireless” invisible dog fence that uses a transmitter without any underground wire would be a godsend. Typically, however, the circular boundary of the enclosure generated by the wireless outside dog fence transmitter is inconvenient and does not conform to the boundary of any desired outdoor fence.

And for those humanely inclined toward their pets, there is another problem. Anytime a power failure occurs the radio transmitter stops sending out its signal, and that means the pet will get a temporary but prolonged shock from its collar — just as if it had gone beyond the outer limit of the fence. If you are considering such a fence, reflect on how you would like wearing a spontaneously shocking collar of this sort.

Outdoor Dog Fences for the Yard