You want to purchase a dog fence, but there are so many different types of dog fences available! What option should you go with? What will work best for your own dogs and your individual, unique situation?
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Traditional Metal Chain Link Fence
This is what comes to mind when most people think of a dog fence! The majority of pet owners might have something like this.
Traditional metal chain link fences usually stand 4-5 feet tall and are very durable.
This type of fence, while attractive enough, may lead to some barrier aggression because your dog can see everything beyond but can’t get to it.
Pros | Cons |
Durable Sturdy Can be appealing to home | May contribute to barrier aggression More costly than many others some dogs can leap over shorter fence |
DIY Galvanized Fencing
This is a cheaper type of dog fencing for those that want a physical barrier, but don’t want to purchase a more expensive traditional metal chain-link fence.
Galvanized fencing usually comes in 4-foot tall, 50-foot-long rolls (but can be found in other sizes).
You can purchase these rolls, along with metal stakes and fence clips to hold the fencing to these stakes, at your local hardware store.
Pros | Cons |
Lower cost vs. metal chain-link Physical barrier Usually simple to set up | Self-installation required Stake driver may be needed Not as durable as metal chain-link Dog can develop barrier aggression |
Picket Fence
Picket fences (Wikipedia link) offer a very convenient and simple, low-cost option! They look nice surrounding a home and are easy to install.
There are a few issues with picket fences for dogs, however.
They aren’t very durable, and your dog might be able to squeeze through the gaps among your pickets.
They normally aren’t very tall either, and there is nothing preventing your dog from digging underneath them.
If you do decide to go for a picket dog fence, installing a chicken wire barrier around the base of the fence to prevent your dog from squeezing between pickets would be a good idea.
Of course, this may defeat the aesthetic purpose of installing a picket fence in the first place.
Pros | Cons |
Low cost Looks nice surrounding property | Not very durable Pet can possibly squeeze between pickets Not very tall May need it install chicken wire barrier |
Wooden Privacy Fence
Though they are more costly than the above two options, wooden privacy fences live up to their name!
You probably won’t be able to see anything beyond these fences. This is great for preventing barrier aggression!
Most wooden privacy fences for dogs are tall.
The height itself would prevent a dog from leaping over the fence and escaping your property.
However, wood doesn’t last as long as metal, and it isn’t as strong.
Many products exist to treat wooden fence posts, but your fence probably won’t outlive you (if that matters). They are often more difficult to install and require more upkeep.
Pros | Cons |
Usually taller No barrier aggression Offers complete privacy | Costly More difficult to install May not last as long as metal fencing |
Tall Dog Fence w/ Cement Base
Taller (8 ft.+) Dog fences are recommended for certain breeds that are prone to jump over the traditional 4–5-foot fence. These can be made from any material, as long as they are durable enough to support their own weight and keep your pet confined.
Cementing in the base of your fence, or installing a sidewalk along the fence line, will prevent dogs from burrowing underneath the fence & escaping.
For example, Siberian Huskies have been known to both burrow underneath fences and leap over them.
A cement base or ‘sidewalk’ surrounding the interior of your fence line is a fantastic idea with any fence! This will prevent your dog from digging and escaping.
Pros | Cons |
Dog can’t leap over Dog can’t dig beneath | May be more expensive Cement base time consuming to install Dog can develop barrier aggression |
Indoor Play Pen
The indoor play pen is fantastic for puppies! As anyone who has ever raised a small pup will agree, these guys will put anything in their mouths.
Sometimes puppy-proofing the entire house can seem impossible.
Puppy play pens, or simple puppy/baby gates, allow you to either create a safe play area or section off an individual room in your home!
While these are incredibly useful for small dogs and pups and can be easy to find on places like Amazon, they might not be the best solution for larger dogs.
Pros | Cons |
Great for puppies and small dogs Can section off area of home Create safe play area Usually easy to set up Less costly than traditional fences Can usually interlink to increase length | Larger dogs can usually jump over Depending on product, not always sturdy
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Brick Fence (Wall)
- Do you want a thick barrier that would stand up to the elements while be impossible to break through?
- Do you want the added privacy?
- Do you need something tall enough to prevent jump escapes?
A brick fence/wall surrounding your home or yard might be right for you!
Brick fences are all these things, while being amazing for privacy.
The problem is they need to be built in the first place, not simply installed!
Hiring someone else can become very costly and building yourself can be very time consuming.
Pros | Cons |
Strong & durable barrier Can build to any height Stands up to elements Lasts very long | Costly Time consuming Must own property |
Portable Dog Fences
These dog fences will either include most of the products below or usually fall into one of the below categories.
Many physical gated pens can also be considered portable dog fences.
These are fantastic if you plan on bringing your fence with you camping, you move around frequently, or want to have your dog fence while you travel!
These fences aren’t permanently attached to anything.
Consider the invisible fence options below. You will still need to train your dog his boundaries every single time you set these up.
The good thing is- you will quickly become experienced! Boundary training will soon seem very simple.
Pros | Cons |
Can take anywhere Great for camping or travel Won’t trip over tie-out | Must set up every time Must train new boundaries every time |
Invisible Electric Fences
You don’t want a physical fence surrounding your property. Perhaps you don’t like the look, or it is simply too expensive.
Have you considered a wireless fence? Take a look at the descriptions we have for you below! We’ve also weighed pros and cons for each.
Remember, you’ll need to work on barrier training with your dog!
Wireless Radio Signal Fence
A wireless radio signal dog fence requires a transmitter that sends out a radio signal along a wire that you install.
The radio signal will communicate with your dog’s collar, or receiver.
If your dog ventures too near the wire, or near a certain point, an audio ‘warning’ will be emitted from the collar. This tells the dog he is approaching his boundary and will receive a correction if he continues!
Many dog radio signal fences will then emit a low-level shock, increasing in frequency as your dog nears the boundary.
This is meant to make corrections as force-free and humane as possible.
Unlike the physical barriers above, you will still need to train your dog his boundaries.
Wireless fences will work for about 90% of dogs, but there is still a chance an extremely reactive or prey driven dog will ignore the stimulation.
Pros | Cons |
Offers ‘warning’ vibrations or sound No physical barrier required Transmitter usually housed in basement or garage Normally waterproof Cheaper than physical fence | Must dig trench & bury cable Might require trench tool rental Requires boundary training |
Virtual GPS Fence
You might say GPS fence is the way of the future!
There isn’t any need to bury a pesky wire surrounding your property or dig the trench to do so.
You can set the range from your remote device!
A Global Positioning System communicates with a network of satellites, transmitting or receiving signals from orbit. Most of these fences integrate with an app on your mobile cell phone, making them extremely convenient!
There is one drawback though. The GPS signal they receive isn’t flawless.
If the weather is bad, the signal might be interrupted any your fence won’t work at all.
This means you’ve paid a lot of money for something that, at least for the time, is completely worthless.
Have you checked to see if your wireless GPS fence has a solution for this problem?
Pros | Cons |
No need to bury cable
| Requires boundary training More costly than underground fence Signal at risk of interruption |
Photo by przemyslawiciak