The Best Fence for Keeping Your Dog in The Yard

The family pooch is often as precious as any other member of the family, and as such, should be considered before you fence your yard. After all, if you keep your dog outside for any extended period of time during the day, your fence is the only thing keeping your dog safe and sound at home rather than lost and wandering the neighborhood streets. Don’t chance it—choose a fencing option that is good for keeping your dog in the yard. Luckily, there are plenty of options on the market, and our kind, knowledgeable fence experts at Mossy Oak Tampa can help you pick out which one makes the most sense for your pet. 

Here are the best fencing options for keeping your dog in the yard. 

Wooden fences

Wooden fences are a great option for dogs of all sizes and coat styles. Not only can you make wooden fences whatever height you please (good for if your pup is a jumper), you can place the slats on your wooden fence as close together as necessary (to accommodate any Houdini hounds who might wiggle through the space between slats). Wood is also a safe material for animals and is unlikely to cause your dog harm, even if they try to dig themselves out (hopefully they don’t). If your dog does manage to damage a wooden fence (because let’s be honest, puppies especially will find a way to tear up your yard somehow), repairing a wooden fence is easy—just replace whichever slats are damaged and you’re good to go. 

Vinyl fences

Vinyl fences have much the same benefits that wood fences do, but they’re a bit cheaper, typically. They can skew on the lighter side, so if you have a large dog that likes to lean on the fence, you might want to go with a heavier fencing material so that the fence won’t give under your dog’s weight. Also, vinyl fences come in prefabricated sections, which makes repairing them a little more difficult should something happen to the fence. 

Picket fences

If you have a little dog that can’t jump very high, picket fences can be a very cute and effective option for keeping in a pup. These are especially good choices for a front yard, considering that they’re a little more inviting than wood privacy fences are. Just be sure that your pup isn’t able to jump the fence or wiggle through the fence slats. 

Invisible fences

You can also install “invisible fences,” which are buried underground, and trigger your dog’s collar with a light shock anytime they “cross the fence.” This is a good option for renters, but many dog owners feel conflicted about using invisible fences because they seem a little punitive. Invisible fencing is also a good option to use alongside a wooden fence as a deterrent, if your dog likes to dig beneath the fence.
 

Brick fences

There’s a reason why Lady from Lady and the Tramp starts off safe and sound in her backyard—a brick fence is an almost foolproof means of keeping your dog in your yard. However, brick fences are expensive and require a decent amount of upkeep, plus a lot of HOAs do not allow them for aesthetic reasons—too hard to match the rest of the neighborhood to. Also, brick fences tend to be built shorter than most wooden fences, so if you have a high jumper on your hands, you might still be better off with a wooden fence anyway. 

These are just a few options to consider when you’re looking for a dog fence. Ultimately, the best fence for keeping your dog in the yard will come down to your dog’s own unique needs. Our team at Mossy Oak Tampa is standing by and can help you make the decision; call us today!