Fencing, how high to keep a dog in?

NeetaMD

We are thinking of having a dog for the first time although my huband has had dogs before we were married. He would like a rescue dog but it seems that regardless of breed all centres expect a 6ft fence when undertaking a home check.

We have a large garden with views and don't mind 3-4ft but would feel imprisoned behind a 6ft fence. Is 3-4ft just too low for any dog? I rather fancied a Mini Schnauzer especially as we have a cat and it might be easier to get a pupppy to tolerate our cat and visa-versa. (I haven't told my husband just how much a pedigree puppy is likely to cost!!)

Any advice welcome.

i_am_really_rich!!

I wouldn't have anything less than 5ft. That manages to keep my 2 collies in.

Irony

We put trellising on top of ours to make it higher,and we now have a rescue staffie.I feel some rescues are to fussy about fence height,some dogs dig! & some,well,just BULLY their way through

terrierlady

our Jack Russell can climb fences and also digs under fences so no advise offered!!!

NeetaMD

At least I won't have a problem with any dog burrowing under a fence as there is only about 4" of soil over solid rock!

lil_me

:rolleyes: My oldest dogs a labrador x springer, same size as a springer spaniel. He can jump the 6ft+ fence we have at the back of the house. Puppy is a cross and a bit smaller than him, 4ft fence between the 2 houses isn't a problem for her.

southernscouser

It's not the dogs that jump fences you should be worried about. It's the ones that borrow your car without asking! :rolleyes:

NeetaMD

lil_me wrote: »

:rolleyes: My oldest dogs a labrador x springer, same size as a springer spaniel. He can jump the 6ft+ fence we have at the back of the house. Puppy is a cross and a bit smaller than him, 4ft fence between the 2 houses isn't a problem for her.

Wow!! I guess that means that the only way to keep my dog in is to choose a breed less likely to stray and make sure I take him/her to dog training. It sounds like nothing much could keep a determined dog in unless it was a 'Toy ' breed?

lil_me

This ones had training, he just seems to see the field behind my house as part of his back garden, even if I open the gate he leaps over the fence, strange dog.

As for toy breeds, a friend keeps terriers (I can't remember the name but they are quite diddy) and she can jump a 4ft wall when she wants to, if I walked past with my 2 she'd jump on the wall and run up and down on it barking.

Like you said, if they want to, they'll just about jump anything if they have the bottle to do it. My oldest dog people say is like a monkey as when he's not jumping over the fence jumps up and he hangs on it watching people go by with his paws on the top. Quite funny to watch. :rotfl: when people walking past look up he gives them a bit of a shock. Puppy does it like a rabbit, front paws on the fence then back paws come on, somehow she can balance on there too.

Penny_Watcher

When we rescued our first dog the Dogs Trust insisted on a 6 foot fence. Fair enough - their dog, their rules. We cobbled together some trellising which worked fine.

The first winter it blew down and we never replaced it. We have three dogs (including a delinquent with VERY long legs. None of them ever attempt to jump the 1m fence even though they all could. I think it's a territorial thing.

They do , however, all stand in a row with their front paws on the top of the fence glaring at next door but one's cat as it sun bathes.

DKLS

Mine could clear a six foot fence with ease.