Gail Fisher, author of many books and articles on dog training and dog behavior, wrote an article for her column in the NH Sunday News a few years ago about fences. In it she said:
"I’m a big fan of fences – physical fences. Fencing keeps a dog out of the neighbors' trash and off someone else’s lawn. Fences prevent dogs chasing cats, bikes and people walking dogs. A fenced dog can’t get hit by a car.
A physical fence does more than keep a dog in, it keeps intruders out – even well-meaning ones. Most often a child that is bitten by a dog has entered the dog's property. If the dog is behind a fence the child can’t get to him, there’s no bite.
While I’m a fan of fencing, I’m not a fan of electronic fencing. I know many dog owners that are happy with it. Sadly, some communities zoning ordinances prohibit physical fencing, so electronic fencing is the only option – some form of confinement being better than none. But there are drawbacks and caveats a dog owner with invisible fencing needs to be aware of."
Gail Fisher
NH Sunday News 8/27/07
Looking back over my years with my dogs, yards and fences, it has reinforced two things I have always believed.
The first is that physical fencing, in my opinion, is the best choice to keep your dog safe; for all of the reasons that Gail Fisher stated in her article. Over the years, growing up in MA, then living in NH in several communities we always had fencing. When I was young, my family had 3 dogs and there was never a time that they were not secure in their fenced yard. Of course, electric fences were not an option then anyway, but certainly that was an era when dogs were dogs and owners opened their doors and let their dogs out in the morning and in at night. Sometimes you knew where your dog was and sometimes you didn’t. My family always knew where our dogs were. In their yard, if we were out, and in the house, in we were in. Even in the fenced yard, they were not left outdoors if we were not home or even if we were not with them. They were not unhappy. They wanted to be with us. They were a part of our family and it was natural that where we were, they were.
The second thing that I believe is that no matter what kind of fencing you have, when your dog is outdoors, owners need to be out with them. Only once, when we lived in PA, did we live in a neighborhood where we were not allowed to have a physical fence. We did not install an electric fence. I managed for 8 years without the physical fence and although it was not easy, not once did my dogs stray. When they went out, I went out. I always had treats with me and they always knew that they would get to play ball, or train or even help me garden by bringing the tools along as I moved from place to place. Dogs are social beings, they are curious and get bored easily. It makes me realize that fencing of any sort is not a substitute for being a responsible owner.
Although our current property is fenced (2 acres) and double fenced in some areas that we do not want our 8 dogs to go, and serves to keep our dogs safe from other animals that might wander onto our property, they are never left out alone. Often, friends will comment, "It must be great having your yard fenced so you can open the door and let them out without going out." or even more surprising, "That's so nice to have a fence so you can let them out while you are at work!" I cannot imagine ever leaving my dogs outdoors especially when I am not home.
I am always out with my dogs when they are out. I pick up the yard while they meander around and play with each other. I engage them in play with me, throwing toys to retrieve. I use the opportunity to review or teach a new behavior. My pet sitters do the same. It only takes a minute for a dog, even one who has a physical fence, to find alternate activities. They spot a walker in the distance and bark. I don't think my neighbors want to listen to barking dogs. Well meaning delivery people often stop and attempt to bring a package through my gate. Not really a good choice, but, because I am always out with my dogs, I can alert them to wait, so excited Labs are not greeting the person inappropriately.
Dogs need supervision, whatever kind of fence you choose. I still choose physical fencing and will not sell my puppies to anyone who does not have a fenced yard. But more importantly, dogs need their owners to be engaging them in activites to keep them happy. I think it sends them an important message, that you, not the fence, are in charge. It’s not just about the fence, it’s about the responsibilities of pet ownership.
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