NO fence discussion

[biowicks]

I followed this thread with a lot of interest. I have had shelties all my life, and three at my current house. I have 1.5 acres of grass and woods, and no fence. I'd actually like a fence, for at least part of the yard, but the township where I live does not allow fences! If you have a swimming pool, you are required to put up a fence just around the pool, and it can't be any higher than three feet. Well, I don't have a pool and Olive the Wonder Dog would sail right over a three footer anyway. And, I can't have any other fence or risk a really large fine. So, here I have this wonderful place for a dog, but I am not allowed to have a fence. From what I've read on this thread, most rescues would deny me a dog, but OK an adoption for someone in a condo with no yard of their own. I think that's craziness; people and their living arrangements should be evaluated individually. I understand that they don't want the animal running freely, but I've always used leashes, tie outs, etc with a harness, and I am ALWAYS out there with my dog. I'd like to think that I am a responsible pet owner...

 

[tim15856]

Good to know my fenced in yard still isnt good enough.

It was the best I could do.Its frustrating to think that a rescue may still refuse me if Snickers wants a playmate.

I saw one rescue that requires a 5' high fence, not sure if yours is. I thought at one time I saw one that didn't like those types of poles that are similar to ones that hold up chicken wire and such. I think I saw another that required the fence to extend below grade to make it harder for the dog to dig under it.

I have 1.5 acres of grass and woods, and no fence.

Pretty much same here. I kept a wooded buffer in the front yard bordering the road for privacy, and the rest of my yard is surrounded by woods, it acts as the border for the dogs. They know they aren't allowed to go into the woods without me so they usually walk the grass perimeter and no further. When Shadow picks up the scent of a deer he likes to wander down the trail going into the back woods, but we keep a close eye on him when we see him heading in that direction. Even though we foster Shelties, no rescue will let us adopt a fairly energetic or playful dog so we had to go to a breeder for our last Sheltie.

 

[dblock]

actually, they did say they would adopt out a person in an apartment as long as they accepted the rule of having the dog on a leash, So, I agree with that

 

[dblock]

I just wanted to add something as well. I live in an apartment. (Actually PHA) and I got my baby because I have problems with panic attacks and depression.

I walk my boy. I mean I really walk him. He gets his first walk about 10 blocks first thing in the morning(to go Pee.)

he gets his second walk mid morning about 25 long blocks equivalent to about a mile and half

Then again mid afternoon the same thing

His last walk is 7 pm he just wants to pee on the tree on the corner and run back in the house.

This is awesome exercise for him and me. And I have to say that if I did have a yard(while easier) I would miss our walks.

And to be fair, even with a fenced yard a dog still needs a good walk to prevent them from cage craziness

At the end of the evening my baby is so tired he's belly up in the closet, his favorite place to hang out. and I never have any destruction problems with him, so I figure I must be doing something right. Fence/ no fence

 

[SheltieGuy]

I just wanted to add something as well. I live in an apartment. (Actually PHA) and I got my baby because I have problems with panic attacks and depression.

I walk my boy. I mean I really walk him. He gets his first walk about 10 blocks first thing in the morning(to go Pee.)

he gets his second walk mid morning about 25 long blocks equivalent to about a mile and half

Then again mid afternoon the same thing

His last walk is 7 pm he just wants to pee on the tree on the corner and run back in the house.

This is awesome exercise for him and me. And I have to say that if I did have a yard(while easier) I would miss our walks.

And to be fair, even with a fenced yard a dog still needs a good walk to prevent them from cage craziness

At the end of the evening my baby is so tired he's belly up in the closet, his favorite place to hang out. and I never have any destruction problems with him, so I figure I must be doing something right. Fence/ no fence

that is a very good point..and i totally agree. Snickers and I walk everyday for the exercise.. well exercise for me and more of a sniff and pee frenzy for Snickers... we both enjoy it and you can see on his face that he loves it. just the different sites and sounds...the reason I needed a fence was soo we could play ball (Snickers is a ball addict) at any given moment there is a ball at a max of 3 feet from him so he can be ready at a moments notice. lol And for the rainy/snowy days I can leave him out for potty breaks. I still have to stand on the covered porch.. he needs to know Im close by and I can keep an eye on him as well.

 

[SheltieGuy]

I saw one rescue that requires a 5' high fence, not sure if yours is. I thought at one time I saw one that didn't like those types of poles that are similar to ones that hold up chicken wire and such. I think I saw another that required the fence to extend below grade to make it harder for the dog to dig under it.

some areas are 3 feet and others are 4-5 feet. I built this with Snickers (his traits, abilities) in mind. He has never once attempted to dig. He wont jump the fence because that would mean he would be away from me. ( and that is the opposite of what he wants.) The higher fence is near the road for the just incase factor. If he would ever decide to jump the 3 foot section he would just be in the neighbors (friendly) yard which has a 6 foot fence and no animals.

The issue I now see is if I decide to get Snickers a playmate. I guess I will cross that bridge if I ever come to it. I can always extend the fence higher. For right now he will have to settle with my familys dogs coming for visits. (2 shelties, a golden, and a chihuahua.) If I ran into some cash I would love to make an upgrade.

 

[MissSuzie]

A 3' fence would adequately contain two of my three dogs. Like Snickers my Meggie doesn't want to be anywhere without me. She watches me to make sure I'm still watching her. So cute! Lottie doesn't have the ability to jump any fence. I think it all depends on the dog.

I hope that your situation does not prevent you from getting another dog if you decide that is what you and Snickers want. Good luck.

I like your fence idea, by the way, and I'm happy it makes Snickers happy too!

 

[SheltieGuy]

A 3' fence would adequately contain two of my three dogs. Like Snickers my Meggie doesn't want to be anywhere without me. She watches me to make sure I'm still watching her. So cute! Lottie doesn't have the ability to jump any fence. I think it all depends on the dog.

I hope that your situation does not prevent you from getting another dog if you decide that is what you and Snickers want. Good luck.

I like your fence idea, by the way, and I'm happy it makes Snickers happy too!

aww.. thank you.. thats all i had in mind. I wanted Snickers to be able to enjoy our yard. Its plenty big to keep him entertained and I feel he is safe.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

When we rescued Bailey we were only partially fenced and as long as we walked him they were fine with us adopting. It was not safe to let him out without the yard being fenced. Shortly after we got him we finished the complete fencing and had upgraded the fence do to neighbor issues before we got Katy. I know plenty of people with fences who primarily walk and don't leave the dog outside even with a fence. It is great for some dogs, not all.

In this part of the country I do get the rental issue. It is next to impossible to find dog friendly units. I had one friend wait to get married because the future wife was living at home with the dog and they needed to buy because they couldn't find a rental unit that would take the dog in the area they lived. It was the main reason she hadn't moved out since moving back to this area. She couldn't find a place that would take the dog and her parents wouldn't let her move without the dog.

While I do see ads for cat friendly rentals, dog friendly rentals are rare and it isn't a matter of being loyal, it is a matter of being realistic. Many of these dogs end up back at Mom and Dad's or at a shelter because there is no place for dog and owner to live together in a rental unit once the dog friendly one is lost. The owner promises Mom and Dad it will only be for a short while, however it becomes a stretch that parents may not be prepared to meet.

In areas were dog friendly rentals are more abundant I can't see why it would be an issue.

I found it highly ridiculous that they believe if you are truly commited to owning a dog you'd move to a place you could fence. Have they looked at the housing market? I couldn't sell my house if I wanted to right now. That is completely insane. I am so glad we found the rescue we did. After reading that posting I can only feel we were TRULY BLESSED in our search.

My city has a leash law so I'm not sure how I could be trusted not to let my dog run loose in an apartment (which as I mentioned earlier would be next to impossible to find one that would take the dogs) but as soon as I move to a home without a fence I'm going to start violating the leash laws.

I am extremely supportive of rescues, but this attitude is what makes people walk away and buy from other sources.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

I followed this thread with a lot of interest. I have had shelties all my life, and three at my current house. I have 1.5 acres of grass and woods, and no fence. I'd actually like a fence, for at least part of the yard, but the township where I live does not allow fences! If you have a swimming pool, you are required to put up a fence just around the pool, and it can't be any higher than three feet. Well, I don't have a pool and Olive the Wonder Dog would sail right over a three footer anyway. And, I can't have any other fence or risk a really large fine. So, here I have this wonderful place for a dog, but I am not allowed to have a fence. From what I've read on this thread, most rescues would deny me a dog, but OK an adoption for someone in a condo with no yard of their own. I think that's craziness; people and their living arrangements should be evaluated individually. I understand that they don't want the animal running freely, but I've always used leashes, tie outs, etc with a harness, and I am ALWAYS out there with my dog. I'd like to think that I am a responsible pet owner...

I would think the local rescues have to reflect the local ordinances, too. I would actually have liked our fence to be higher at the end, do to neighbor issues we were having at the time, but local ordinances required it taper down to the road, so it tapers. I can't imagine a local shelter can require a fence higher than the local ordinances allow or require fencing in an area that does not allow fencing. Now if you are adopting from outside your area I suspect that might be different.

Our "local" Sheltie Rescue is actually in another state and covers three New England states. If their rules were different than our local ordinances that would be challenging.