Don't have a fenced yard......

[Kimberly Risley]

And can't have one due to our deed restrictions, but now looking to adopted a dog hopefully a poodle mix of some type.. I think I still want a Goldendoodle. I'm looking at different rescues. The reason for this post is to see how many people on here don't have fences and how do you handle the dog.

I contacted a foster home of a Goldendoodle I was interested in and told her I didn't have a fence and would this be a problem for this dog. Well she didn't answer the question only said "she" doesn't trussed any dog off leash or without a fence.

A lot of people have dogs in my neighborhood and have the e-fences. But do take their dogs off leash around the neighborhood. We have plenty of space and live out in the country and have about 30 acres of undeveloped space. Not to mention the property right behind my house is vacant (no house on it yet) and probably will not be developed anytime soon. No one leaves their dogs alone while in the neighborhood, but no one has their dogs on their leashes either.

To me this is a dog to dog and area to area decision. For us I think having our dog of leash in our neighborhood is fine. Being everyone knows who's animal belongs to who. Plus we have a BIG patio/garden area that can add an gate added to have to have a "doggy playground". But will also have the dog on leash when out side our neighborhood or traveling.

So what does everyone do that doesn't have a fence or cant have a fence? I know I have talked to a few rescue groups and this is a dog to dog decision. So I don't think I will have a problem finding a dog that fits us and our neighborhood.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I own a condo, we do NOT have fences....prior to this home we owned a town home, no fences. We have ALWAYS had a dog and ALWAYS took our dogs for walks every day ON LEASH! There are so many factors in play when you have a dog off leash, something could startled your dog and it could bolt into a street and get hit. Another dog could be across the street and he could run and get hit. A squirrel could run by, I am sure you are getting the picture.

I cannot imagine a place where all dogs are off leash and everyone does this, sounds like Shangrala for dogs and a nightmare for humans. If dogs are off leash who is cleaning up after them when they poop?

All that being said our Daisy is always off leash in our back yard. We worked very hard on recall and she does it well. However, we stay in the back of the yard, away from distractions such as friends walking or other dogs walking (on leash) with their owners near the road.

I don't think you have to have a fence to have a dog as we never did, but I sure would love to have one. I get what that Foster Mom said - hard to trust any dog off leash but very varying reasons.

[Kimberly Risley]

Yes I would have my dog on Leash out side of our neighborhood.  Like I said we have a large area that is not developed and most of the dogs go in areas that are not developed and not on other people's property. And yes when people take their dogs out they are not leashed. Being we have about 50 homes and about 15-16s dogs in the neighborhoods not a lot of dogs compared to most neighborhoods. And the most I have seen out at one time is 3-4 up in one area, were our neighborhoods go to watch the sunset and let the dogs play. So we don't have dogs running around all the time at all hours of the day. Mostly in late afternoon about sunset. And unless you have a gate code you can't get in to the place begin with, so not a lot of car activity after 5pm.

[Kimberly Risley]

I do get what you are saying if i lived in a area like South Tampa a few blocks off a few major highways like my sister did. I wouldn't think twice about having a fenced yard for a dog.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

We did not have a fenced yard for Cooper when we lived at my inlaws (in the country) for 9 months. We got a long rope and tied it to the deck. We then attached a long line to the rope, which clipped onto Coopers harness or collar. She very quickly learned where the end of the line was (apart from the occasional chasing a ball that got thrown/rolled too far). I did occasionally have her off leash, when my MILs dog was on the long line and they were playing, but after a while she started to wander... she ran across the road to the neighbours house once, and that was it. Always on the long line.

I think if you stress to the rescue that the dog will be on a long line at all times, you should be ok

[Kimberly Risley]

Thanks I will keep that in mind.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I think it depends on the dogs and the area in general.

Spud is the first dog I've had that has ever been on a run or fenced.  Because of my neighborhood at the time my dogs were perfectly fine out playing in the yard and sitting near my boys as they played in mounds of dirt ( now it seems busier and everyone drives fast. Neighbors don't know each other any longer... etc)

The only problem we had, was one neighbor did not like my one dog getting into and eating bird seed  :)   The neighbors hung it higher  

But, my dogs, unleashed were not outside alone wandering. I'm not for this at all.  When I think of off leash--I think they are right by my side.  Always. 

My doodle is very reactive to other animals.  It just would NEVER work with him. And I don't want it to either.  In my mind, I see a squirrel running across the street, a car, just an ugly visual.

[Kimberly Risley]

See we don't have that problem, everyone knows each other. Believe I know what its like not to know the person down the street or even your next door neigbhorhood, but not here. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

I had no fence for years and always had my dog on a leash--then I got an invisible fence and I love it--I live on a pretty quiet road but it is curvy and many loose dogs have been hit out there (not mine though, thank goodness). I do not think that letting dogs roam freely is a good idea and I can see why rescue organizations would be against it. They can get into trouble in so many ways and the vet bills would mount up. (if they survive the trouble!) 

I do have a friend with an extremely well-trained goldendoodle that goes to school with her every day where she is a social worker--that particular dog is amazing--she goes out with the kids to the playground every day, totally off leash and stays right with them. I know that they have a remote control "buzz" collar that they trained her with--when she got too far, they could bring her back with a signal or a "buzz" if she didn't come back with the signal. (the collar beeped or gave her a vibration---not an electric shock.)

My neighbor has a goldendoodle that spends her weekdays living in NYC and weekends here in our rural area and is rarely on a leash when here. So, it can be done, but it isn't easy and it doesn't work for all dogs. In every case, it takes  lot of work--especially with a rescue who has a background that is unknown. 

[Kimberly Risley]

Yea I agree. None of the dogs in our neighborhood "roam freely" they are always with their owners. This is our neighborhood http://loveslanding.com/airport/. There are still a lot of open lots, looks more open on the ground.

I have herd about those types of collar's and plan on taking the dog to "training" classes also. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Kimberly, your situation is certainly unique and you live where most of what we are speaking of is different than in your community. In fact it looks like human Shangrala as well as dogs. :O)

Still some of the reason for leashing still applies until you know you have complete recall and control. Since other dogs will be off leash it is important that your training is impeccable as one dog on leash and others around off leash is usually not a good situation. Oh and never take your dog in a dog park on leash that makes him very vulnerable.

[Kimberly Risley]

Wasn't planning on taking him/her to a dog park anyways. Don't get me wrong during the day people here do have their dogs on leash when walking them. More activity during the day, but some do have their dogs on the their golf carts and know they are not always on leash but are under control by the owners by collars and harnesses. But after 5pm many are not on leashes.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree with Ginny on this.  We have a lot of efences in our neighborhoods due to the large lots (and real fencing is super expensive due to the large lots).  I am on a dead end street and we just got an efence and I love it. Off-leashing would NEVER work for us, unless Peri had a 100% reliable recall.  That takes very, very advanced, ongoing training. 

Before the efence and our current house, we lived in a condo with both dogs (1 I've had for 8 years).  We NEVER went off-leash, ever.