Is a privacy fence worth it?

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

We do not have a fenced in yard and are now thinking about putting in a privacy fence. This will be a big investment for us in a house that we don't plan on living in for more than the next 5-10 years. I need the opinion of all you fence lovers. How worth it are fences? Especially in a house that we won't be in forever? Will it add value to our home? We've lived without one (with a doodle) for almost 4 years. Would you or wouldn't you put one in?  I'm thinking of the PVC ones.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

We live where all the lots are fenced, so I have always had a fenced yard for my dogs.  It make life so much easier.  It would be a top requirement for me were we to move. 

My son lives on a wooded half acre.  I kept his dogs last summer until the fence was in.  His fence is small chain link powder-coated black ( means the black sticks a really long time).  It really is nearly invisible and so his backyard still looks very woodsy and huge, since you cannot tell very well where the back fence is.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I personally like a fence, it makes me feel my doodles are safe, I also have a e-fence to keep them out of the garden and koi pond - LOL.   The PVC fence is VERY expensive.  I have one area where my BF put in white cedar board-on-board fence which I love.  My property is fenced by all of my neighbor's fences so I have a chain link  on one side, white PVC 4 ft. picket fence on the other and in the back I have a reglard wood fence that is ready to fall down.  If any area happened to fall down I would probably put up board-on-board wooden fence since it is more natural looking in my opinion.  I jest feel very safe that I can open my back door and let my doodles out to play and take care of business without any chance in heck that they will get out and something bad happen to them.  Its kind of like Fort Knox here  - LOL but my doodles are safe !!!

[Pat and Traveler]

I had a fence installed before I got Trav--it just makes life so much more pleasant! I wanted to be able to open the back door and let the dog go out without my having to go along.  I got a chain link fence with the interwoven vinyl slats for privacy, and also the slats improve the appearance a bit.  It wasn't too expensive as there was already fencing on two sides with the house making up a third side, so there was really just one run of fencing needed.  I wish the area was big enough so he could really run, but I love it anyhow.  He's in and out all day long.  If there's any way you can possibly do fencing, I'd say go for it!  Your quality of life is even more important that resale value, which would improve also!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

We always lived somewhere where there was a fence - be it a wooden fence or a chain fence, then we moved half way across the country. Not many people here have fences, and I see dogs wandering on their own all the time. We stayed at the inlaws for 9 months before we got our place (rented, and unfortunately an apartment so no yard). During that time Cooper was on a long line, and while it worked just fine, it wasnt the same. I would get a fence of some sort in a heart beat (finances dependant of course)!. Wood to block out the neighbours if they were close, or the mesh link fence so many people here have if privacy wasnt an issue.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

our home has an old chain link fence that is no longer silver due to all the weathering, but it does the job and is still sturdy.  If we ever move, I will insist on a house with a fence and if it doesn't have a fence I will have to be allowed to install one.  My doods have a separate potty area so even if our yard wasn't fenced right now it wouldn't be an issue for that but it is wonderful to be able to take them in the yard to play some fetch or romp in the snow and not have to worry about leashes.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

To fence or not seems so foreign to most of us Californians.  In most neighborhoods, fencing is a "given".  As a matter of fact, when I travel to the midwest or back east, I'm struck by the lack of fencing.  Of course, it's different in more rural areas of CA - some properties are fully fenced, some are not.  We live in the country, and although we had a fully-enclosed back courtyard, until recently we didn't have a grassy place for Sedona to run unleashed.  Rather than fence in the entire property, we installed a fence just behind the courtyard so she (and our granddaughter) would have a safe place to run and play.  

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Deanna, Your yard is spectacular! We have 1/6th of an acre in town and can barely manage that. haha

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Thanks, Bonnie.  We put this in for Sedona and Kayla less than a year ago (by the way, the "grass" is artificial turf - like a huge "Potty Patch" for Sedona).  Funny/sad thing is that we'll be moving soon, and leaving my beautiful, new yard behind!  We already have an appointment with a fence installer to do a similar thing at the new house - on a larger scale and surrounding real grass.  The new house is just a few minutes down the road from where we are now, so Sedona's been over there quite a bit.  The entire property is fenced, but I don't really trust it, plus the one time she did roam a bit too far, she came back full of stickers and weeds.  The smaller fenced area will hopefully keep her safe AND cleaner!!! 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Kendra, We got a fence around back two years ago when we got Vern. With two dogs a fence is really a necessity.

However, we seemed to be out front more and decided to gate our driveway and my husband installed deer fencing. We figured the gate would add value, but we could always take the deer fencing down pretty easily. We are up against a corn field, so we did not have to worry about neighbors.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

So So worth it!