How high does the fence need to be?

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

We're thinking about putting up a fence this spring.  This being my first doodle experience, and with Dagny only being seven months old, I have no idea how athletic these dogs get.  Soooo, how high must my fence be?  I'm really hoping to avoid the full sized privacy fence so that I can still see my neighbors and neighborhood.  Any suggestions?  Thank you :) 

[BG and Gavin]

I think it really depends on the dog and the training.  If you are effective with boundary training and do not have a dog that likes to wander, it does not need to be that high.  Our fence on one side is only three feet in places and Gavin could easily jump it, but he never would.  I saw a Jack Russell the other day jump a six foot fence. 

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

My little 17 inch tall adopted puppy can leap over my 5 ft tall cinder block fence from a dead sit. two of my walls are six foot tall and she's never jumped over them

[Bonnie and Kona]

I agree it depends completely on the dog. We had a medium sized dog that could leap from a sitting positions. Our doodles are twice as big and never crossed an 18 inch gate into the front area of our house.

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

Both of my puppies are 30 pounds and under 17 inches tall.  Maggie (the white sheepdog mix) leaps 5 ft fences in a single bound outside if there is a dog on the other side to play with, but wont jump the 2 foot tall child gate that keeps her in the kitchen/dining room at night and when I'm at work.  Kona (my goofy mini double doodle) doesn't even know he is able to jump up onto my bed.  I could trust him in the yard, but never Maggie. 

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

All great comments here!  Thank you so much!   So, as with most things doodle, I'm seeing there's no cookie cutter answer :) She's a pretty good listener.  I'll just have to pick the fence I want, see how she does and continue diligent training.  Thank you!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That sounds perfect!

[Pat, Mary & Cooper]

Have you ever consider an in-ground fence? We have a fairly big yard ( 1.4 acres ) and we also wanted to let Cooper run and play and really take advantage of all that nice green space, we ended up going with this option and boy was it the right one!! Started the training with the little flags the first week , then by the second week we removed half of those flags and so on until there was none left. He understood right away the boundaries. So every time he goes outside , either for his potty break or just to go and get some fresh air ,we put his collar on and he can enjoy all the freedom of his yard.

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

That's a great option :) Thank you!

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

The only concerns I've heard about these fences is when the dog is especially exuberant and bolts through the "fence" and endures the consequence because they are so insanely intent on catching that squirrel, bike, or dog across the street.  But then they are afraid to cross back over after the excitement of the squirrel/bike/dog has subsided.   I could see this type of fence working for my Kona, but not for my bolting/runner Maggie who came to me BECAUSE she was a runaway stray in a shelter.  She's the 17 inch tall dog who can go from a calm submissive sit next to my feet to leaping over my 5 foot fence in a single bound to play with the next door neighbor dog.  Inside my house, she is miss manners.  She won't even jump over the 24 inch child gate because I've asked her not to (and there are no squirrels, bikes, or dogs on the other side of it.  :-) )

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

Great points Gwyndolyn.  Hadn't considered the need to come back in if she escapes. Decsions, decisions! Outside, she's a terrible listener! More training, lol.

[Gwyndolyn Morasko]

And I'd like to point out that I am NOT against e-collars.  I come from a very huge family of hunters with gun dogs and literally dozens of them have been very well trained with e-collars, so I am a fan of proper humane training.  None of them are negatively affected and they are all fun and playful house and yard dogs.  The e-collars have not taken away any of their personality.  I'm just giving a cautious note that if your puppy is as excited to bolt as mine is when distracted outside,, just know that they can bolt right through the e- collar signal.  But after they calm down, they might be reluctant to get that jolt again and avoid coming back into your yard.  It's just a caution.  They can be very carefully and slowly trained like Pat, Mary and Cooper mention above, but I don't think I'd trust my Maggie for a long time.  I actually bought her a high end sport e-collar so that I could train her to return at the huge dog beach, but haven't taken the time yet to do the very careful training.  

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Therese ~ I just saw your post.  I agree with BG in that it depends on the dog.  I have two ALDs - and neither are prey driven.  They do not chase birds etc, or other dogs and I consider myself extremely lucky on that note.  We have a 1/2 acre and have a 4 ft brick fence that surrounds our lot.  They can see over it when they stand on their back legs, and can see anyone approaching up our drive, but neither have ever considered going over it. Training is never ending! LOL