[Alexp08]

Well I finally got my back yard fenced in. My pups love it. My older one is a 8mo old lab. For now anytime either of my dogs are out in the fenced in portion i am with them. But instead of putting her in another room while im training or socializing my other pup, id like to let her out in the yard. Its 4ft chain link. Im sure if she was determined to climb it she could but nothing seems to peak her interest that much. So when did you guys start to leave you dog outside unattended and what steps did you take to ensure saftey? Thanks

 

[TruckersMom]

For how long are you talking about leaving them unattended?

 

[Gilliandi]

I have a 6ft privacy fence and they are only outside alone when I'm home. I wouldn't leave them alone outside with a 4ft chain link, personally.
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[Esand]

I left my dogs outside from the time they were puppies.

 

[SpicyBulldog]

It just depends on "when", I prefer to use a solid chain set up or kennel with top. Don't think I'd feel comfortable with 4ft chainlink. At least not with looking our every few minutes, which would defeat the purpose.

 

[TruckersMom]

I have a 6ft privacy fence and they are only outside alone when I'm home. I wouldn't leave them alone outside with a 4ft chain link, personally.
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I think this is what I am thinking too. My neighbor leaves her Dobie out alone with a 4ft wooden fence but she watches her from the kitchen window. I leave my dog outside with a 5ft privacy fence but I watch him from the sun room or the kitchen and he would let me know (howl) if someone ever came near him.

 

[Artdog]

I've never done. I had a four-foot chain link, but found that unattended dog equalled barking, fence-running, & when my neighbours got a dog, fence-fighting. Also found, excepting the above (unacceptable behaviours) my yard was too small for any exercise. Also, people are prone to tease (egg-on, provoke) barking dogs so stuff like that gets worse.
Had no problem meeting my previous dogs (working line shepherd) needs with daily walks, off-lead & on, play time, indoors, and out (on walks, frisbee), and training with play, tug & frisbee, treats to mark. I also took classes, but dogs don't care if it's formal training, or just you playing with them, as long as it's active & challenging both body and mind.
Unattended dogs will amuse themselves. If you're lucky, he'll like snoozing & playing with toys in the yard, but I never had a dog like that.
When my fence needed repairs, we never replaced it. I have a new young dog and don't miss it except for late night or early morning potty breaks.

 

[Aspen726]

Well, my fence isn't chain link because Aspen can climb chain link... I left her out unattended when she couldn't fit between the fence posts anymore haha. She's never out there for long and even when I'm in the house, I'm always peeking at her so I don't really consider her 'alone'. I never put her out there and leave her there for any length of time.

 

[Appaloosa]

We have two labs and had to put a fence on top of our old 4ft fence because they climbed it easier than a cat climbing a tree. We now have a 6ft fence, and none of them has climbed it to date. As far as leaving them outside, for us, it depends on the weather. On mild days we leave them out all day (mild meaning around 65 - 70 degrees). On hot days we only leave them out for short periods of time, but we have a big kiddie pool filled with water and an open gazebo where they can go if it's too hot. In the winter we don't leave them out for extended periods of time, usually just for a few minutes so they can do their business.

 

[ChessaQ]

I left my dogs outside from when they were puppies. An older dog I would probably watch for awhile first to make sure they aren't a jumper or a digger. Preferably from a window so they aren't aware they're being watched, as that's when most dogs attempt to escape if they're going to.

At my parents house they had a 4ft wire weave fence, with the bottom buried. At my current house they have a 5 ft 4 board fence with wire weave over it. Echo digs a ton, not to get out but to hunt, so I have an electric wire along the bottom so she doesn't accidentally dig out. I know many people don't like electric, but it gives me peace of mind. Echo is just not an inside dog, she absolutely hates being inside more than overnight. My yard is over an acre, and she loves just running around and entertaining herself.

 

[SusanLynn]

I never leave my dog unattended in our fenced backyard, but he's a small, older dog.

Before you do so, I'd suggest getting a higher fence. A four feet chain link fence is too short. Also, you should always check to make sure that any gate is completely closed. So many dogs become lost when someone, either a family member or a worker, fails to fully close and latch a gate.

Lastly, consider whether your dog might be too tempting and too easy to steal. Again, your four foot chain link fence doesn't seem particularly secure.

 

[TiggerBounce]

I wouldn't leave them unattended with a 4 foot chain link unless it's a small dog or toy breed. But even then you have to watch it because people will sometimes snatch them from front yards. It's just generally not a good idea IMO.

I have a 6 foot security fence all around my backyard. There's no access to the front. I have a dog door so they can go in/out at any time, even unattended. But they usually stay inside and only go out to potty. I'm very confident about the security of my backyard.

 

[Ems]

I don't leave my dog outside unattended, even though she loves the yard so much that when she did get outside once without us seeing (while we were doing garbage) she ran TO the yard.
The main reason is because we share our yard with our neighbors and our kids and their grandkids use the yard and I don't want any poop surprises.

I know she wouldn't run away though, she is a real homebody, not given to exploring.
It was also be pretty hard for someone to steal her as she is almost 60lbs of muscle and refuses to go anywhere with strangers.

 

[KayWilson]

Never. I live in an area where dogs are being stolen and resold. I also live in an area where people throw poison into ones yard, so Tessa is never left alone outside. Ever. I also have to pre-check the yard before letting her out just in case.

 

[annageckos]

I would never do it. I don't trust people, dogs get stolen, hurt or poisoned in their own yards. Vegas can jump a four foot fence from a stand still, I've also seen dogs scale fences in a heartbeat. Once someone left my mom's fence gate open and her two scotties got out and one was hit and killed by a truck. I know other people leave their dogs out alone, but I never would. My dogs wouldn't want to be out alone anyway, they sit at the door whining to come back in.

 

[Kwenami]

I've done so before, but rarely. I always am supervising from inside and watching at the minimum.

My friend has a dog door and run, and she managed to get out and think it was FUNNY-ran straight to the front of the house to visit someone on the other side hanging laundry. She also got out once in a suburban neighborhood...I had gone to do something for a quick moment and stopped supervising. Luckily she found a dog/person who was dog savy and kept them apart and she was gone for about 15 minutes maximum, but that could have gone much worse.