[bugz]

Currently, I live in a house in the city with a very large yard - 1/2 acre. We just closed on an acreage that has 8 acres. I want to fence off a large portion of it for the dogs. Does anyone have experience with that? I was thinking about doing a smaller yard (1/4 acre) for quick trips outside and then 2 acres for roaming.

I don't trust my dogs that they won't take off, or go too far. We will also be taking in more Collies if the need comes up. So fencing that cannot be dug under or jumped is a must because we won't always be able to see them if they have a large area. Do I just need the builders to dig the fence down underground?

 

[firefox497]

I've only heard of them VERY recently, can't vouch for them, but there's

http://www.petplaygrounds.com/

$6 a foot with varying heights, $175 for every gate, installation included (or DIY), and they are partnered with PETA. Supposed to prevent diggers and supposedlly impossible to climb. Not too shabby looking either.

 

[busannie]

I think usually the best way to deter diggers is to bury part of the fence, or add fencing over/lightly buried in the ground beside the fence so when they dig near the fence they encounter a barrier. By far, the best way to proof the top of the fence is to add a "tip in", where you angle the fence inward slightly so the dog would have to climb more upside down. Of course, even that's only effective if the fence is tall enough, I would do at least 6 feet, plus tip in on top of that, which would probably make it about 8'. If you think you may have dogs that can clear that, go taller to start, as the added expense will be less to start with than to add/replace later. This fence has both features:

For a larger area, welded wire may be the way to go as far as cost, though I think it can be more of a pain to install. Chainlink is ok too and usually more readily available in lower gauge wire, just make sure you have a bottom rail or wire so it can't be pushed up/out. Privacy fence can't be beat for blocking outsiders from looking in and dogs inside from getting riled up over stuff outside, but the expense is considerably more.

That said, I don't even have a fenced yard, so take the above with a grain of salt