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Dog Fence Installation in Athens, AL
Secure pet fencing sized to the breed, with dig guards and gap spacing that actually holds a determined dog.
A fence holds a dog only if it stands taller than he can jump, closes tighter than he can squeeze, and sits deeper than he can dig. Most escapes trace back to one of those three. Which one is your problem depends on your dog.
Height, by what your dog does
Pick height from the animal in front of you, not the breed average. A determined climber clears a fence that a heavier, lazier dog the same size never bothers to test.
- Small breeds that do not jump stay behind four feet.
- Medium and large dogs want five to six.
- Athletic jumpers and known climbers need six feet, sometimes with an inward facing top extension so there is nothing to hook a paw over.
A dog that can see a target through the fence tests it far more often than one that cannot. For a reactive dog, a solid privacy run beats another foot of height.
Digging, and what stops it
Digging is the most common escape route and the easiest to design out on install day:
- Bury the mesh or pickets several inches below grade, so your dog hits fence instead of soil.
- Turn an L shaped wire apron outward under the surface. He digs at the fence line, meets wire, and gives up.
- Run a concrete or gravel mow strip under the fence, which also keeps a strimmer off the boards.
Retrofitting any of these later costs more than building them in, so tell us at the estimate if your dog already digs.
Gaps and spacing
Puppies and small breeds fit through openings that look far too narrow. Check picket spacing, the gap under a gate, and the space where the fence meets a house corner against the smallest dog who will use the yard.
Which fence suits a dog run
| Fence | Why it suits a dog | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link | Lowest cost, nothing to chew, easy to bury or apron at the base | He can see through it, which can feed barking |
| Wood privacy | Kills the sightline, which calms a reactive dog | Boards take chewing and clawing at the base |
| Aluminum | No rot, nothing to chew, narrow picket spacing | Spacing has to suit your smallest dog, and it is see through |
| Vinyl privacy | Solid, smooth face with no foothold and nothing to chew | Higher up front cost |
Why invisible fencing fails some dogs
A buried wire system teaches a dog to stop at a boundary using a collar correction. It works for some animals and fails badly for others, and the failure modes are worth knowing before you pick one over a real fence.
- A dog in high drive takes the correction and keeps going. Once he is out, that same boundary discourages him from coming home.
- It keeps nothing out. Other dogs, wildlife and people walk straight in.
- It depends on a working collar battery and an unbroken wire loop.
- It does nothing for a dog who reacts to what he can see past the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall should a fence be for a dog?
Four feet holds most small breeds, five to six suits medium and large dogs, and a known jumper or climber needs six, sometimes with an inward facing top extension. We size it to your dog, not the breed average.
How do you stop a dog digging under a fence?
Bury the fence below grade, turn an L shaped wire apron outward under the surface, or run a concrete or gravel mow strip along the line. Building it in on install day costs less than adding it later.
Is an invisible fence as good as a real fence?
For some dogs it works. It will not hold a dog in high drive, it keeps nothing out of your yard, and it leans on a collar battery and an unbroken wire. A physical fence carries none of those failure modes.
What is the cheapest fence for a dog?
Chain link, which also happens to take a buried base or an apron easily. If your dog barks at what he can see, a solid privacy fence works better despite the higher cost.
Related: Chain Link Fencing | Aluminum Fencing | Privacy Fencing