After a long wait, I finally got my backyard fenced in for my dogs last week. I chose a non-electric, low visibility fence by Pet Playgrounds, a local installer here in CT. They ship to anywhere in the US, but are based in West Haven, so we opted to have our fence professionally installed.

Choosing a fence proved to be a hot button issue in my house. My husband wanted chain link or stockade, but I felt those options were too costly. Electric fences are non-obstructive in terms of your view, but they have several cons. Let's look at the traditional options first:

Chain link fence:

This option proved to be very costly. We were quoted on average $6500 to $7000 for 300 linear feet. I also personally dislike the look of chain link fence.

Stockade fence:

This option also proved to be too costly for us. We were quoted at $5500 for wood stockade fence. Maintenance is an issue as well. Wood rots over time. Vinyl was out of the question in terms of cost.

Electric fence:

This option is low cost, and does not obstruct any view. However, there are several cons to electric fences that I have encountered as a pet dog trainer. I have met dogs who are afraid to go out into their yard at all due to the possibility of the shock. I have met dogs who are afraid to leave their yards at all for the same reason, meaning they wouldn't leave the yard at all, not even for a walk. Some wouldn't even get into the car to leave. Electric fences do not keep other animals out of your yard either. Stray dogs, coyotes, etc. can wander in. I have met dogs who were attacked this way. I have also met dogs who have opted to take the shock and cross the electric fence line, because whatever was outside the yard (squirrel, other dog, etc.) was worth it to them. I have also met dogs who have become dog or human reactive from running along the fence line when people or dogs pass by. For these reasons, and because I personally prefer not to use shock collars on my dogs, electric fencing was not an option.

Pet Playgrounds poly fence was the perfect solution. At half the cost of chain link, it was within our budget including installation. The fence is sturdy, and can be installed over any terrain. The fence is designed to stake into the ground with several inches of excess, which prevents digging. The fence is six feet tall, so there’s no worry that a particularly athletic or intrepid dog would jump or climb out. The fence blends in wonderfully with the woods behind our house. We are extremely pleased with the results, and so are our dogs! You can see the fence in the background of the picture below. It blends in, but is sturdy and safe. If you are ready to fence in your yard, I highly recommend Pet Playgrounds!