Backyard fences? (Bloomington, Columbus, Greenwood: HOA, new home, landscaping)

[Gronilot]

Hello, I am looking to move to the Indy/Bloomington area. I regularly check houses on Realtor.com- then go to Google Maps and look at a satellite picture of the property. After doing this for a while I realized that the majority of houses don't have backyard fences. Is this normal in the mid-west, or just this area?

I am from the west- and was a military brat (so moved frequently) and have never lived anywhere where all the backyards were not fenced. Sometimes in chainlink, usually in wood, and where I am now, they all have 6-8 foot block walls.

How does it work without fences? How do you keep your dog in your yard? (I know they have those invisible fences now, but not several years ago) What about kids? When mine were little, I could let them play in the back with just an open window to keep track of them. What about if you are having a barbeque, or birthday party in your back yard- do you automatically invite all your neighbors? How do you know where to stop mowing your yard- or do all the neighbors with adjoining yards take turns?

Hope to get some insight. Thanks

[sweetana3]

Allowable fencing is at the terms and conditions of the Home Owners Association if there is one or at the discretion of the property owner if no HOA. The fencing does not normally come with the purchase of a new home so is added as finances and as a need is found. Usually it is kids, dogs, or a pool. In many of the newer cheaper neighborhoods, the yards are small and there are often utility easements that cannot be fenced. So if you put up what is allowable, your yard would look so small. Beware of these types of issues.

So if you are looking into new subdivisions, make sure you do not assume that backyard fencing of the type you want is allowable.

As a property owner it is pretty mandatory that you yourself know where your property lines are located in case of accident, landscaping, fencing etc issues.

You mow only "your yard" within the property lines unless you and your neighbors are "nice" about it.

[Southside Shrek]

if you have a dog and can't build a physical fence, invisible electric dog fences can be nice.

[domergurl]

My feeling on those invisible fences is that it makes for a vicious dog who will figure out that the temporary shock will subside once they jump through it.

As for fences ... unfortunately, there are many many HOA's out there that either prohibit fences completely, or are very very restrictive as to what kind of fence can go in (height, type of material .. must get permission from an architectural review board). We lived in 2 hoa communities and found them to be pains in the butts to deal with. I just don't like being told HOW and WHEN and WHAT I can do with my property. Not into a group of homeowners trumping a town's building code and being a bunch of tattletales under the auspices of "protecting your property's value, but that's just me.

We live in an HOA free neighborhood and I absolutely love it. Everyone takes care of their properties, fences ... go for it! Pools .. sure! No need to ask for permission. We are all adults here!

But I digress. Those HOA's kept us out of Greenwood. Columbus doesn't seem to be too into them. Bloomington, it probably depends on the neighborhood. If you are thinking about moving, check with your realtor, they usually have all the restrictions on file. If not, the title company will have them.

[Southside Shrek]

how many 'vicious' dairy cows penned in by an electric fence have you encountered? They learn how to stay away from that sudden juicing. I know I did and I didn't become vicious.

[sweetana3]

Electric fencing is not a good idea for some dogs. If you have a laid back and "thoughtful" dog that is easily trained it can work well. Wont protect you from bite liability if they run thru it though. Doesnt keep kids away from your dog or help prevent bites.

It is those dogs that can ignore commands and pain that cannot be fenced in with electric fences. We had a number of dogs in our last neighborhood that when excited or saw something they really wanted, would run thru the pain and once outside the fence could not get back in so they roamed. One we picked up twice. A highly prey driven dog will not be stopped by an electric fence either. They prey is what they are focused on and again, will run thru the invisible fence.

They are not protected from dogs outside the fence either. They have basically no protection at all.

[Southside Shrek]

does anyone want to buy my invisible electric dog fence with collar? I'll sell it cheap because I can't use it on a little dog we now have. The electric shock collar is much too large for him because it's more for a Golden Retriever.

[domergurl]

Dogs and cows ... cows and dogs ....

pack animal/predator vs. docile food source ...

[Southside Shrek]

I forgot to mention that our previous large dog became incontinent wearing that electric shock collar.

[domergurl]

I would too!!!