What about fences for yards?

[The Icy River Vagabond]

Just make sure you get a survey done before putting one up..

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by punkerdunker

If you end up buying a house without a fence and decide to build one, it would be thoughtful of you to talk about it with your next door nieghbors beforehand. While some people around here like to say "good fences make good neighbors", I've heard about others who have been offended. Might be a "Minnesota Nice" thing... Just let them know it's for your dogs, not because you can't stand looking at them

Good point. Like I said earlier, there was a fence here when we bought the house and none of the neighbors had ever been in our backyard when the previous owners lived here. For some reason some of our neighbors were pretty offended by that.

[whatever]

Originally Posted by robind

The answers were very helpful.

I must say the yards do look nice with no fences and it seems friendlier.

An invisible fence could be a good idea!

We're in the same position and the house we're buying doesn't have a fence. We'll be going with an invisible fence based on conversations we've had with other dog owners. PM me if you get to that point before us and we'll do the same... good luck to us both!

[HKB]

I'm very much anti-fence. They're ugly for one thing, but I also find them to be pretty standoff-ish... as if to say "This is my property. KEEP OUT!" The thing about fences is that if you don't like them and your neighbor puts one up, you have no choice in the matter.... you get one whether you like it or not.

[minnesotamike]

Originally Posted by whatever

We're in the same position and the house we're buying doesn't have a fence. We'll be going with an invisible fence based on conversations we've had with other dog owners. PM me if you get to that point before us and we'll do the same... good luck to us both!

Invisible fences are better than no fence. They do, however, have a few shortcomings. They won't keep neighborhood kids from harrasing your dogs, or keep your dogs from defending their territory against the same kids. They won't be a deterrent to someone stealing your dogs. They won't keep other neighborhood dogs from entering your yard and fighting with your dogs. Since your yard will have your dogs' scent, it will attract other dogs and you will have additional shovel time required. Invisible fences are sometimes penetrated by an extremely motivated dog. If your dog gets out, he will not be able to get back in.

[punkerdunker]

Invisible fences are invisible. My wife was scared to death once while walking down the sidewalk in our neighborhood when a dog suddenly charged at her and then stopped short of the "fence". Afterwards she noticed a little sign in the yard saying "invisible fence". She wished she had seen that earlier.

If you have a protective dog, a real fence will make passersby have less heart attacks in front of your house. This wouldn't be an issue in a side yard or back yard.

[robind]

We'll play it by ear wonce we get moved regarding a fence. I like the idea of talking to the neighbors first. We're very friendly so I'd hate to get off on the wrong foot.

[warmweather!]

I have observed that fenced yards usually are in neighborhoods with small yards. If one is in a neighborhood where the houses have over an acre and you put up a fence, your neighbors may think you are antisocial or very weird. It will also cost a bit. On the contrast, in neighborhoods with small yards, fences are very common. In general, the smaller the yards, the more the fences. Also, higher wealth neighborhoods rarley have fences, even if the yards are small. I have no idea why... Also, in high crime areas, a fence is a good idea because it makes it more difficult for people to go to your house and do crimes.

[Lindenin]

Speaking for my immediate neighborhood, the lots with fences have only done it behind the house. So, assuming you have a decent back lot, you fence the perimeter of your lot in the back and sides up to your house, at which point the fence either cuts across to your house or is not needed due to a deck / porch in back.

I've never asked, but I presume the reason is to create a place for pets to run while not making the front yard look uninviting. We Minnesotans like to be welcoming.