Home check. Will my garden be suitable?

[HowTheFuckDoIDoThis]

Im wanting to take on a rescue dog. I am getting my home check soon and im worrying my garden isnt going to be good enough.
It has a wall and a small fence, about 3-4ft high. There is a fair bit of grass. I have a border collie, and it does him fine just to quickly do his business.
To the left of my house is a huge field, surrounded by a further 5 or so fields where i walk my current dog regularly, as i will the rescue.
Would this be accepted if the garden is classed as too small?

[Greydog]

I have a rescue dog, and only a back yard. The rescue people were OK with this. The downside is that we have to go for walks, rather than just let her out in the garden!

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

I think they mainly want to make sure it's secure. Would 3ft be tall enough? Guess it depends on the dog?

[friendshipfloss]

Generally speaking if I was homechecking, then it is not the size of the garden that counts. I would want to know if the applicant knew plenty of local places to exercise the dog at. What would be more important is sturdy fencing/boundaries of a decent height. 3ft wouldn't really be good enough - but that does very much depend on the dog that you were interested in. Some dogs are going to look to escape and this type of fence just wouldn't be adequate, whereas other dogs are much easier to manage or maybe just too small to get out of a 3ft fence.

It is also important that there is nothing stacked up against the fence that a dog could climb on to get over.

This is one of the main things that I am strict about. I passed a homecheck once with a low-ish fence on the proviso that the applicant would get it fixed with a trellis straight away and observe the dog in the meantime (they were taking on an urgent foster dog). A few days later I had a phone call to say the dog had escaped. Luckily he was found safe within half an hour, but with busy roads around, the outcome could have been entirely different. I always err on the side of caution now.

[HowTheFuckDoIDoThis]

The garden is secure. I do have another garden which is about the same size with a higher wall, i dont really use it as there is no grass but i could!
I would also happily stand out there with the dog on a leash if needed.

I reallllly want this dog. I hope i get him

[friendshipfloss]

Oh good luck! I think if you are aware of any possible issues then there is always a way around them. Such as using a lead in the garden if the dog was likely to jump the fence. In the rescue I volunteer for, I complete the report and add my summary, but the rehoming co-ordinator gets the final say so on whether it is a pass or fail. I hope it all works out for you.

[ScattyHattie]

3ft is really easy for most dogs to jump if they wanted to (small dogs are often more athletic). I home check but its the rescues that decide if its a suitable home for their dogs, some are strict about boundary being min 5-6ft others go by what suitable for dogs they have in.

I usually point out any potential issues like lower gates, objects that can be used to climb out or ways they could improve boundary, if a low fence could attach battons & use wire mesh to increase the height for a much lower cost than replacing with a whole new fence. I usually take photos, so the rescue could ask to see evidence remedied areas than do another home check.

Is your higher walled garden directly off the house to let the dog into it to toilet etc?
Rescues can be a little less trusting of those with a unsecure or inadequate boundary than those with no garden that have no choice but to lead walk. As people say they'll take out on lead and then just let the dog out the door instead and its not like they know them to pick out those that are being honest.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Both rescues I adopted from wanted a 'secure garden', our fencing is only 3ft high but it is backed by 5ft 6in hedging so both home checkers were happy most dogs wouldn't be able to jump it.

[mollie123]

ah yes - the fence/hedge height seems to be a stumbling block with most rescues and caused me no end of trouble when I tried to take on a rescue dog.
Living in the country, with lovely views, one does not have a 5 or 6ft fence (especially if you are only 5 ft tall ). The hedge was about 3ft 6inches/4ft high and wide as country hedges are. Not all dogs will jump a country hedge and even to rescue a dog I will not put up 6ft high fencing round my garden and lose my view.
I ended up private rescuing a dog and guess what, 'lurch' has never attempted to jump over anything.
I realise in a dangerous situation where a dog can scale a fence and get loose on a busy road, there have to be rules for the rescues, but just as dogs are child and cat proof tested, it would be possible to test for 'jumpability'
It was very much cutting off their noses to spite their faces as I was an ideal adoptee - home all day, lots of walks nearby, experienced dog owner.
just my take on it of course.

[HowTheFuckDoIDoThis]

Thank you all. The fence was a stumbling block for me this morning. However, because i already have a collie and never leave him unattended in the garden. Plus i also said i would be more than happy to keep the new dog on a leash in the garden...she passed me. I just need the main person to pass me. Chances are she probably will. Fingers crossed. I will find out today and if all goes well, i will have the dog tomorrow :)

[HowTheFuckDoIDoThis]

She said if i didnt have my current dog, i would never have passed due to the fence height.

[mollie123]

how - the same inconsistent rules apply still then. Not all dogs will jump a 4ft barrier (especially if it is wide - most country hedges ar at least 2 ft wide and dense). Will you really have to keep rescue dog on the lead in your garden? and who will police it?

[Owllady]

I think sometimes it's just common sense too, in that they won't rehome an escape artist to you! Who have you applied to? What sort of dog?

I have a collie too, she was a rescue from wiccs

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

I have a (rescue) collie who thinks nothing of jumping a 5ft+ breakwater but has never attempted to jump the hedge around our garden, it does seem madness that lots and lots of rescue centres are so hung up on 6ft fencing

[OnTheMove28]

Interesting mollie. We were all ready to take on a rescue but the issue of fencing has stopped us in our tracks. Like you we are in the country and have miles of open space around us - but just post and rail fencing separating our "garden" from the rest of the world.

[HowTheFuckDoIDoThis]

I passed woohooo. Just waiting to find out when i can get him.

I think the reason for this is that it isnt a massive rescue branch such as RSPCA and other similar ones.

[mollie123]

onthemove - I hope you have better luck than I did when I tried the 'big' rescues. It was so disheartening that they had such a 'fixed rule' without taking the circumstances totally into account. I could not sacrifice my view for a dog
country hedges are a big deterrent to most dogs without being 6 foot high - there are of course some dogs that would go through or over them regardless but they could check that out as part of the homecheck