Puppy question - large garden but not possible to fence it...

[brawhen]

I'm doing the research to think about getting our first dog. Can anyone advise me about whether our garden is dog-feasible?

We live fairly rurally (edge of a village at the foot of open hills). We have a large garden, 0.75 acre ish, but it's not possible to fence it. The back of the garden goes on to open woodland/hillside (which then runs for miles) - there is nominally a 'fence' but it's just a line of wire and could not realistically be secured as the garden there is steep, rocky, full of bushes/trees etc. One side of the garden has a dry stone wall which is 3-4ft high so also probably not dog proof. The front of the garden goes on to the road - that could be secured (we'd have to put a gate on the driveway, but that's very do-able.)

Ideally I would like to feel that a dog could hang out in the garden without constant supervision (at least once they got past young puppyhood)...

We've only recently moved - last place we lived was a bit more suburban and was easy to see how dog owners sorted their gardens. Am trying to bump in to friendly looking dog-walking neighbours to ask them, but hoping I can also get some ideas here!

@Caspianberg yes we have deer, goats, pine marten etc going through the garden. You are right that would make it a bad idea to secure the entire plot, even if we could.

Just to add our dog could easily jump a meter fence if he wanted (he can jump over the back of our tall sofa!) and he’s similar in size to a large golden retriever.

It is entirely doable if you don’t mind taking the dog out to the garden on a lead as needed. I have lived in a similar setting and it was fine. Inconvenient at times and my preference would always be for an enclosed garden, but really it was fine. If you are committed to ensuring that your dog receives ample off lead opportunities elsewhere, it’s perfectly possible to have a dog without having a fenced garden.

Going by the picture, that fence you linked doesn't seem adequate. 1m is easily jump able (unless you're looking at a toy breed - which would wiggle thru the gaps anyway 😄). Also looks easily knocked over and wriggled under.

My dog would be gone like a shot in a space like that with wildlife. And he would easily scale a 1m fence and he's not even very big!

I would get a line attached to a stake concreted into your patio. That's probably safest.

If you’re thinking puppy, I’d just put wire stock fencing up round that tbh, I’ve got one side with that because it’s thick bushes but with big gaps, you get ones with smaller gaps so puppies can’t fit through.

Rescues would want a 6 foot fence, but they’re rehoming adult dogs that may well just go, ooh freedom. Puppies don’t do that, and by the time they’re big enough to, they usually don’t even think of it.

I’ve never had a dog that particularly wanted to be out alone though tbh, they follow us in and out... I mean, sometimes I might go put the kettle on but they usually just want to be where you are. But having lived in flats, it’s a huge pain not having even a secure but you can just pop out into so they can go to the toilet.

We have our fairly large patio fenced off with fancy iron fencing , our dog could easily jump it if he fancied it but he’s never tried and he’s quite happy to wee and poo on the patio . Our actual garden is fenced but he’s only allowed on it when he’s supervised as he eats everything and digs big trenches .

The fencing you linked to really wouldn't work in your garden - 1m is nothing and my dog would scale it from standing if there was a deer on the other side! Our garden wall was 5ft when we got him and he once scaled it in seconds to go and see his pal next door (a lovely husky) and steal the neighbours lunch off the kitchen counter 😂

I also walk a sprocker and her prey drive is insane - if I was to let her off in your garden she would be off like a shot and you'd stand practically no chance of getting her back. If you can't secure a decent space with at least 6ft fencing, then you may have to resign yourself to keeping the dog on the lead in the garden.

It'd be an immediate fail from any of the rescues I volunteer for. You could register with one, get advice and then contact them when your garden is ready.

We have a big back garden which is currently not dog proof, so dog has to be on long line. Planning to fence it when finances allow. Dog is 1.

Front garden (also big) is fully fenced and dog proof- so she can potter about on her own with the front door open. (V quiet rural unlikely to be stolen).

OP I'd advise totally dog proofing at least part of the garden. When it's pissing down with rain late at night and dog wants to wee, you'll be thankful you don't have to go out too. And dogs are crafty buggers. If there's a way out they'll find it.

He'd be stolen or squished within the first week.

Buy fencing and think about it again afterwards.

Thanks all - this is really helpful advice.

Supervised lead / long line in garden sounds like it is a possibility then. But I am definitely heeding all the folk saying a better solution would be to secure at least some area, ideally with direct access from the house. I'll keep mulling over the practicalities of how we might do that.

Does anyone want to suggest mid size breeds to look at that are active but also have lower prey drive (and thus might do a bit better with the wildlife)?

Though if a dog is to be stolen or squished within the first week, I guess I'm just going to give up the idea now.

A Clumber spaniel might fit the bill or a Bassett hound - can’t imagine either of these do much high jumping .

I've also been googling dog runs. Many just look like play pens, and the panels are not particularly high. Are they just all ineffective? Or are they really designed for puppies & very small breeds??

Does anyone want to suggest mid size breeds to look at that are active but also have lower prey drive (and thus might do a bit better with the wildlife)?

I really wouldn't pick a breed based on them hopefully having a low prey-drive.

Getting any dog with an unsecured garden is just not a good idea IMO - you'll soon get sick of needing to keep them on the lead - and what happens in summer if you want the back door open all day?

I've also been googling dog runs. Many just look like play pens, and the panels are not particularly high. Are they just all ineffective? Or are they really designed for puppies & very small breeds??

You can get fully enclosed dog runs but they're not really suitable for what you're describing - they're more outdoor kennels for dogs being left while the owners go out.

Does anyone want to suggest mid size breeds to look at that are active but also have lower prey drive (and thus might do a bit better with the wildlife)

we’ve had/have boxers and live in the countryside. They’ll make a feeble chase of a squirrel or a pheasants but have never caught anything. We have rabbits which come inside and the boxers ignore them (although I’ve never left them alone in a room together). We also have a low fence….I know they could jump it but have never tried.

When we got our romanian rescue 3 years ago we had to have an enclosed garden with 6’ fences and i can see why as she could jump a 3’ fence from a standing position!! She has huge hunting instincts so we keep her on the lead when walking through fields as she would be off for hours chasing rabbit and hares if she saw any. 3 years later she is way less excitable and i let her walk round the front garden without a lead now but even that has minmum 3’ fences and gates.

I'd go with a fence along the top of the wall area with a gate at top of the wee steps and down to meet house; that would be a good sized area for a dog.

If you can secure a part of your garden, that would be the best solution. But if you can't, it's certainly feasible to have a dog anyway. As I wrote above, I was in precisely this situation with a puppy and an older dog and it worked fine. I never minded taking them on a lead when they needed to go out (which was often in the early puppy days).

As for breeds with a low prey drive, that is a more complicated issue. The links between behaviour and breed can be tenuous.

Yes. Please don’t use these. Vile, cruel things

Those are meant as playpens to contain very for tiny puppies and very small breeds for short periods. You’d need to be looking for a fenced enclosure or something purpose built like this
www.vidaxl.co.uk/e/vidaxl-outdoor-dog-kennel-8x4x2-m/8719883587059.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwspKUBhCvARIsAB2IYuvZaYZbFhmjz02_3FwIa_MmS3zan6Vy3-Y3m49pHWl3h7Exb6UXEmEaAm5qEALw_wcB

You can get electronic fencing, its not an actual fence as such it's done with lasers, they wear a collar and it gives them a (mild) zap if they go outside the designated zone. Very pricey though. Also if there's a power cut I guess it would go down which may not be such a good idea.

Oh just saw the comments about electronic fencing being illegal, I actually think that's not a bad thing so forget that idea!

My dogs (beagles) would leap the fence you linked to in seconds.

I volunteer home check for a charity and, I'm afraid, your garden would be an instant fail.