Dog proofing front garden ideas?

[NikkiMartin]

Imminently installing a front garden fence, where there was previously none. Large front garden, but next to pavement/ street. With UK fencing restrictions at 1 meter, does this actually keep people's dogs in? Or did anyone here apply for planning permission for a larger one? Any tips would be welcomed!

Do you not have a rear garden ? Personally I wouldn’t leave a dog in a front garden as it leaves them exposed to risks of theft .

We have both, front is 3x larger and a lovely space. He wouldn't be left in it alone ever - just means he could join us when we're gardening etc!

My dog would be over that in seconds. What about a line tied to a screw in pole in the ground, like people use when they take their dogs camping?

I got planning permission for my garden. It's a wrap around, so piddly little fences at the front are just useless and I wasn't going to stick a fence half way around and cut my dogs garden in half.

Was easy enough to get tbh! I made a point of putting fast-growing tall trees either side of the fence - in a few years you won't be able to see the fence at all as it'll all be hedge. But the fence will still be there.

Depends on the dog and whether you’d be starting with a puppy or an adult dog...

Most adult dogs could jump a 1m fence if they wanted to, but, a dog who is fairly well trained and with no issues who has been going out there with you since they were a puppy is hugely unlikely to want to.

a newly arrived adult rescue or a dog who’d try to chase passing cats, joggers or bikes etc might... but you could just use the back garden for the dog being loose and stick a harness and longline on in the front.

Most adult dogs could jump a 1m fence if they wanted to, but, a dog who is fairly well trained and with no issues who has been going out there with you since they were a puppy is hugely unlikely to want to.

I have to say, I'm not sure I agree with that at all. All it takes is for them to spot a cat, or a squirrel, or a dog they don't like and they could be off. It's a huge risk to take.

Or someone who steals your dog with some chicken/beef/cheese. Not many dogs turn down tasty treats from strangers....

Dog-napping are on the increase and best case scenario is your dog ends up being bred from. Worst case - dog fighting.

I think it depends on the dog and how you plan on leaving them.

My wall is way higher than that but I have a gate which we had to place additional wooden battens along with wire mesh as he could have easily run under it when a puppy.

We have now removed these and I am sure if he really wanted he could still squeeze underneath but he is only in the front garden when I am and never shows any inclination of doing so even if his ball rolls under it ( he whines for me to get it back).

I would never leave him unsupervised though just in case.

Your understanding of fairly well trained with no issues is clearly very different than mine...

The Op had said they’ve no plans on leaving the dog alone, they’re talking about being out there with it.

No matter how well-trained the dog is, sometimes instinct takes over.

It's a big risk to take when the outcome could be a dead dog.

I'd be happy with 1m fencing in a garden if I was out there with my dogs. Both of mine could easily jump that but they wouldn't unless I asked them to.

Not that it's relevant if I was out there with them, but neither of my labs will take treats from strangers either.

I don’t agree

Whether your dog would be ok with a 1m fence with you there is down to the individual dog and training, the same as knowing whether your dog is ok to be offlead in a certain park or ok to walk on lead on a pavement next to a busy road or whether you’re going to be ok to walk your dog past a school when they’re playing out.

Most well adjusted well trained adult dogs should be fine doing those things, if it isn’t then you don’t do it with that dog.

Which is why I mentioned the difference between a newly arrived adult rescue dog and one you’ve had since 8 weeks.

Each to their own, of course.

To me it's just one of those unnecessary situations where the potential outcome just isn't worth the risk.