Fencing for Large Dogs

Containing your large breed dog on your own property behind a fence ensures the dog's safety. It protects you from the liability you face if your dog damages someone else's property or hurts any other pets or people. Depending on the laws in your town, you might be required to keep your dog on a leash or in a fenced yard.

  1. Basics

    • Fences are expensive, so you should plan for the cost when getting a dog. Even if you have the most sweet-tempered, obedient large dog, some people and other dogs will be afraid of it, so you may want a fence that prevents it from being able to see and bark at passing people and animals. You need to plan for the strength and size of your large dog and select a fence that the dog can't jump over or penetrate.

    Wood or Vinyl Fence

    • Wood and vinyl fences are attractive and durable. You can have them professionally installed or rent a post-hole digger from your local home improvement store and erect them yourself. Wood and vinyl fences consist of beams sunk into holes filled with concrete and panels that are nailed or screwed to planks that connect the beams.

    Chain Link

    • Chain-link fencing is a more affordable option than a traditional wood or vinyl fence. It, too, can be professionally installed or you can do it yourself. Chain link is less attractive than wood or vinyl fences but it still durable. One drawback is that your dog can see through the fence and people can see through--and poke hands through--the holes. You can get plastic slats that slide through the links to minimize some of this. Consider putting chain link on quiet borders of your yard and a more solid fence on the street sides.

    Split-Rail Fences

    • Split-rail fences are what you usually find on farms and around horse pastures. Consisting of wooden posts and cross rails, they provide an open view but not much of a barrier. You can reinforce them by covering the fence in chicken wire or other wire fencing or by running visible electric fencing on the top and bottom rails.

    Snow Fence or Farm Fence

    • A snow fence or farm fence is an inexpensive option for temporary fencing but is not long lasting or ideal for large dogs. These fences are large sheets of plastic or metal with holes like those in a chain-link fence. They attach to metal or plastic poles that go directly into the ground. A large dog can go right through these fences, but if you have a well-trained dog who mostly needs a visual barrier--or you need something fast and temporary and can supervise your dog--they are an option.

    Underground Fences

    • Underground fences are not a practical containment solution for a large dog. They consist of a line buried underground that sends a radio signal to a receiver on a collar that shocks the dog. Underground fences do not keep other animals and people from entering your yard, and this leaves your dog vulnerable. They require consistent training and maintenance, and even then the shock may not be enough of a deterrent to keep a large dog in your yard.