What size fenced area is appropriate?

[Guest Anonymous]

We have a 4 month old german shepherd mix named Sadie. We have 2 acres not fenced. We both work. We puchased a "trolley" that runs about 30 feet between a tree and the garage as a short term deal because I dont' want to crate her all day...but its not the best solution and its going to start getting mightly cold here - soon.

We have a large shed (heated) that I would like to put a doggy door on and then build a fenced area so Sadie can be inside or outside while we're at work. When we're home she's with us and she sleeps inside. We walk about 2 miles every day so exercise isn't the main issue, her comfort and well being is my biggest concern. The shed is about 20 x 20 which will give her a lot of room inside, but -

Question is - how big should the fenced in area be and how tall should the fence be?

[kendalyn]

hmmm.... I would get a six foot tall fence. A solid privacy type fence is better than chain link but also way more expensive. You really want to ask yourself if she is going to be trying to jump it. If she's a jumper, you'll need the privacy type for sure.

I'm not sure how much you should fence in. Fence in the greatest amount you feel comfortable her having the run of while you are gone.

[DogPaddle]

Wasn't there some new by-law somewhere that had yard size/pound of dog guidlines? If someone could remember where that info is that would be great, you could take that guideline and maybe double it and use that.

Otherwise I would say that 750 square feet to a 1000 square feet would be adequate? Anyone else?

[Guest Anonymous]

hmm my dogs have a dog run and it's 15 feet long by 15 feet wide i think.... ad it works great

[gooeydog]

I'd say it depends on what you want the area to be for. If you plan on exercising her outside of the enclosure when you're home, and just want a place for her to hang out in and relieve herself in while you work (most dogs sleep a lot while their owners are away), it could be considerably smaller than if you wanted to exercise her in it. Do you walk her off-leash? Or on leash? And does she get time off-leash, or would you be using the fenced area to let her exercise and play in to keep her from running off?

If you just want a small place for outdoor access, and plan on exercising her outside of it when you're home, I'd say a 20'x20' area would probably be good, though of course you could go larger if you wanted, but that's the smallest I'd use. If you plan on exercising her in the fence, you'd want it considerably larger to give her room to open up and run, at least 100' long and 25' or so wide.

I'd also say to go with 6' fence, and if she starts climbing or jumping out, you can put a tip in (where the top foot or two angle in) on top to keep her from doing so.