Which fence will actually hold your dog?
The best dog fence is one your dog can't dig under, climb over or chew through. On most Kawartha properties that means chain link with a buried edge or a properly built wood privacy run, sized bigger than most people expect and fitted with chew-proof hardware.
The Durable Fence Team. Updated . 3 min read.
Chain link: the everyday choice for dogs
It's affordable per foot, it's see-through and it needs almost no maintenance. Most dogs are happy with a view, and plenty bark less when they can see what's going on out there.
For diggers, we bury the bottom edge or add a ground apron. For climbers, we go taller and keep the top rails tight. Black vinyl-coated mesh looks far better than the old silver kind.
- Best for: big yards, more than one dog, tight budgets
- Size rule: at least 10 ft of run for a medium dog, more for large breeds
- Worth adding: a buried edge, chew-proof latches, shade or a windbreak
Wood privacy: calmer dogs, calmer neighbours
Dogs that react to everything passing by are different. Solid boards block the view, which settles them, and you get privacy too. It costs more than chain link and needs staining, but it looks like landscaping instead of a kennel.
- Best for: barkers, close neighbours, hot-tub privacy combos
- Needs: deep posts, a bottom board with no gap, solid gate latches
Portable kennels or a permanent run
Portable kennels move with you and can be repositioned with the seasons. That suits renters and seasonal yards.
Permanent runs get concrete footings and buried edges, so even a determined dog can't pop them loose. We install both, and we anchor portable kennels properly so they never tip or walk.
More on dog kennels, chain link and wood privacy fences.
Common questions
How tall should a dog fence be?
4 ft holds most small and medium dogs. Go 5 to 6 ft for jumpers, huskies and large breeds. Climbers need a smooth face with no horizontal footholds.
How do you keep a dog from digging out?
A buried chain link apron, or ground-level boards set on gravel, plus posts deep enough that the dog can't nose the fence up at the corners.
Keep reading
Pool fence rules: what inspectors actually check
Pool enclosure rules are set town by town. Around here the minimum height is 1.2 m (4 ft) in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Selwyn and Asphodel-Norwood, and 1.83 m (6 ft) in Cobourg, with self-closing, self-latching gates. Here is what each town asks for and what inspectors check, so opening day stays on schedule.
Wood or vinyl: which fence is better for Ontario winters?
Both hold up to Ontario winters when they're installed properly. The difference is upkeep and up-front cost: wood costs less today and needs regular staining, while vinyl costs more today and asks nothing of you for decades. What actually ruins either one is shallow posts that heave.
How much does a fence cost in Peterborough?
Every fence we build is priced per foot installed. Here's how chain link, wood, vinyl and iron rank from lowest to highest cost, what pushes a quote up or down, and how to get an accurate written number fast.
Spring books up fast.
Get your free on-site estimate now and have the price in writing before the ground thaws.