Choosing the best dog fence: traditional or invisible

By Kristen W. Perko, guest blogger

Editor's note: Spring is upon us and many of our dogs' fancies are turning to running in the great outdoors--and running and running and running. It can be challenging to keep them safely at home while allowing them some outdoor freedom. CDOG member Kristen did some research on two popular ways to contain our pooches--traditional and invisible fencing--to give us some food for thought as we consider the choices. 

For dog owners, keeping our furry friends safe and happy is a priority. There are many ways to prevent dogs from getting into dangerous situations, but one of the top solutions is a fence. Dog fences come in many styles and colors and they can be constructed from a wide range of materials. Two of the most popular types of dog fence are traditional above-ground fences and invisible underground fences. To determine which type is best for your home and family, consider the pros and cons!

Traditional Dog Fence

Pros

• A traditional dog fence prevents other neighborhood pets and wild animals from entering your yard. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that they are constantly protected, especially if you can’t constantly keep an eye on them.
• Traditional fences can complement your home with many different types of materials, from wood to ornamental iron, so they add beauty and value in addition to pet protection. Most fences can also be built in different heights, to secure any dog from Pomeranian to Great Dane.
• Traditional fence types offer additional features that invisible fences don’t. If you want more privacy from nosy neighbors or protection for your children, a traditional fence is the ultimate multi-tasker.

Cons

• Large dogs may require very high above-ground fences, which can block neighborhood views. Some neighborhood codes* may not allow high fences, so you may need to use alternate solutions. 
• Dogs can try to dig under traditional fences. While quality fences are usually buried deep enough to prevent them from escaping, this can cause unsightly holes in your yard.
• If your yard is particularly steep or hilly, a stepped installation might be required. However, dogs can more easily get their paws trapped under stepped fences, and smaller dogs may even be able to escape.  
• Wooden dog fences need to be maintained regularly and may not be the best option for dogs who like to chew. Heavily-treated wood is not the best choice, as it can contain materials that are dangerous for pets to ingest.

Invisible Dog Fence

Pros

• An invisible fence does not change the look of your yard or landscape, making it a great choice for homeowners who want an open view of their neighborhood or surrounding property. If you live in a heavily zoned neighborhood or have very large dogs, you may not be able to build a fence that is high enough to meet your needs. 
• An invisible fence can often be cheaper and easier to install on your own, especially if you have a small yard. It can also be installed very close to the home, whereas most people do not want a traditional fence only a few feet from their front door. 
• With proper dog training, invisible fences can offer a level of containment that is equal to a traditional fence. Eventually, trained dogs will learn the boundaries of your yard, and will be able to play freely within the spaces you designate. 

Cons

• Without proper training, dogs will not respond well to an invisible fence. You will need to devote time and patience, or they may become afraid or skittish when they go near the invisible fence borders. 
• Invisible fences should not be used with small puppies, sick, very elderly, or pregnant dogs. You may find that your fence needs change over the years.
• Most invisible fences require a nearby power source to work. The dog collars that are worn with an invisible fence can malfunction, so you’ll need to recharge or make sure batteries are replaced frequently. This can make it difficult to let your dogs play outside for extended periods of time, especially during the long days of summer!
• Invisible fences don’t provide protection from other animals (pets or wild). They also do not protect children from danger, gardens from being damaged by deer or rabbits, or pools from unwelcome visitors. 

For more helpful information on choosing your ideal fence, please consider visiting the sources below!

Traditional Dog Fences:  www.longfence.com/pet-fence
Invisible Dog Fences:  www.dogfencediy.com/main/right-for-you/

* Columbia residents: Be sure to check with your village office early on in your planning and get a copy of your village's Architectural Guidelines. Each village has its own home owner's rules and regulations and you will need to learn about the kinds of property changes that are allowed and not allowed, and the process for getting approvals.

---

Columbia Dogs on the Go

Meetup | Facebook | Twitter | Website | Blog | Pinterest

April: a busy month for pooches

April is full of community events for dogs! Check the Events calendar often on the Columbia Dogs on the Go website (and on this blog), to keep up with the latest, get details and links, and add events that you learn about.

April 5 (Friday) kicks off the first of the monthly Wine Bin Yappy Hours in Ellicott City, from 5 to 9 pm The Wine Bin's been doing these for years and they're a lot of fun--with wine and chocolate sampling for people and treats for dogs. Donations and a portion of sales benefit local pet charities.

April 21 (Sunday) is March for the Animals, the Maryland SPCA's largest annual fundraiser, featuring a 1.5-mile walkathon, pet contests, an agility course, training classes, pet demonstrations and entertainment. It takes place at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore from 10 am to 2 pm.

April 27 (Saturday) is the big day for our own Columbia Association, who is hosting its 7th annual Dog Day Afternoon at Hopewell Park from 11 am to 2 pm. There's plenty of doggy fun planned--contests, off-leash play, music, raffles and demonstrations.

April 27 is also the day for the K9-9K Walkathon, hosted by the Marshall Legacy Institute at Glenelg Country School, from 9:30 to 11:30 am. The event promotes the work done by mine detection dogs around the world and will raise money to sponsor a life-saving dog. Activities include walks around the Glenelg campus, BBQ, raffle prizes, dog contests, dog treats, and family activities.

April 28 (Sunday) is Bark for Life, a noncompetitive event for dogs and their owners to help raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society. The event features contests and games and takes place at Worthington Dog Park, from noon to 2 pm.

So, mark your calendars! We'll have no dogs complaining that "there's nothing to do around here!"

---

Be sure to check the Events calendar often on the Columbia Dogs on the Go website (and on this blog). Use the red "Add an event" button on the calendar to let us know about events to add!

CDOG Website - Meetup - Facebook – Twitter - Blog  

---

Whooza Good Dog? Oskar!

Meet Oskar, Liz's Yorkie Poo born in May 2012. "He recently joined our family and stole our hearts immediately" says Liz who lives in Columbia. "He's smart and playful, and has such a sweet soul. His big brown eyes could melt anyone's heart!"

---

Share a favorite photo and a few words about your dog and we'll feature it here on our blog, on the home page of our CDOG website, and on our Facebook page! Visit our website to meet more of our very good dogs!

Dog Day Afternoon in Columbia on April 27: Don't miss it!

It's time once again for the event all of Columbia's dogs have been waiting for: Dog Day Afternoon! Once again, it's at Hopewell Park and will take place on Saturday, April 27, from 11am to 2pm.  (Rain date is Sunday, April 28, same time, same place.)

This annual FREE event is sponsored by the Columbia Association (CA), and is now in its 7th year. Enjoy music, raffles and seminars/demonstrations while meeting local businesses and organizations focused on the health, happiness and well-being of our dogs. There's plenty of doggy-fun planned, including contests, off-leash play and treats, lots of treats.

To register, go the the Dog Day Afternoon registration page on EventBrite.

The CA will also be collecting items at this event for donating to the Thankful Paws Pet Food Bank. They are accepting the following:

• Canned cat and dog food
• Dry dog and cat food
• Soft treats and biscuit type treats
• New dog and cat toys
• We really like Kong type indestructible toys
• Blankets and towels
• Buckle or martingale type collars
• Leashes
• Gift cards from pet stores so we can buy emergency food and supplies as needed

For more information, please call 410-423-1891. 

Tips on caring for aging pets

Last week at this time, I was in tears, after learning about Riley’s diagnosis and his blood work that kept going in the wrong direction—up—instead of down, as I had hoped. As I mentioned earlier, we decided to not risk the suggested surgery, and vowed to make Riley’s life as happy and comfortable as we could.

On the way back from the vet in Gaithesburg, I passed through Highland, and was reminded of a demonstration I had seen some years ago at Shari Sternberger’s Elements of Energy. Shari is a holistic practitioner for people and pets, and incorporates healing touch, Reiki, sound and light therapies, and other techniques. I thought a little visit for Riley—and me—might be just the thing to help focus our energy on our goal.

Shari was able to see him the next day. I can’t say which of us—Riley or me—benefited more. Riley certainly relaxed into the repertoire of treatments that Shari provided. And I benefited from chatting with someone who had such a wealth of experience with older and ailing dogs. I realize that her support is not a substitute for traditional veterinary care—which we are still continuing, but I found it a valuable adjunct.

Here’s a little video Shari made with tips on caring for aging pets. (Warning: This one’s about cleaning up poop!) Even if/when Riley recovers from his illness, he won't come out of it any younger! So being prepared for the road ahead is a good idea.

Riley, by the way, is feeling fine right now and has his healthy appetite back. He even darted after a squirrel the other day. We're not sure if he's "out of the woods" yet, but the jaundice seems to be subsiding, and all other signs are normal--no pain, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. I don’t know if it’s the antibiotics, the low-fat small-meals diet, the energy healing, time itself, or a combination of the above. But I’ll take it!

Whooza good dog? Teddy!

Teddy

Teddy is Gemma's 14-month-old male labradoodle. "He is a good little man," says Gemma of Relay, MD. "He looks like a teddy bear, thus the name and the Halloween costume. He had a great time last year at Dog Day Afternoon - we will be there again!"

See more Good Dogs on the Columbia Dogs on the Go slide show!

Helping Riley, my golden-ager dog

Riley, my Havanese, has been through quite a month. Long story short, he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and spent a night in the emergency clinic on Jan 19. He seemed to be doing well afterwards, but his bloodwork showed liver problems and he began to show signs of jaundice. We followed up with a specialist visit and an ultrasound, which showed a “biliary mucocele” and very high liver enzyme levels. Surgery was recommended.

We are opting to not do the surgery for several reasons. One, surgery and anesthesia are risky at Riley’s age (13 years), especially with his high bloodwork numbers right now. And, from what I read, although the results of the surgery are excellent, it has a very high mortality rate—like 1 in 5 to 1 in 3. But, mainly, when we look at Riley now, he is feeling good, eating well, and has no pain, vomiting or diarrhea, or any symptoms really—other than the signs of jaundice. So we are choosing to keep him happy and comfortable, come what may. And we are also doing a trial of antibiotics, along with a low-fat diet and some Denamarin. This “medical management” has been shown to sometimes help with his condition, but I’m being very careful to manage our expectations.

Riley at the Pub Dog

So, we are focusing now on the “happy and comfortable” part and the extra care that we can give a senior dog or one with a serious health condition. And, I’d like to share some observations here as we spend time with our senior dogs—and maybe some tips that I learn along the way. Our other dog Cody is 9 years old—still middle-aged in dog years—but maybe what I Iearn from Riley’s experience will help him too.

Admittedly, it’s been some time since I fed this blog! I’m afraid I got caught up in working on the Columbia Dogs on the Go website—as well as its associated Meetup groups and Facebook pages. But I’m giving it a go again and hoping to involve more input from our dog-loving community.

In addition to senior dog discussions, we’ll continue to cover dog events, dog-friendly restaurants, and great places to walk in this blog—all with a local focus on people, places and dogs in the Columbia and Howard County area. I’m inviting guest bloggers to participate and share observations on topics like training, playing, health, and healing. And it would be great to share stories about the many great dogs in our community too. There’s lots of tales to tell. So, let’s say it’s a new beginning!