The message here seems to be that while you feel comfortable having your dog without a fence, which is your perogative, many here do not. It isn't silly for a breeder or a rescue to demand a fence. We have been around long enough to have experienced the sad things that can and do happen and feel that we won't allow our animals to go into this type of environment. You obviously don't agree and have made a choice. I would ask that you respect the choice that we make as well.
NO fence discussion
- Thread starter SheltieChe
- Start date
No fence here, we leash walk Sally and have a 30 ft. lunge line for disc and fetch. I would like to have a fenced yard but DH would not...we provide a loving, safe home to our dog as do the other posters on the forum...even a fence does not insure safety all the time,but the effort is there. The effort is also there when we walk Sally at sunrise/sunset with the deer and bunnies as she sniffs and follows their trails and is rewarded with some sort of excrement. I enjoy every minute I spend walking her, no matter how hot, cold,windy,rainy,snowy or icey it may be. I find it a good time to watch her be a dog even if she is on a lunge line. Letting your dog run free does give the opportunity for flight- there is no denying that. Some folks live on farms far away from the threat of roads, but wind up accidently running over their own dogs...some dogs who never leave their owners side take off for no apparent reason. We are talking about animals and there are no guarantees, so I prefer to do the best I can to ensure Sally's safety. I would feel really bad if she were HBC or ran away and I could have prevented it.
danisgoat
Moderator
Very well said. I was trying to say something similar, but could not find the right words. Thanks for writing this.
Many people have different opinions, but it is never nice to refer to a different opinion as "silly" because it is not something that you choose to do yourself. Especially when it refers to a rescue, where they spend countless hours and dollars trying to find the best forever home for their dogs.
Like Tagg said, we all have our own comfort level with the safety we provide for our pups and we make the choices that we feel are in their best interest to protect their wellbeing. I personally feel that even the best training in the world may not be enough given a bad situation… far short of the sun exploding. This is just my opinion and I’m not saying to anyone you have to have a fence to have a sheltie. Many folks have shelties in apartments and do excellent, for example.
You can call me over protective (some have) or even ‘paranoid’ if you like and that’s OK with me, this is all about discussion and opinions, but the word ‘could’ happen is enough for me, and it can and does happen all too often. It happened to me once… it wouldn’t happen again. As far as my fence,… I don’t think it will fall down any time soon, but I know I am doing everything possible to give my girls a safe environment to play and exercise. I also treat my three girls like they are my children, and as with any young child, they have measures in place to keep them from harm. I truly hope your pup never leaves your side or bolts for any reason. I’m sure you keep a watchful eye at all times and provide a wonderful home and Levi seems like the perfect pup. As I said way back in this thread… just be safe.
Just FYI... my three pups are all rescues / puppy mill dumps... so free roam is not an option for me. I have a fence and that's way I do rescue.
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SilentHill
Forums Regular
It's fine with being comfortable in any situation listed in the thread, I can understand where those have lost, or know someone who lost and they want to take every measure feasibly possible to prevent such an event from happening. I can see where some rescue's would require a fenced in yard if perhaps they were a flight risk. I really find it EXTREMELY silly that a breeder would require a fenced in yard. That breeder would not get my business, and a dog would potentially miss going to a loving and caring family where it would be safe (and spoiled) and be provided the best possible life it could have. The next person that comes in could have a fenced in yard and after a few weeks they could decide they want the dog to live in the yard, or they could do any number of wrong doings. If you think about it, almost all people that have "outside dogs" usually have a fence. I'm not saying anyone here is like that, but it does go with proving my point. Plus people that don't have fenced in yards wont necessarily just let the dog run amok in the yard, they may never let them out of the house without a leash, who knows?
Really when it comes down to it, unless the dog is a rescue and a proven flight risk, no one should "require" a fenced in yard. If there is a general concern for the dog then the people's personalities, living environment, food selection, etc, etc should be way way way higher on the priority list.
Emmasmom
Forums Sage
No it is NOT silly a breeder require a fence. Talk to the breeder I got my three from - she has had dogs go missing from their homes. One slipped a collar just after arriving in Florida.
Talk to her about her own beloved male, sire and grandsire of many many champions, who got spooked on his own property by children, and ran. She NEVER EVER found him. This breeder has become a very dear and trusted friend.
I can only hope you never find yourself in the situation where your dog has run. Unfortunately, I think it is only a matter of when, NOT if.
Talk to her about her own beloved male, sire and grandsire of many many champions, who got spooked on his own property by children, and ran. She NEVER EVER found him. This breeder has become a very dear and trusted friend.
I can only hope you never find yourself in the situation where your dog has run. Unfortunately, I think it is only a matter of when, NOT if.
SheltieLuver
Forums Enthusiast
I guess I'm silly then. Because I'm a breeder and I require a fenced yard. I hope you don't take offense, but your sheltie is very different than most. Yes, shelties are smart... but shelties also have an instinct to chase things. My fence runs along our driveway and the neighbor drive. My sheltie feel very obligated to escort all cars coming and going. They also go after every bird, bunny... and turtle they see. I've rescued countless turtles. 
When I was growing up we had a sheltie and not a fenced yard. We lived out in the country so "it was ok.". And, it was ok for several years... until one day, he was gone. We spent countless hours and days searching, and putting up missing posters, even putting some in people's mailboxes. I cried myself to sleep quit a few nights and it was an ache that didn't go away. Two months later we got a call from a lady that had him! I can still remember the joy. He was never left off leash again until we got a fence put up.
When I was growing up we had a sheltie and not a fenced yard. We lived out in the country so "it was ok.". And, it was ok for several years... until one day, he was gone. We spent countless hours and days searching, and putting up missing posters, even putting some in people's mailboxes. I cried myself to sleep quit a few nights and it was an ache that didn't go away. Two months later we got a call from a lady that had him! I can still remember the joy. He was never left off leash again until we got a fence put up.
SilentHill
Forums Regular
I guess I'm silly then. Because I'm a breeder and I require a fenced yard. I hope you don't take offense, but your sheltie is very different than most. Yes, shelties are smart... but shelties also have an instinct to chase things. My fence runs along our driveway and the neighbor drive. My sheltie feel very obligated to escort all cars coming and going. They also go after every bird, bunny... and turtle they see. I've rescued countless turtles.
When I was growing up we had a sheltie and not a fenced yard. We lived out in the country so "it was ok.". And, it was ok for several years... until one day, he was gone. We spent countless hours and days searching, and putting up missing posters, even putting some in people's mailboxes. I cried myself to sleep quit a few nights and it was an ache that didn't go away. Two months later we got a call from a lady that had him! I can still remember the joy. He was never left off leash again until we got a fence put up.
I'm sorry but none of these hold any water to the argument that you "must" have a fence. Every scenario listed here could have happened weather anyone has a fence or not.
Breeders should have fences, with so many pups running around along with a mommy and a daddy or two, that would be a lot of dogs to keep after.
I'm also still not buying the "not if, but when" silliness. Like I've said before...between the 5 shelties that we've had (or currently have) They have had 30+ years of life and counting, and not one of them has ever taken off out of our sight range for any reason.
I had no idea that shelties taking off was such a huge issue, maybe I should start an anti-flight clinic, or maybe I'm some sort of dog whisperer lol.
Ann
Moderator
As Sharon pointed out, this thread could go on and on and it has gone far off topic from Rescue Chat. Comments should not become personal or judgmental; members' opinions should not be called "silly," and others' comments should not be dismissed just because you don't agree with them.
Let's keep this on the subject of why rescue organizations require fences and eliminate the personal remarks.
Let's keep this on the subject of why rescue organizations require fences and eliminate the personal remarks.