WOOSTER -- When it comes to building a fence for your dog or other pets, there are a bevy of options available between solid fencing or even fences invisible to the naked eye.

But the final decision ultimately comes down to how much time you have to dedicate to your pet and cost.

"From my perspective," stated Stuart Mykrantz, executive director at the Wayne County Humane Society, "it comes down to do you want to spend time training your pet or not."

Mykrantz said with fences, traditional chain link fences and invisible ones both have advantages and disadvantages.

With a traditional fence, Mykrantz said homeowners can merely put their pet outside to do what they want and burn off some energy. But invisible fences take time spent with the animal to teach them the boundaries and correct their behavior when they approach it.

Starting with traditional fences, homeowners need to build 6 feet tall.

Mykrantz explained that actual fences (he prefers chain link) not only serve to keep your own pets on the property, but also keep other animals out.

And just because a home-owner has a Yorkie dog and will always have one, doesn't mean other larger animals can't easily get over your fence.

"If you're not controlling your own property, you have no idea what passes through," Mykrantz said. And other animals wandering onto your property can carry diseases passed through their droppings or can harass your animal.

And whichever fence type you decide to install may not keep your dog on the property if it's a digger. There are various options, such as dig guards, to ensure your animal can't dig under it and escape.

The newer invisible fences take time to teach to dogs, Mykrantz explained, and are a bit more controversial.

"But like a lot of things anything can be cruel," if used incorrectly, he noted. But these sorts of "fences" provide more freedom to the animals.

Jim Wright, owner of Brigadoon Kennels and Canine University, said his non-traditional fencing options have really grown overall in the recent past. Wright actually offers buried fences at roughly 45 cents per linear foot, which can be less expensive than traditional fencing options.

His buried fences have grown so much in popularity he even split off that section of Brigadoon's business into a separate sister-entity, Dog Fences of Ohio.

"We saw such rapid growth with almost no advertising," Wright said.

But he recommends looking at an animal's existing environment.

"A buried fence can help keep your animal in, but it cannot keep others out," Wright said.

For instance, in rural or even urban settings, coyotes and other animals can be a nuisance or safety hazard and may necessitate a traditional fence.

Wright also suggested for homeowners to speak with their local planning departments or homeowners' association to see which option is even allowed to be installed. Some homeowners' associations do not allow traditional fences to be built for aesthetic purposes.

And with regard to any shock or vibration used, Wright said it can "be very startling, but it doesn't hurt the dogs." His system has the advantage of having a buffer warning vibration before the dog actually gets to the boundary.

Mykrantz said during a demonstration Wright held at the Humane Society, he held the dog collar in his hand at the level it is set, five or six.

"I could not even feel it ... it was at like 27 before I felt it," Mykrantz said, pointing out that not a lot of vibration can help correct a dog's behavior.

And finally, Wright advised that consumers in the market for non-traditional fencing options look at hidden and ongoing costs, such as batteries for the collars themselves.
