I can remember way back when we first started looking for a dog, we submitted an application to a rescue organization. They wouldn’t even consider us, because we didn’t have a fenced-in backyard.

I was so mad at the time. I just knew that we could give a dog a wonderful home, fence or no fence. I still believe that’s true, but there’s little doubt in my mind that a fence is extremely useful (if expensive).

Last night, when I took the dogs out, our neighbor’s pit bull was running around loose. It hasn’t happened often, but this isn’t the first time it’s happened, either. And it’s not the only neighbor’s dogs it’s happened with, either.

In fact, that same pit bull was running around loose early one morning when I took Chester out first thing in the morning. I don’t really know if it’s a friendly dog or not. It spent much of its first year chained up in their yard 24/7, although they did finally fence in the yard.

I was very proud of Chester, though. Although he wanted to chase and bark at the dog, I got him to come to me and go to his “place” (a raised outside bed). In fact, both he and Lola (who’s pretty territorial herself, despite the fact she’s only been here 3 weeks) got some impromptu training.

I don’t believe a fence is a neccesity for a happy dog, but I do think it’s worth it, if you can afford it.

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