Old fence had a square cut out and protected with chicken wire, at dog viewing level. It was like this when we bought the house and when we got a dog, he made use of this viewing area. On the other side of the house the fence was only 3 ft. high so he could stand up and look over it, which he did.
Now we have a new fence, 6 feet all around, and it seems like he is barking more, but he barked a lot anyway so it’s hard to tell.
We are trying to figure out whether to get out the chain saw and buy some chicken wire and make him a dog peephole, or leave it solid. I am trying to figure out whether this would result in less baring, because he doesn’t just hear weird things but can see them and know they are not actually weird things. Or more barking, because now he knows it’s something he wants to bark at.
The internet is not helping here as to whether it lessens the barking. It does seem to indicate that dogs like these things.
TLDR version: Should I cut a viewing hole in my new fence so my dog can see out?
I’ve always used wire fencing for the dogs and they certainly do like being able to see out. Our current fence is 5 ft. high with chicken wire along the bottom to keep out small varmints. Maybe you’d want to cut out a section of fence and put something like that in. We also have a double wide chain link gate that a dog could see through, so if you have a gate or would add one that’s another way to go. Can’t say how much less the barking will be but your friend should be a lot happier if he can see out.
My parents put a window on their fence for their two Havanese. It’s not chicken-wire, but instead has cast iron bars.
I don’t know if your dog is primarily an inside or an outside dog, but considering that my parents mainly keep the dogs inside, it has greatly reduced the amount of times they have to get up to open the back door to either let the dogs in or out.
I think they’d tell you that it is worth it for that perk alone.
My dogs barked a lot more when they could see out. They chased bikers down the link in the fence, which the bikers did not appreciate. When I am out walking the dogs, I dread the houses with chain link, because I’ll get a dog up against the fence barking. Sometimes the dogs will hit it hard, and I’m always waiting for the day the dog comes through it.
Your dog may like it, but no one around you will. It’s also a weak point in your fence, both for your dog to potentially get out at some point, or for some one to cut the wire and come in. I’d advise against it.
My dogs jump up and bark at stuff they don’t see all the time, when we’re inside the house. Often I’ll be sitting here and the boy will be asleep in the bed and he’ll hear something or other and he doesn’t know what it is, but he’s alarmed enough to bark to investigate.
He does this a lot with car doors. If he’s out in the yard and the neighbor closes their car door, he’ll run up to the (chain-link) fence to look but he won’t bark. If he’s in the house and a delivery person pulls up and closes their car door, he’ll run to the front door to see what it is but won’t bark.
IMHO if a dog can hear and/or smell something going by their fence, they will throw up an audible alert to let you know something is out there and to let the thing know they (the dog) is in there. If they can see the thing, they can better assess the situation and don’t need to throw up random bark alarms.
I’ve always had chain-link fences so I can’t personally speak to how dogs act when able to see or not able to see. But I’ve read and heard in various dog-related articles that solid fencing can cause more barking in dogs. Then again, dog advice is usually all over the map
I doubt that any good, well supported, conclusions can be drawn about what most dogs will or will not bark at. You know your dog best, do what’s best in your opinion.
I’ve seen dog peepholes before and I think they just look tacky so I would put one in on that principal alone.
Did your dog bark at things he saw through/over the fence before? If not, why would he start if you let him see out now? Since he’s barking more now than he was before, chances are he’s only barking because he can’t see out. Or he’s freaking out because he thought he shrunk.
This is probably it. Prior conditioning affects what the dog will bark at. If he could see through the fence before he’s going to be very frustrated now when he knows something is on the other side of the fence but he can’t see it.
This is just a matter of knowing your dog. Sight hounds will find more things to bark at if they can see. Scent hounds will hysterically alert you to anything they can smell but can’t see. Smart dogs will stop barking once they’ve ascertained that whatever it is belongs in the neighborhood. Dumb dogs will bark at leaves floating by. Terriers will bark, full stop.
If he could see there before, it’s part of his “territory” and he’s going to want to know what is happening. He’ll probably be much happier with a window. Quieter, I can’t say.
I am partial to these due to the additional peripheral vision:
I would always give my dogs a seeing hole, and I’m happy when I see people do it. Dogs want to see what’s going on. My dogs bark at dogs and people they see walking by and other dogs singing in the neighborhood. I have got them to not bark, growl or snarl at the various dogs who bark at us as we walk by. But, as we walk by, it doesn’t matter if the enclosed dog can see us or not, they bark and snarl all the same. I think if they can enjoy seeing what they are barking at, it is better than limited sensory depravation and makes them happier.
I think he’s gonna get his portholes. My theory is that he seems to be barking more because it’s taking him longer to figure out what needs barking at. If he can see it, he can decide that sooner, and shut up. Thanks for all the input guys!
I gotta say, though, I am kind of opposed to chicken wire. But oh well.
Me, I’m a cat person. Don’t know nuthin’ 'bout dogs.
But since this is the Sdope, may I suggest doing a scientific experiment?
You used to have a lower fence that the doggie could look over.
So maybe try offering the poor guy the same option now.
Set up a viewing platform the dog can jump up on, from which he can see over the new fence.
See if he’s happy and stops barking.
If so, cut up your new fence.
Never had a solid fence - but can imagine a peephole would be a good idea.
My dog is not a barker, but in our new home, he can sit on the living room floor and look out the front windows. He likes to watch the kids walking/biking to/from the school at the end of the block. When we replaced our kitchen door, we got one with a full-length glass. So he can lie on the floor there, and still look out at the birds and squirrels.
We recently replaced a 130’ length of our chain link with a 6’ wooden fence due to tree/storm damage. The neighbor’s yappy dog seems to drive our dogs even crazier now that they can’t see her.
I think “dog windows” are adorable, but SharkWife won’t let me cut one in the new fence. Our other three lengths are still chainlink, so they have a lot of other things to see and bark at.
