We just moved into a new house and were totally unprepared for our neighbor's aggressive dog—a massive German Shepherd/Doberman mix. During our purchase process, we never noticed the dog, but now that we're settled, we've realized how intimidating it can be. The neighbor warned us to keep kids away from the fence since her dog is very protective. Since we have a nonverbal autistic daughter who doesn't understand verbal warnings and is drawn to animals, we're on constant edge when outside. The current aluminum fence doesn't provide any safety; it's too low and has wide slats that a small child could easily reach through. We've looked into privacy fences, but quotes are hefty—$16,000 for vinyl and $10,000 for wood—both raising concerns about safety and maintenance. We're feeling anxious and stuck between spending a lot on a fence that might still not hold up against the dog or risking our daughter's safety. Has anyone dealt with this before? What materials or techniques should we consider for a secure fence?
1 Answer
I’d suggest looking for more quotes—three is usually a good benchmark! You might want to consider a cedar fence; they can last anywhere from 15-40 years. Just make sure you look into proper maintenance too because it can make a big difference in longevity.