Best Fence Types for Denver Backyards With Dogs
The best fence types for Denver backyards with dogs: cedar privacy, chain link runs, and what to check before you build. No invisible or electric fences.
Physical fences for Denver dogs: cedar privacy, chain link runs, and what to check before you build. No invisible or electric fences.
What dogs actually need from a fence
A dog fence has to answer three questions: can the dog jump it, dig under it, or push through the gate? Big dogs need height — Denver allows 6 ft behind the primary facade — and diggers need the fence to meet the ground with no gaps. Jumpers and climbers need a smooth face with no horizontal rails to stand on.
Visibility matters too. Some dogs bark at everything they can see; a solid cedar privacy fence removes the trigger, while an open chain link fence leaves it in view. Other dogs get anxious when they cannot see out. Watch your dog before you choose.
Cedar privacy vs. chain link
Cedar privacy is the usual pick for Denver backyards with dogs: solid, tall, and repairable board by board. Chain link suits dog runs and side yards, especially vinyl-coated chain link with privacy slats, and it is the practical choice when the budget has to cover a long run.
Vinyl privacy also works and needs no staining, but remember Denver hail: vinyl is the most hail-vulnerable fence material, and a shattered panel leaves a gap a dog will find. Whichever material you choose, the gate latch and the ground line matter more than the panels.
Gates, latches, and the ground line
Most dog escapes happen at the gate, not through the fence. Use a self-closing latch, keep the gate gap tight, and check the latch after winter — frost heave moves posts, and a latch that lined up in October may not line up in March.
At the ground line, the fence should meet the soil with no gaps. On sloped ground that means stepped panels or a ground-level barrier. And remember: we build physical fences and dog runs only. Invisible, electric, wireless, and GPS dog fences are a separate specialist trade, and we do not install them.