Fencing for Anatolian Shepherds: Invisible vs Physical Fence

 It had been hours and still we were searching trying to find our dog. After driving down countless range roads, and scouring our neighbours' yards for tracks, it became clear that we needed proper fencing. Clyde had regularly been patrolling our neighbourhood ever since he learned to crawl under fences. It was becoming more annoying and nerve-racking every time he left. We finally decided to take the time and money to install proper fencing. We're glad we did because we haven't had containment issues with any of our Anatolians since. In this article, we will dive into different fencing options for Anatolians. We hope this will help your family choose a fence that’ll work best for your situation. 

Shepherds Rest Calamity Jane (pregnant:)

Fencing Options

 Starting off with physical fence options. We would recommend using page wire, plank, or chain link fence that is 4 feet or higher. I would also recommend pairing a physical fence with an ‘enforcer’ such as hot wire. Running a strand of hot wire at nose level, on top of the fence and at ground level works wonders to teach dogs to respect fencing. 

 Invisible fences are another option. Although we have never used invisible fencing, lots of other breeders and owners do and love them. Some use GPS collars, which are digital fence lines that connect to the collar. Similarly, SportsCollars are another option. However, SportsCollars work by installing a tiny line to a fence or underground.

 You can also combine these two by wiring the invisible fence line to the physical one. Some LGD owners use this and say it’s the only way that they’ve ever had success containing their dog. 

 Regardless of what fence you pick, ensure a dog can't crawl under it, go through it, or jump over it. 

Considerations for Physical Fencing

  There are several pros and cons to physical fencing. For starters, a physical fence is a boundary your dog can see. In other words, it is a boundary your dog can visualize and grasp the concept of quickly. Physical fences are oftentimes more reliable. Unlike invisible fences, there’s no possible way for your fence to suddenly ‘run out of battery’. Another plus to the physical is it can serve as a 2-in-1 for livestock and dogs. If you plan to keep your dog with livestock, it often doesn't take a lot more work to make the fence suitable for dogs too. Lastly, it’s an easy way to quickly separate dogs. If you have multiple dogs and ever need to separate them, it’s easier to move them into different pens rather than rewire invisible fence lines. 

 A downside to physical fences could be your dog losing respect for it. Once your dog knows they can escape from a certain fence line it's harder to contain them with other types of fencing too. The good news is this is preventable most of the time. If you pair physical fencing with an enforcer (electric wire) it motivates them to stay put. Another possible downside to physical fencing is that your dog will be limited to 1 pen at a time. If you have multiple pens with livestock, it can become challenging to choose which pen you want your dog in. However, some owners will install ‘jump gates’, which are just a “V” installed into fence lines. This allows dogs to jump from pen to pen while keeping livestock separated. When you no longer want your dog to have access through the jump gate, you can install a sliding door to close the gate. Obviously, this only works if your pens share a fence line and your dog is mature enough to jump through the gate. 

Considerations for Invisible Fencing

 Invisible fencing comes with its benefits and downsides too. Invisible fencing offers more space and ability for the dog to roam around your property. It can also offer more flexibility. For example, you can create passages from pen to pen that only your dog will have access to. Or in other words, you could take the ‘jump gate’ idea from above, but make it work even if a fence line isn’t shared, as you can wire the invisible fence to allow the dog to cross a driveway, yard, etc. Some collars offer additional features like a tracker or training aid. It’s also easy to add dogs to the same line. Once you’ve installed the fence line, you can add more collars to it at a lower price. 

 A downside to invisible fences is that you have to be mindful of checking the collars and the batteries. If the battery were to die- your dog could continue on its way far past the boundary. But if you check the batteries and collar and switch them out frequently, this is preventable. Another consideration is that some dogs may endure the shock. We’ve read stories online where their dog bore the shock of chasing after a predator. Yet, using a collar in addition to a physical fence can help prevent this, as the dog will have to get through 2 fences acting as a deterrent.

 In summary, take the time to select a fence option that'll best serve your family and situation. After you have your installed fencing, take the time to train your dog to it and continually enforce the boundary. It is always better to prevent than correct, and having adequate fencing is key to successful ownership. 

Sources Cited

“Fencing for the Livestock Guardian Dog” by Megan ‘Little Avalon Farm’ on March 13, 2018 https://littleavalonfarm.com/fencing-for-the-livestock-guardian-dog/ 

“Using GPS Collars On Your Livestock Guardian Dog (Video)” by Rachel Porter ‘Hobby Farms’ https://www.hobbyfarms.com/using-gps-collars-on-your-livestock-guardian-dogs/  

“Fencing and Your LGD” by ‘Kathy Ann’s Farm’ on January 21, 2021 https://kathyannsfarm.com/2021/01/31/fencing-and-your-lgd/