An electric fence does not work well with all dogs but it certainly has with my golden. I bought one from Walmart and it did the job. Takes about 3 weeks of training. Just make sure you keep the batteries up to date that's in the collar.

BTW, I wouldn't buy the wireless kind. I never had much luck with that.

 

Our fence is only 3 feet high and although Tucker could scale it easily, he never has. Shadow doesn't try either. In fact, we've found Shadow sitting next to an open gate. He wouldn't leave the yard.

 

I had a 4 ft chain link fence that kept 3 out of my 4 in the yard. The other sailed right over it. I ended up putting the IF fence inside the chain link and it worked. I now have a 6 ft privacy fence and it keeps all of the in. I didnt have good luck with the do it yourself IF fence, my dog went right through it, once I took that one out and had a company come in and install one it kept him in.

 

A 4-foot fence might be enough, especially if you're starting with a puppy because you can start 'fence training' early -- no jumping on the fence, no paws on the fence for any reason whatsoever, etc. Once your pup gets bigger, I wouldn't leave him/her unsupervised with just a 4-footer, though.

The main thing I don't like about electric fences is that, while it might keep your dog in, it won't keep anything else OUT.

We noticed something interesting the other day, when we were driving down one of our side streets here. We too have a city ordinance - 6 foot maximum. Someone obviously wanted a little more height, so they attached about a 12-inch piece of lattice onto the top of their wooden fence and trimmed it all out and everything so it looks real nice. It's not technically part of the fence per se, it's just "decorative trim" so they're able to get around the ordinance. That might be something for you to consider. It's probably not very expensive to do, would give you another foot or so in height and if your city says it has to go, you could just detach it and stick with the 4-foot fence.

 

There is a difference between an electric fence (electrified wire, such as is used with cattle and horses) and an underground fence system.

I know that some breeders use a combination of a chain link fence and an electric fence, wired to either the bottom or the top of the fence, depending on whether or not their dog climbs or digs.

I have a 4-foot chain link and no one has ever gone over or under it but I have rails at both the bottom and the top. I have had to clip the gate shut because mine will open the gate and get out that way.

 

I have a four foot fence in the back and never have any of my pups jumped it. But a dog from down the street was in the yard one time, luckily none of mine were out at the time.

 

We have a 6 foot wood privacy fence around 3/4 of the yard and 5 foot chain link along the back. Darby went through the wood fence (check the slats every year they get loose) and Kirby as a puppy went under the chain link several times. Now that the wood fence is fixed and Kirby is bigger we have had no problems.

My in-laws have an electric (in ground) dog fence the yard is right on a lake. It worked fine with their golden with some professional training (they are elderly and couldn't do it themselves). But I know for a fact that Darby would blow right through that fence and go right into the lake with Kirby hot on his heels. No zap could prevent that.

 

We have a 4 foot black chainlink fence and Boomer and Maggie don't try to jump out. If you get a fence start early training, if you see the puppy jumping up at the fence correct it immediately. We did this with Boomer and have had no problems.

 

A portion of the fencing in my backyard is 4 foot chain link. The dogs have never tried to jump it, though sometimes Sam does stand up and lean on it.. but has never attempted or even looked like he was thinking bout trying to jump over it. I think it just depends on the dog.

 

I think it depends on the dog. I used to have a Golden that we got at a rescue. He was 2 when we got him, and he was apparently already experienced with fences. With no running start he would jump the 6 foot high wooden fence. Then he would go to the front door and just sit and wait for you. My current neighborhood only allows 5 foot high cast iron fences. A neighbor here has two Goldens and they have never jumped over. My Golden is still a puppy, so his focus is trying to go through the bars. Worked great at 8 weeks, but at three months only his head goes through....although he is still trying. If they want out, they will get out, that is my opinion. Whether its digging under, or jumping the fence (regardless of height). I'm not an expert, but I'm guessing if they learn as a puppy they can't escape, they won't be as likely to try once they are older.