Relocating soon - Dogs, fences and safety
 

Happy day, all!

Come spring, my two pups (Redbone coonhound mix and English setter) will be coming to live full time, permanently, in The Villages.

If I'm lucky enough to find a suitable place with a fenced backyard (Courtyard Villa, Veranda, etc) this will be ideal. They are used to a fenced in backyard, here in Wisconsin.

I understand that, there, the fence is as much about keeping dangers OUT as keeping dogs IN!

So, if one were to have a wall fence, as opposed to some of the "permeable" fences I have seen overlooking ponds, can we safely leave our pups out unattended?

By this, I mean, can I go back to my work on my computer as my setter lounges in the sun on a day that is not sweltering? Can I let them out, after dark, for bio breaks, without standing watch?

Again, all this assumes a solid wall and not a fence that critters can easily breach, from the outside.

I would be thrilled to have any blindspots, of mine, illuminated by you kind and experienced dog owners.

Regards,

Even though walls will keep out some wildlife, you will still get , snakes, bobcats. We have wall/fence backs up to prairie, and have turtles, snakes, bobcats, and coyotes. This morning our cameras went off and one of the bear cubs decided to run through our back yard, taking a moment to leave small pile of scat.

You have larger dogs, but if I cared for my pets I would never leave them alone outside. But that’s just one opinion

They are only 35 and 45 pounds apiece....so not huge....but their well-being is my first priority. Your feedback is valuable and appreciated.

I have a Labrador, i would not let him out.

You actually want a birdcage, where they can stay out all day - then just let them out in the yard for bio breaks.

Too many animals can get into a fenced yard.

We live in a CYV walled on all sides but the front. We have two dogs, a 40-lb beagle/hound dog mix and a 50-lb American Eskimo mix. I have no problem letting them wander in and out, but I would not sequester myself in a room away from ear shot, and we're very careful about their being out there after dark. After dark the lanai doors are open and we are in the living room. They really don't want to stay out there very long after dark, and I wouldn't let them be out there all evening. We've had a bobcat and one cat run along the wall in the evening, but nothing beside a garter snake has ever invaded the courtyard.
Living on a preserve or golf course with a decorative fence would be a non starter for me.
BTW, we live about ten minutes from the Wildwood dog park on Huey St, which is mostly shade from a dozen live oaks. It's full of squirrels for the beagle to "hunt," and she has taught the other dog to chase them. I would never move, because that's their favorite place to be. A lot of the dog parks in TV have little to no shade and very little seating. Just an FYI.

There are several threads on this subject and specifically the threat from predators. We have cats, and while they are free to roam inside the birdcage we had pet rated screening installed primarily to keep other animals out.

CYV probably your best bet unless dogs can clear 5 1/2 foot wall? Only place they could dig would be the PVC fencing separating you’re yard from neighbors and access gate fence on side yard. Plenty of new and resale CYVs on market. Just have find one that fits you. I had flat coated retriever that could clear 4 foot fence easily.

Bobcats can get over court yard villa walls. And have been known to scratch holes through lanai screens.

Eagles and other birds of prey don't need to climb over a wall to take a shot at your dog. Bobcats can climb trees. As someone mentioned - there are snakes - most of them around here are small constrictors, not poisonous, and not hungry enough to try and swallow a dog. But there are a couple that are poisonous. There's also the matter of shade. If your yard has no shade trees, you absolutely wouldn't want to leave your pets outside unattended.

I don't let my cat outside without me right there with her, and she is skittish about being outside, which is a good thing. She's an indoor cat. If I had dogs I would never -ever- leave them anywhere outside unattended, not in my yard, not anywhere else.

I have a courtyard villa with a secure wall. I let my dog in and out as and when he wants. I'm not worried about him in the yard alone, but then again he's a 70lb pitbull, not many predators would come after him.

Don't forget rats, they are around at night.

The constant barking will be welcomed... Florida Heat is hard on animals

I have a Veranda with a masonry wall on the backside and 6' vinyl fence on the sides. My 98 pound Lab and 93 pound rescue are perfectly safe in the backyard. They go in and out as they wish.

Your neighbors will hate your dogs because they are a perceived threat to their much smaller dogs.

They will not appreciate you allowing your dogs to urinate or defecate on the lawns even if you instantly bag it. FYI dog urine does not burn St Augustine and Bahia grass.

Your neighbors will not tolerate your dogs howling in your yard for more than a minute. Even then, they will complain.

Your dogs are acclimated to the cool Wisconsin weather. They will abhor the Florida summer heat and humidity.

Always test the sidewalks and roadways with YOUR bare feet before walking them. Too hot for you, too hot for them.

They will love Florida winters.

We let our massive dog in the yard unsupervised. He wants back in as soon as he is finished his business. Critters are afraid of him.

We have a 19 lb Lhasa Apso and live in a courtyard villa with walls on three sides. No wildlife refuge near us. Our dog goes out….we go out. I’m sure that, in our location, she would be fine but if she decided to go after the occasional black racer or corn snake she would get bit. There are also predatory birds to consider. Probably overprotective but that’s just us.

Sorry to say, we also have rattlesnakes & cottonmouth snakes here in The Villages although the snakes you mentioned are more commonly seen

I addition to bobcats, bears, and snakes that can get in your yard, we also have birds of prey. While your dogs are too large to be carried off by a hawk, eagle or large owl, they can still do some pretty serious damage to them with their talons. I would not let them out unsupervised for more than a few minutes.

We have a corner lot with a solid fence and enough room for our greyhound to run around and for our smaller dog to go out unsupervised and remain safe Look around, lots are here that will accommodate your needs

Can you tell me how I can get this type of screening? Thank you!

I’m in a Veranda home with an 85 lb Great Pyrenees and have no concerns with letting her hang out in the backyard by herself. She has a dog door so she can go in and out as she pleases as long as I’m home (I close off the dog door when I’m not home and at night when I go to bed).

With a Courtyard Villa, yes, and this would let them run fifty feet in a straight line. Mine is mostly concrete but has a small patch of grass at one end. If you leave the lanai door ajar, they would have a shady place where they can spend their days napping. All year, there are shady places and sunny places on the concrete, so on cool winter days they can lie in the sun and watch the lizards, Install a dog door in one of the sliding doors and they can go in and out on their own. My next door neighbor has a large golden retriever. Fortunately, when outside it seems to utter about one bark a month. I sure wouldn’t want a couple of barkers next door.

I have seen cottage villas down south with full fences around the back yard. These are south of 44. They appear to have larger back yards than CYV's.

I've a couple of setters. Let them exhaust themselves couple of times a day at a park - Wildwood, Atlas.

Florida weather is different than Wisconsin....I "LOVE" how people deem their yards "perfectly" safe (until it's not)!! Some years back a man went out to take his dog to go potty. A coyote grabbed the dog and skeedadled with it. NOT sure how large either of them were. The coyote was too quick for the dog-owner and he wasn't far from it when this happened. I wouldn't let my dogs out to run, just because you did it up north. The ordinences here are that dogs need to be under control (leash) at all times.

All this doom and gloom. Bobcats aren't going to bother your dogs. Birds of prey aren't going to bother them either. Neither will bears. Small bite size easy to carry away dogs and cats are preferred. I have a friend in Pine Ridge who has a fenced yard for her Golden. The village of Bradford has fenced yards I think.

I have two small (about 20 lbs each) dogs in a courtyard villa. I have a dog door installed in the sliding glass door and another installed in my birdcage. I trained them to let themselves in and out as needed/desired. I have lived here for 5 years. Never had a problem with any wildlife. PLUS - when you are out partying at the squares, you wouldn’t have to worry about getting home to let the dogs out.
I hope this helps - good luck!

Pet Rated Screening
 

We had pet rated screening installed on our birdcage by T&D. T&D is a large company that does pools, birdcages and other projects here in TV. They have a whole screen division as I recall. There are advantages to pet rated screening such as blocking some of the UV rays of the sun which slightly darkens the area and therefore a little cooler. I will say this type of screening isn’t cheap. We have 2 cats which hunt and chase the anoles. Screens are holding up with no punctures from cat claws.

The coyotes usually get Chihuahua or Chihuahua mixes. I knew one of them. Jon Snow. Quite the little force of nature. He would break up fights between bigger dogs at Doggie Doo Run Run. Unfortunately a sleepy dog owner left him out to pee in their back yard and a coyote got him around 4 in the morning.

The worst thing you have to watch out though walking dogs is golf carts and cars. Most of the injuries I have heard about here in the Villages are caused by moving vehicles.

We have a much smaller dog than yours, a 7 lb schnoodle, and NEVER let her out in our yard alone! We have a patio villa which is fenced on 2 sides (the patio side and along the back of the house). We have decorative, movable fencing that fences the front end of our patio from the house to the fence and then again in the back of the house, from the edge of the house to the fence. This gives her a fairly large L-shaped patio/yard to run in and do her business. Once she gets around behind the house, we can't see her. I was at the patio door one day, had just let her out on the patio when a large hawk swooped down and tried to grab her. Fortunately, the wing span was so wide, that the bird got hung up between the fence and side of the house, so it corrected and flew away. To this day, either my husband or I are outside with her the entire time she's out. We've had numerous snakes in our yard as well, including one bright green snake, about 4 ft long with turquoise and black stripes and a large black diamond on the back of its head. Hubby tried to push it under the privacy fence with a rake and it became aggressive and came after him, spitting a white, slimy venom on his shirt. We later found out that venom is neurotoxic to pets. My 7 pounder thinks she's 75 lbs in her mind and will go after anything that moves!! I frequently find piles of poop/scat on our patio and one night was awakened to something knocking over the decorative stone wall on the side of the decorative gate (about 3 ft high). We're constantly hearing about packs of coyotes and bobcats roaming in our village near the new construction. And then there's the gators which can climb fences if they want to. I don't think I'd care how big my pet was, I wouldn't leave it unsupervised, especially in the early evenings or night around here. Too many potential threats!

Didn't see anyone mention that if there is no fence\wall on the property, ARC will not approve putting one up.
Also, even with a wall, there will be a PVC gate somewhere, and likely also a small PVC fence. If dog digs, it's an easy exit.

Veranda wall
 

I also have a veranda, located on the villages property perimeter block wall in rear and vinyl fencing on sides. My Shih Tzu is 11 pounds and I always supervise. I had a screen room (bird cage) built because I wanted a mosquito free place after dark for my little dog to potty. Half is concrete patio and half gravel for potty. Don’t want heart worms and have seen 3 snakes. The birdcage won’t stop wild mammals, but it gives me enough time to scoop her up. Private property and beautiful oak trees are behind the wall so the mosquitos and bugs are thick.

If you leave them outside you not only need to be concerned about outside predators but also fire ants and other insects. We have a 65lb dog and we never leave him outside and unattended. We take him for regular walks and spend time with him. He wants to be with us and we want to be with him.

Besides think of your neighbors and if the dog is disturbing the peace. You want to make friends here not enemies.

I'm surprised at an HOA in the Villages one is allowed to leave pets outside, mostly due to barking. I've never seen that before. I wonder the point anyway. Dogs tend to lay around. They sleep about 20 hours a day. What, outside they're getting fresh air and sun? Depending on length, sun is not necessarily good. Hopefully shelter is provided and cool water. It's hot out. Some months very humid and not good for pets. I would never leave my dogs outside alone and feel it's like leaving a toddler outside, in my opinion. With 65 adult years of dog ownership I know stuff happens. Just sayin'.

Try Whites Aluminum (441 Leesburg) if this is DIY, if not any of the screening contractors can get this, I have used Todds and A+ screening. Also, I was at Lowes looking for some Glas Screen, and saw they had what appears to be several different types of screens, but I did pay attention to see if they had the heavy-duty pet screen.

If you get those houses they work. They also have houses in the new area that have privacy fences. I wish they had them when we moved. My dogs have to use an underground fence and are so scared of the collars even though the they are trained and don’t go to the sidewalk/road without them. I worry because they are frechies and everyone wants one so for their safety I did the fence and I have to stay out with them. I wish they would change the rules for all as they developed homes.
Good luck

Correct, unless your animal weighs less than 3-4 pounds, no bird here is capable of carrying them away. So it seems unlikely larger animals would be a target.

If you watch the eagles here, they can barely get back in the air with a half pound fish.



How Much Weight Can An Eagle Carry? — Forest Wildlife

No HOA in The Villages.

What HOA?

Did the owners vote on an HOA in the last month? I never got my ballot.

I agree that the Florida summer HEAT is hard on animals.

A rattlesnake could be a tough foe for him.