Chain Link Fencing for Pet Owners in Austin
If there are pets on your property a fence system is needed to keep them contained and also for keeping other animals out. But there are a few factors that should be considered if you’re a pet owner that needs to fence in all or a portion of your yard.
Here’s a quick rundown of what we discuss with pet owners in the Austin area when they hire us for a fence project and why we often suggest using a chain link product.
What Makes a Chain Link Fence a Great Option for Dog Fences
Dogs are the most common pets in the U.S. Recently, Zillow and BARK worked together to figure out which cities were the most dog-obsessed. Clearly, Texas is a place that loves dogs because the state took the top three spots. Austin came in at #2 just behind Dallas and just ahead of San Antonio. Austinites apparently love retriever breeds, and 77% of apartments are dog-friendly.
Not surprisingly, a lot of homeowners in Austin contact us about building a dog fence. We always base our suggestions on the project and all of the client’s top priorities, but many clients choose to go with chain link fencing once we explain a few of the benefits.
A Chain Link Fence Won’t Get Scratched Up
Animals can be really rough on some fencing materials. Unlike wood and even metal fences, a chain link fence won’t get scratched and dinged up by pets. Because chain link isn’t solid all the way through, dogs are much less likely to paw at it and do damage.
A Chain Link Fence Allows You to See Into the Pet Areas
If you are building a dog run or a dog pen, chain link provides the advantage of being see-through. You’ll be able to keep an eye on your dog, and dogs very much like that their view isn’t limited either.
A Chain Link Fence is Affordable and Durable
Let’s be honest. Fencing that’s meant to pen in dogs serves a utilitarian purpose. A benefit of installing a chain link fence is its low cost compared to other fencing options.
Why a Chain Link Fence is Better Than Wood If You Have Cats
The second most common pet in the country are cats. If you’re a cat lover that wants to keep their pet contained, chain link once again has an edge over wood.
If you have a wood fence you’ve probably seen a cat or two scale it pretty easily. Because of their claws, cats can latch into the side of a wooden fence and climb up it with ease. But climbing up isn’t that easy when the fence is made of chain link.
How to Keep Pets From Escaping a Chain Link Fence
If you’ve decided you want to install a chain link fence for your dogs, cats, chicken, goats or other farm animals it helps to know precautions that can be taken to prevent animals from escaping or getting caught under the fence. That’s one legitimate concern that pet owners have, especially if they own dogs that like to dig.
There are a few solutions for this problem that can be discussed with your fence builder. The design and construction have an influence over this possibility. The less space there is between the bottom of the fence and the ground, the less likely it is for animals to get stuck or get out.
But what if you already have a chain link fence with a gap at the bottom? One of the easiest and most popular options is to fix a 6″ wide wood picket along the bottom of the fencing between the fence posts. Instead of using hardware you can use zip ties that are looped around the picket to fix the board to the fence.
Just make sure that the pickets you use are pressure-treated pine, cedar or engineered wood. One edge of the picket will be touching the ground so they need to be able to resist rotting and insects.
Purple Fencing Company has designed and built many dog runs and pens using chain link fencing materials. We have an extensive selection of materials in a variety of finishes that can be used. Discover what we can create for your pets – contact our team to schedule a free consultation.
