Quote Originally Posted by borzoimom
Well- most rescue groups require a fence as well. However I was allowed to Adopt Femka because of my experience with dogs, and even though I didnt have a fence, I had plenty of land. However- although my nearest neighbor is miles away, there is stilll a road. It took months before she was realiable to be off the leash, taking each step a step at the time. Basically the parimeter is the grass, and the "no" area is the edge of the woods. ( posting a picture).
We would have a fence except it doesnt work here. We had a ton of wildlife, and the bears just tear stuff up with the bulk getting over a fence. We tried a piece chain link, smashed down in one day, tried wood, the post was broken, .. also one day I had a buck in the yard and jumped into the lower part of the yard, and when Hottie went after him, he turned on him in the corner of the fence verses just leaving. A borzoi doesnt have alot of speed in woods- just an open field.
The only thing we have found that does work is a web strap that is electrified. It also can be easily repaired if a bear gets mad at it and rips it. The dogs respect anything as a barrier ( in the house I use a 2 foot high piece of cardboard as a gate--.. no kidding..) but- one day Zubin slid into it, and it shook him up pretty bad. Didnt hurt him, but it took days to convince him the yard didnt "bite" him. We took it down..
Now we use- get this one- yellow caution tape. ( picture attached) at the corner of the house that goes to the road. Down below us is just the side of mountain, starting with a cliff.. I dont care if it looks tacky- it works- easy to see if a bear took it down, and not visible from the road. The front driveway has trees on the edge and makes a natural barrier.
WOW!! love your area!! And I love the pic you got of the bears! we have a Black Bear here that frequents our property, but have never gotten a pic like that! WOW!