I'm thinking about replacing the old 4' chain link around my back yard and am looking for input on what works well for dogs. Mine aren't escape artists and have never shown any interest in leaving the yard (unless I'm holding a leash in my hand, totally different story). That doesn't mean that a future dog wouldn't be, however, especially if I go the rescue route again.

Option 1: I can always do the 6' cedar privacy fence.
Option 2: do privacy fence between the houses and wood/hogwire panels around the back of the yard (like http://cheiron-quietplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wire-fencing.jpg - randomly pulled this off the web)
Option 3: semi privacy using horizontal wood (like http://themaisonette.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Fence-design-ground-trades-xchange-a-landscaping-forum.jpg - again randomly pulled from the web, thanks google)

Any pros / cons with any of these? Other options?

Thanks!

While I absolutely love the look of the horizontal fencing and plan on having it done myself, the risk is it could act like a ladder with many footholds for a determined dog.
Cedar is a soft wood and easily damaged by a determined dog. Holes can be dug or chewed fairly quickly.
Hog panels with wood trim look fantastic as well, but you may have to put some effort into teaching a new dog not to guard the fence since he can see everything that passes by.

For me, my dream yard would be around an acre and I'm going to do the horizontal fencing in the human area and have an 8 foot privacy fence around the rest of the yard. The privacy fence will most likely be cedar but I'll add some type of wire fencing on the lower half to deter dogs from damaging the wood. I've seen it done the right way and it looked really tasteful instead of looking like some redneck attempt to keep his dogs in the yard.

Carolyn;
I did a 6' version of a picket fence. Where the side could be seen from the front (and vice versa, for my dog's sake), I left a nice space that she could easily see through. When I got to the rear of the house, where I wanted more privacy, I went to a wider board and smaller gap. You can see the difference in the first pic. You can adjust height, width of gap, and and board size, and you can save a ton of money by doing it all yourself. Painting was optional.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee371/gustim/HomeImprovement201119_zps6e8bb167.jpg

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee371/gustim/HomeImprovement201122_zps203a522f.jpg

Nice-looking fence, Duane! Carolyn, I love the look of that wire and wood one! My dog yard is fenced in a similar manner, but not quite as fancy and pretty. We used four-foot high wire mesh (2" x 4" openings - it was called "horse fencing"), stapled it to wood fence posts ten feet apart, and put a wood top rail on. (We don't have the bottom rail.) Works great in our situation, but our dogs don't challenge the fence in any way, and we live on enough property that the fenced dog yard does not abut any neighboring properties.

While privacy fencing probably wouldn't be my first choice, mainly because I feel too closed in, if I lived in the suburbs, I would give it serious consideration, anyway, depending on my dogs and my neighbors and how everyone got along. I do agree that vertical panels would be better than horizontal, for dogs.

Suburban living here - I have a six foot privacy fence made of wood down both sides and four foot chain link along the back. The chain link has a tarp running the length, with wood lattice over it. The majority of the yard has gardens running along the fence, 3 feet out with garden fencing to keep the dogs out of it.

Here's a pic...last spring, before the yardwork was done, but you get the idea.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/GermanShepLuv/6E3581E3-D1B4-4937-8284-FF3C282E5817-4300-0000050FC4E7E693.jpg

I agree- very nice Duane! Did you set up a jig to shape the tops of each picket?

I was also a bit worried about the horizontal acting like a ladder. Do you all think the wire would be the same?

I live in a very urban area so I'd really like privacy fencing at least for the portion of the yard closest to the house and between houses. Nothing like going out onto the patio in your pj's and realizing that the neighbor is also outside...

I have a 6' stockade fence down the sides(from the front corner of the house) the length of the property & across the back. I have woods behind me...but lots of wildlife(coyote,fox, wild turkey,deer & all the smaller critters) even though I live in the suburbs. Plus the 6' discourages my dogs from trying to jump the fence, although they could if they really wanted to. The fence goes all the way to the ground. I have not had any dogs that are big diggers...so risk of digging under it. But I also do not have my dogs out in the yard unless I am home & out with them or on the deck or in the kitchen keeping an eye on them. I don't believe in leaving dogs out unsupervised. I also have a 10 x 20 kennel..(mostly used for pups).but I still don't leave the dogs in it unsupervised. Too many things can happen. I'm not willing to take that risk.

I also have neighbors the don't watch their dogs & their dogs will run the fence line & try to engage my dogs in fence fights. (mine are not allowed to do that)

The privacy fencing also keeps my dogs from seeing people pass on the street & light up. No sidewalks on my side of the street but there is on the other side.

Carolyn;

I bought the boards with the top already cut. I sanded and painted them before hanging.
The supplier that I got them from cut them with a jig out of regular fence boards. The jig was set up on a table, and they cut 8-10 at a time (though, doing it that way, they weren't all perfect. When they're sanded and painted, noone notices the odd cut here or there).

If you're dogs climb (say, like a bloodhound or chow), neither the horizontal boards or any type of wire fence will hold them.

One fence I would not recommend is the no maintenance fencing from the home improvement stores. Very flimsy I've had 2 fosters break through the bottom of hours with little effort.

 Quote: Amy VandeWeerd

One fence I would not recommend is the no maintenance fencing from the home improvement stores. Very flimsy I've had 2 fosters break through the bottom of hours with little effort.

IME, the more expensive vinyl fencing products are far more durable than the cheaper brands. Certainteed makes a great product, but it's fairly expensive. Usually more than twice as expensive as pressure treated lumber and about 1.5 times the cost of cedar.