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**Obgrfbke** · 09-23-2012, 09:01 AM

Wow. I really wasn't expecting criticism for being careless with my dogs.

From the responses, it seems that adjecya and I are pretty much on the same page while everyone else is reading from a different book.

First, I live on about 70 acres of mountainous land in the Appalachians. Although it is possible to have an aggressive bear, most will run from both dogs and people. I have an electronic (not electric) dog fence that encloses maybe three acres along the ridge where my house is located. It has served me very well over the years, even though I have had the occasional dog who will go through it if highly motivated.

My wife and I are amateur naturalists and our property is protected as wild land via a conservation easement. Although I do have a 30' x 30' chain link dog pen in addition to the electronic fence, I have no intention of putting up a large fence to keep wildlife out and dogs in. It would make my place look like a prison compound. Besides, as others have pointed out, a fence will not keep a bear out. (In fact, I can imagine a fence hindering a bear from escaping, which would have undoubtedly been far worse for my dogs.)

I see the possibility of an occasional bear as coming with the territory. The same holds true for poisonous snakes. I can't even count the number of times one of my pits has been bitten by a Copperhead. It's not a big deal, they swell up and become lethargic. We don't even bother to take them to the vet anymore; we just give them a benydril and let them sleep it off. Peaches got bit on the tongue once and now has a big notch in her tongue which catches on her lower canine when she pants.

We also have coyotes which are more of a concern than the occasional bear - at least if they are running in a pack.

We do keep our dogs inside at night which keeps them from getting into mischief for the most part.

All of our dogs are rescues and we love them very, very much and have the vet bills to prove it. Letting them roam the three acres enclosed by our electronic fence is not negligent IMO, even with the possibility of an occasional bear. Frankly, this is the first time one of my dogs has chased a bear.

09-23-2012, 09:01 AM	#7
Obgrfbke Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 457 Senior Member	Wow. I really wasn't expecting criticism for being careless with my dogs. From the responses, it seems that adjecya and I are pretty much on the same page while everyone else is reading from a different book. First, I live on about 70 acres of mountainous land in the Appalachians. Although it is possible to have an aggressive bear, most will run from both dogs and people. I have an electronic (not electric) dog fence that encloses maybe three acres along the ridge where my house is located. It has served me very well over the years, even though I have had the occasional dog who will go through it if highly motivated. My wife and I are amateur naturalists and our property is protected as wild land via a conservation easement. Although I do have a 30' x 30' chain link dog pen in addition to the electronic fence, I have no intention of putting up a large fence to keep wildlife out and dogs in. It would make my place look like a prison compound. Besides, as others have pointed out, a fence will not keep a bear out. (In fact, I can imagine a fence hindering a bear from escaping, which would have undoubtedly been far worse for my dogs.) I see the possibility of an occasional bear as coming with the territory. The same holds true for poisonous snakes. I can't even count the number of times one of my pits has been bitten by a Copperhead. It's not a big deal, they swell up and become lethargic. We don't even bother to take them to the vet anymore; we just give them a benydril and let them sleep it off. Peaches got bit on the tongue once and now has a big notch in her tongue which catches on her lower canine when she pants. We also have coyotes which are more of a concern than the occasional bear - at least if they are running in a pack. We do keep our dogs inside at night which keeps them from getting into mischief for the most part. All of our dogs are rescues and we love them very, very much and have the vet bills to prove it. Letting them roam the three acres enclosed by our electronic fence is not negligent IMO, even with the possibility of an occasional bear. Frankly, this is the first time one of my dogs has chased a bear.
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