The best fence to keep dogs in a yard is solid, as tall as the rules allow, and closed at the base, with a gate that shuts and latches on its own. For many Central Coast yards that means a 1.8 metre Colorbond fence, but the gap along the bottom on sloping ground and the gate are where dogs can get out.
A dog that gets out once usually works out how to do it again. Before you pay for a new fence, work out whether your dog goes over, under or through, because each has a different fix and some don’t need a new fence at all. This guide covers all three, so you know what to ask for at the quote.
How do dogs usually get out of a fenced yard?
Dogs get out four ways: over the top by jumping or climbing, under by digging or squeezing through a base gap, through gaps between palings, slats or bars, and through a gate left open or not latching. The right fix depends on which one your dog uses.
| Escape route | What you’ll notice | What fixes it |
| Over the top | Scuff marks, bins or furniture against the fence | More height, fewer footholds, clear the fence line |
| Under the fence | Holes along the base, gaps under stepped panels | Closed base with a plinth or hard edge |
| Through the fence | Loose palings, wide slat or bar spacing | Solid infill or tighter spacing |
| Through the gate | Gate found open, latch not catching, gap underneath | Self-closing hinges, self-latching latch, base gap closed |
How high should a fence be to keep a dog in?
For many residential side and rear boundaries, 1.8 metres is the maximum height for a fence to qualify as exempt development without planning approval. The NSW Planning Portal’s exempt development standards set a 1.8 metre limit for side and rear boundary fences in residential zones R1 to R4 and RU5, while fences along a primary or secondary road boundary or within the relevant setback area are generally limited to 1.2 metres. Other conditions can also apply depending on the property and location.
That 1.8 metre height is why Colorbond fencing is a usual choice on side and rear boundaries where a dog needs containing. For jumpers, footholds matter as much as height. Horizontal rails, cross-bracing and anything leaning against the fence give a dog a launch point, so a 1.8 metre fence with a wheelie bin beside it can be easier to clear than a smooth one.
The 1.2 metre road-boundary and setback limit is why a front fence may not contain an athletic dog on its own. Keeping the dog behind a side gate and a full-height side boundary is usually the practical answer.
How do you stop a dog digging under a fence?
Close the base gap and make the ground along the fence line hard to dig. The usual approaches are a plinth or sleeper along the bottom of the fence, a concrete edge, or a barrier set into the ground on the inside of the fence line.
Diggers tend to work the same spot, often a corner, a soft garden bed or a low point where water runs under the fence. Check the base after heavy rain too, because soil washing out along the fence line opens gaps that weren’t there when the fence went in.
Why do gaps appear under fences on sloping blocks?
Gaps appear on sloping blocks because a stepped fence holds each panel level while the ground falls away beneath it. That leaves a wedge of open ground under the low side of every step, at exactly the height a small or medium dog can squeeze through.
A raked fence follows the fall of the land and keeps the bottom line close to the ground. A stepped fence works too, as long as each wedge is closed with a plinth or infill. Our guide to the best fence for privacy covers that setout decision, and for dog owners it matters even more.
Plenty of Central Coast blocks fall away steeply, particularly around Avoca Beach, Saratoga, Davistown and Terrigal. Client Nadina Stapleton described her job as “fencing a steep sloping bush block with limited access”, exactly the kind of yard where the base decides whether the dog stays in.
Does a solid fence stop a dog barking?
A solid fence reduces barking triggered by what a dog can see, such as people, other dogs and cars going past, because there’s nothing to watch through it. It doesn’t fix barking caused by boredom or anxiety.
The NSW Office of Local Government notes dogs bark when bored, provoked, untrained or unwell, and lists persistent excessive noise and consistent roaming as behaviours that can make a dog a nuisance dog under the Companion Animals Act 1998. Ignoring a nuisance order carries a maximum penalty of $880 for a first offence and $1,650 after that. The same guidance tells owners to secure their property so the dog can’t escape.
Which fence material is best for dogs?
For many Central Coast properties, the best fence to keep dogs in yard is a solid Colorbond fence because it’s a solid sheet with nothing to see or squeeze through, and it can be set close to the ground. Timber suits dogs that don’t chew or climb, aluminium slats suit calm dogs, and tubular or rural fencing can suit larger dogs where the spacing prevents escape.
| Material | Blocks the view | Climbing risk | Base and gaps | Upkeep | Best for |
| Colorbond | Fully | Low on the sheet face; check the rail side | Sits close to ground, plinth on slopes | Occasional rinse | Most dogs, barkers, diggers with a plinth |
| Lapped timber | Fully when new | Rails can give footholds | Gaps open as palings cup and twist | Oil or stain on a cycle | Dogs that don’t chew or climb |
| Aluminium slats | Partly, depends on spacing | Horizontal slats can act as a ladder | Spacing must be tighter than the dog’s head | Occasional rinse | Calm dogs, courtyards |
| Aluminium tubular | No | Low, vertical bars | Small dogs can fit between bars | Minimal | Large dogs |
| Rural post and wire | No | Varies | Small dogs pass through plain wire | Periodic checks | Acreage, with mesh added |
On bushfire prone land there’s a second test: the Planning Portal’s exempt standards require fences there to be non-combustible or hardwood. Colorbond is steel, which is non-combustible.
We install every material in this table, so the recommendation depends on your dog and your block rather than the one product we stock. We hold NSW contractor licence 314691C, and an on-site quote is the quickest way to match the fence to how your dog gets out.
Why is the gate a common escape point?
The gate is a common escape point because it’s the part of the fence that opens, and people can leave it open. Self-closing hinges and a self-latching latch shut the gate behind a visitor, a delivery driver or a child without anyone thinking about it.
Gates leave gaps too. A gap under the gate or beside the post gives a small dog the same way out as a gap under the fence. Matching Colorbond gates to the fence keeps the line solid, and exempt standards require gates not to open outwards.
What should you check before replacing a fence for your dog?
Check how your dog is getting out before replacing anything, because a loose paling, a bin against the fence or a gate that doesn’t latch costs far less to fix than a new fence.
- Walk the fence line for holes, scuffs and loose palings or sheets.
- Check the base under the low side of every step on a sloping block.
- Move bins, furniture and firewood away from the fence.
- Open the gate partway, let go, and see whether it closes and latches.
- Measure the gap under the gate and beside the post.
- Look along the base after heavy rain for soil washing out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build a fence higher than 1.8 metres to stop my dog jumping?
Not as exempt development where the 1.8 metre standard applies. NSW exempt development standards cap side and rear fences in relevant residential zones at 1.8 metres. An extension that takes the fence above the applicable exempt-development height may require planning approval from council.
Does my neighbour have to pay half for a dog-proof fence?
Neighbours normally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence equally. Legal Aid NSW notes what’s sufficient can depend on the need to keep pets in, but whoever wants a higher standard usually pays the difference. See who pays for a fence between neighbours.
Can I use an electric or barbed wire fence for my dog?
Not as exempt development in most residential zones. NSW exempt standards don’t allow electric fencing or barbed wire in residential, business or industrial zones, except zone R5. In rural, environmental and R5 zones, the applicable standards allow electric fencing only when it meets the specified requirements, including AS/NZS 3014:2003 where applicable.
What should you do if your dog keeps getting out of the yard?
Find the escape route first, then fix that point. A dog going under needs the base closed, a dog going over needs more height and fewer footholds, while a dog squeezing through a gate may need the gate adjusted or fitted with more secure hardware. On sloping Central Coast blocks, the fence may also need to be stepped or installed with a tighter gap underneath.
For many yards, a well-installed Colorbond fence with a properly closed base and secure gate provides a practical, low-maintenance barrier. If an old timber fence is warped, rotting or opening up, replacing the affected section can be a more reliable long-term solution than repeatedly patching escape points.
The right fix depends on your yard and your dog’s escape route, which is why we quote on site rather than trying to price the job from photos. We can identify the problem areas, recommend the appropriate fencing solution and give you a clear price before work starts.
Book a free on-site quote from your local fencing contractors, or call 0433 770 554.
