What garden fence height would you recommend?

We also don’t want to chat with our neighbors by the fence every day; in the garden we want our peace,

Like each of your neighbors.

We already asked if he wants to share the costs and both said yes

If you want to share the costs, I would also plan the fence with him.

if there is something to discuss, you just go over and ring the bell.

Exactly. You don’t have to have the fence discussion in the garden, but at the round table, preferably sitting down; important things are discussed better that way. However, why shouldn’t one chat sometimes, or as we would rather say, have a little talk.

The fence should have a good height so that you are not constantly being watched by all neighbors.

we don’t want to be constantly hassled by the neighbors in the garden.

May I ask if there is something about you that causes the neighbors not to be left to themselves but instead to constantly watch you every day? Are you especially attractive, VIPs, or anything else that would make you think you might become the center of attention for the neighbors?
Because then I wonder if a semi-detached house would be good for you. And the others: they didn’t build a semi-detached house to bother the neighbors. They bought the place for the same reason as you.

We also have neighbors who emphasized how the neighbors in their condominium annoyed them so much. Meanwhile, we know that they themselves are the problem. Due to their strange isolation, they no longer have anyone here who takes care of their trash or mail during vacation.
A somewhat more positive attitude would be helpful.

We also want to leave the dog alone or unattended in the garden sometimes (if he wants in summer) without having to fear that he might escape.

I can understand that.

also the dog should not be able to look through

Why shouldn’t he be able to? The neighbors would be familiar to him, so he could be happy about some social contact?!

Along the outside of the fence we want to make flower beds so that most of the fence becomes invisible from the garden.

I would recommend bushes that absorb some noise and bring naturalness in front of a privacy fence. That should also be the easiest to maintain thing you have in the garden—flower beds or borders where the soil is rather open are relatively more maintenance-intensive.

Is 160cm the best compromise between privacy and less prison look?

How big is the dog?

What height of fence would you recommend near the terrace? 160 or 180cm?

Well, from how it sounds, you will mainly spend time on the terrace?! I would personally choose something more solid than a fence with privacy screening. If a wall is not possible, then a privacy fence with opaque slats the length of the terrace. Afterwards, I would aim for a fence of 120cm height as long as that is enough for your dog. We have dogs here (more or less large) and the fence is no higher than 120cm. However, without privacy screening. That way the dog knows what’s “going on” next door and, if trained, won’t constantly bark. Meanwhile, further away in the neighborhood a small yappy dog seems to have to be behind a 160cm privacy fence. Probably it got a little crazy from the isolation.

If you want to share the costs, then I would also do the fence planning with him.

Yes, we will do that, but first we want to think about what we want ourselves. Once we have decided, we can inform the neighbors, and then the discussion can start.

Either the neighbors accept it or you have to agree on something else.

I can understand that.

Thank you!

Why shouldn't he be able to do that? The neighbors would be known to him, so he could be happy about some social contact?!

He is very ball-focused, and if the neighbor's children played ball and ran around, he probably wouldn’t be able to calm down.

How big is the dog?

Large Labrador, about 45 kg (not fat, just big).

So, as it reads, you will mainly stay on the terrace?! Personally, I would choose something more solid than a fence with privacy screen. If a wall is not possible, then a privacy lamella fence along the length of the terrace.

Our terrace is currently 5m wide and 3m deep. It should definitely be extended later to about 4 or 5m deep. The terrace should also be extended in width, possibly across the entire garden width of about 9-10m.

We mainly stay on the terrace; we also want to sunbathe on loungers (where exactly is still unclear).

Either on the extended terrace in depth just before the lawn or on the extended section in width.

We all have dogs here (more or less bigger) and the fence is no higher than 120cm. However, without a privacy screen. That way, the dog knows what's going on "over there," and once trained, it does not constantly alert.

What would your minimum fence height be where there would be absolutely no concerns that the dog could get over it?

120cm would be the absolute minimum, but for me more towards 140cm where I would have no concerns. He should also be able to stay unattended in the garden without us having to be afraid (but of course we would be inside the house).

While in the further neighborhood there always has to be a little yapping dog behind a 160 cm privacy fence. He probably already got a little crazy because of the isolation.

This is probably less due to the isolation and more to do with the small dogs, they are always annoying yappers. The privacy fence is meant for us but also for the dog so that he can calm down and also as protection so that the neighbor's children cannot give the dog anything poisonous to eat (even though it is unlikely). Our immediate neighbors both don't have a dog and on the right side even have a cat that is supposedly only allowed to go into the garden (exclusively house and garden cat).

But it also depends on the dog. There are dogs that can get over a 1.80m fence if they want to. We only have a 1m wire mesh fence without privacy screening. Our white shepherd dog has not yet jumped over the fence. Theoretically, he could easily if he wanted to. But he simply accepts the fence as a boundary. Even if I go from the garden to the front and leave the small gate next to the house open, he stops at the gate and does not go further unless I allow him. Everything can be trained.

Personally, I am absolutely not a fan of fences. Ideally, I wouldn’t want one at all, but my wife initially insisted on having one because our children were still very young. Our neighbors on the left have a 1.80m fence completely with privacy screening facing us. I find that terrible. To the back and to the neighbors on the right, as mentioned, we have a 1m fence. Behind us is also a field, and we only rarely see the neighbors next to us. The house also changed owners last year. Previously, there were small children there as well. We had already considered removing the fence completely so that the children could always play together.

Well, if the cat knows and can do that.

Children do not poison dogs.
I do not know any dog that is in a fenced garden.
Be clear about the height, you are not only locking out your neighbors, but you are also taking away your own free view. You do not have a large garden and you yourselves look at the pretty plastic strips.

What would be your minimum height for the fence where you absolutely wouldn't have to worry that the dog could get over it

mine is enough at 60cm. My dog would probably get over it if he wanted to, but he (still) doesn't.

That probably has less to do with the barrier and more with the small dogs, they are always annoying yappers

Actually, a dog owner should know why a dog barks and that barking is not related to size, but rather to the character of a dog breed or controlled by habituation to external influences. Annoying yappers and, yes, also unsettled dogs that get disturbed by other things on neighboring property are trained that way. Or differently. A Labrador is very people-oriented and enjoys every contact.

120cm would be an absolute minimum for me, rather towards 140cm where I wouldn’t have any concerns

If you feel more comfortable with that, then go for the 140cm height. Ultimately, you also have to protect your neighborhood from your dog and not the other way around. But it doesn’t have to be opaque if you only stay on the terrace. Such an opaque enclosure isn’t nice for people either. I would also consider this: if the neighbor doesn’t want to pay the price because they prefer something lower, it’s actually your moral duty as a dog owner to put up a fence and not the neighbor’s. So either 50/50, whatever both like, or 100% on you, because you want to protect the dog from them ;)

so that the neighbor’s children can’t give the dog anything poisonous to eat (even if it’s unlikely)

Yes, children would very likely share their chocolate, which is poisonous to dogs ;) hehe... But you can teach children to treat the dog respectfully. After all, it’s the neighbor’s dog, and you actually want to cuddle and love it sometimes. A friendly coexistence and not jumping to conclusions that every neighbor is malicious is something you should practice before the nice season begins, when people spend more time outside.