If you’re thinking about getting a GSP, then one of the main things you’ll be concerned about is keeping them safe in your own backyard.
There are lots of options open to you, so I’m here today to share my advice based on what I use with Hank and what I’ve seen other GSP owners using successfully with their hyperactive pups in the past.
Ready to find out more? Then join me below!
Physical barrier fence for GSPs
If you’re thinking of building a physical barrier fence, then this is absolutely OK too, but I have some specific advice about this.
GSPs are high-energy dogs with a tonne of physical strength for running and jumping. Trust me, Hank is off like a bullet the second I open the door to my yard.
The problem with a physical barrier fence for GSPs is that they can jump them. And they jump higher than most people realize.
I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a physical barrier fence for Hank unless it was around 4 or 5ft tall, because I know how powerful his jumps are, especially when he’s excited. And if he spots something he wants over the fence; forget about it.
He isn’t coming back anytime soon! So whilst I’m not saying you shouldn’t get a physical barrier fence for GSPs, I am saying you should be very cautious about it and be prepared to have a larger fence than you first realized.
Most owners prefer less of an eyesore in their backyard though, and physical barrier fences aren’t all that popular.
I know I wouldn’t want to build a fence just to keep Hank inside, so I found an alternative option that works just as well for me and lots of other dog owners in the country too!
Best Electric Dog Fence For GSPs
That’s right, I use an electric dog fence for Hank, and I’ve had no issues with it. It’s underground, so it doesn’t become an eyesore, but it keeps Hank and everyone around us safe when he’s in the yard and off the leash.
An electric dog fence is the best thing you can buy as a responsible dog owner, and I’d recommend them to anybody I meet who is thinking of getting a GSP.
Despite what some people may think, it isn’t inhumane because the only ‘shocks’ the dogs receive are static electric shock.
It doesn’t hurt them in any way, it simply reminds them to get back into the safe area in their yard.
It also isn’t less secure than a physical barrier fence because you are in control of training your dog to return to an appropriate area when the collar signals the warning beeps and static electric shocks.
Soon your dog will learn the areas they can go, and the areas that will warn them to get back to the safe zone. Eventually, they won’t try to leave the safe area of your yard at all, just like my Hank did, because they know it isn’t worth it.
An underground electric dog fence for GSPs today has a great range and signal strength, so they’re reliable and you can set the ‘safe area’ to different distances to suit your yard and where you’re happy for your dog to go.
Once the transmitter is turned off by the on/off switch, your dog won’t receive any more shocks or warnings for leaving the zone, so you’re safe to take them further afield under your control.
Electric fences work brilliantly for GSPs and I’ve found it to be the most reliable way to keep Hank under my control, even when he’s in the yard without a leash.
If you’re looking for an electric underground fence for your GSP, then here are some great options I’ve found over on Amazon. I’ll link the products too, so you can go and check them out for yourself.
- SportDog Rechargable Invisible Electronic Fence – Top Pick
- Extreme Wireless Dog Fence
- PetSafe Wireless Dog Fence
SportDog Rechargable Invisible Electronic Fence
This first option is a brilliant choice, and it’s quite affordable too. All the suggestions I make here will be DIY, because I used a DIY kit with Hank’s electric dog fence and I didn’t have any issues installing it myself – these can be set up over a weekend and you don’t need to pay any professionals a ridiculous amount of money to do it.
Like the rest of the electric fences on this list, you bury wires around the perimeter of your yard.
These boundary wires are then connected to the transmitter, so that any time your dog walks close to the wires with the receiver attached to their collar, a warning will sound.
It’s a simple design and the receiver for this kit can be charged repeatedly so you never have to worry about it running out, and it’s a really economical solution.
I love this kit for its affordability, range, and its reliability.
Extreme Wireless Dog Fence
Sometimes you just want a great American-made product to give you some reassurance, right?
Well, the eXtreme dog fence gives you exactly that. There are lots of different options on Amazon, but the customer support team at eXtreme are great and willing to explain the options to you, so you get the right one.
They offer systems for multiple dogs too, so if you’re a GSP fanatic, then they’ll have an option for ALL your GSPs.
I have just Hank, but I’d trust this underground electric fence for dogs in a heartbeat because I know the company has a lot of support in the dog owner community.
They’ve been in business for over 25 years manufacturing this type of electric dog fence, so they’re well known for their reliability.
This is the option I’d choose if I was feeling unsure about the safety and reliability of an electric fence, because I know eXtreme will deliver!
PetSafe Wireless Dog Fence
I’ll leave you with this last suggestion and then you’re free to go and check them all out and decide which is the best fence for GSPs for yourself.
While I’m confident underground electric fences are the best solution, I’m not sure that any one of these three options stands above the others because they’re all great, so make sure you do some research of your own to decide for yourself.
As for the PetSafe kit, it’s another impressive one. I like the range of up to .75 of an ACRE, but I also appreciate that it’s adjustable so you can reduce that according to your home.
The transmitter receives info from all directions too, so you can set a boundary out that encompasses the front and back of your house, preventing your dog from escaping if they ever make it out your front door unsupervised too.
I like this kit for its simplicity and effectiveness!
Final Word
For me, electric underground fences outperform physical barrier fences for GSPs, but I’ll leave the final decision to you.
Whether you build a large, secure physical fence or install an electric dog fence for GSPs is up to you, but be aware that you need some form of barrier to prevent your GSP from taking their hyperactivity all over the neighborhood!