Arborvitaes are not at all fast growing.....unless you select the hybrid Green Giant variety. So would need to buy them to a size that would already provide the visual screening you need in that area. There are a number of much faster growing broad leaved evergreen shrubs I could suggest that work in my zone but are unlikely to thrive in yours. But several deciduous shrubs could be planted that grow rapidly that could provide visual screening.....at least partly - forsythia, lilac, panicle hydrangeas. Winter could be an issue when the shrubs are bare but maybe even having just the trunks and stems of the bare shrubs present would be a deterrent?

I would suggest American Pillar arborvitae. It is the fastest growing arborvitae and it is very narrow, so it does not take up a lot of yard space. Once established it grows 3-4' per year. http://plant-quest.blogspot.com/2011/10/american-pillar-arborvitae.html  I think you can get it from White Flower Farm. Buy small plants and plant them at a 3' spacing. Mulch to make sure there is not grass or weeds growing under or near the plants. Fertilize once in early spring and water weekly during the first year. This makes a big difference in growth.

I would like something that is evergreen to keep the visual barrier in place all year long.

I have little experience with shrubs so I appreciate the info!

I am hoping to get something that can make a difference this year.

Viburnum can make a nice hedge, though you'll have to research "viburnum hedge" to see which varieties are most suited to your needs. Knock out roses would also work in your zone I think, and you'll see plenty of people using them as hedges.

Are you allowed to put up a wire fence above the 3 1/2' fence? That would solve the dogs escaping and you could then plant to hide the wire fence, but it wouldn't need to be as dense right away. My arborvitae (Sunkist and Techny) have gone from 3'-4' when planted to more than double that in 8 years. Many folks I know have used invisible fences successfully.

This is one circumstance in which I like the idea of a viburnum hedge. Although, I don't know about fast growing, moderate would be more accurate.

Also, I'm unsure of your hardiness zone (I think Ohio is z6, but not 100% sure) but, if in zone 7+, you might want to look into loropetalum.

Excited dogs jumping a too short fence to chase after other dogs etc. aren't going to care about their view being partly blocked. However a dense row of spiny shrubs like barberries might keep them back because they won't want to drop down into it. But as with any planting there would be a period of years where the shrubs aren't big enough to form a completely effective barrier, even if they were armed with spines.

Well we've come up with a plan that will allow us to privacy fence a large area next to the house on the side that doesn't front the street, where we can close them off from the main back yard. They will be able to be let out there from the house to do their business. We will put a gate in there to allow access to the backyard where they will only go when we are out with them. We will still do the short chain link fence back there.

My zone is 5 on some maps and 6 on others. I generally go by zone 5.

I am planning on having other bushes, flowers, etc on the inside of the fence as well. My new yard is a blank slate - not a new house but it appears no one has ever planted flowers anywhere in the yard in years.

I looked up viburnum... there's an arrowwood viburnum that looks like it could be really nice. It wouldn't be evergreen but I guess I shouldn't worry as much about winter since they don't have to have the run of the backyard then.

Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm feeling less frustrated than I was yesterday.

If there's a solid fence present in a scene then that provides some structure where the use of deciduous shrubs alone might otherwise be seen as not offering enough of it.

Ugh. Thanks for the heads up arbordave!

how big is the lot and how many dogs you talking about?

I'll take a wild guess...the outside of the fence is going to get a minimal amount of space. Meaning, the least amount possible to make the yard inside the fence as large as possible. Which pretty much takes anything deciduous off the table.

Yews are a possibility. they'll take a couple regular prunings a year, but you can get them to be only a couple feet wide and just about as tall as you care to keep them trimmed.

Boxwood. there are fastigiate cultivars than are only a couple feet wide.

Arbs. Degroot spire is the most narrow. Emerald green the most common. Space about 2.5' to 3' on center, allow about that wide...in time, more width will accumulate, but the same can be said for you and me. Probably the least problematic and easiest to maintain, but check with a local place.

OH is huge ... just give us a bit city name ...

if you are limited to 3.5 feet ... then arent you limited the same for hedge height??

im glad you found an alternative solution .... a pic of the situation always helps ... when asking us to brainstorm ...

ken

"if you are limited to 3.5 feet ... then arent you limited the same for hedge height??"

If they limited hedges, wouldn't they have to limit the height of trees as well?

I wouldn't dream of asking the city if there was a height limit on hedges!

The fence is in. It looks nice. Just short. The privacy fenced area by the garage will be perfect for the dogs for when we aren't out with them.

Wayne there's about 5' on the outside of the fence and then a ditch so I do believe there is room to grow. That will also keep us from having to mow that strip.

Ken I'm near Akron if that helps any.

Oh and I have 3 dogs. 2 large 1 tiny. : )

What about a set of dense shrubs on the inside of the fence to interfere with their ability to get a running start at the fence?