If this is very far from your septic field (100+ ft) you could create a fedge as a screen and as a Doggie barrier (Maybe lol):

It also looks like there are some native plants there that might fill out in summer, no?

Finally, check with your local DNR or equivalent. There are often restrictions around what you can and can't do to lakeshores and wetlands.

If there were harmful parasites in the mud/water, would it still be cruel to restrict them? If there were nesting birds who needed protection, would the dogs' "needs" still come first?

Just like kids, dogs thrive on enforced boundaries.

Changing the flow of a creek/place of a pond is probably regulated, you should check with whoever deals with water issues in your state. There's probably a code enforcement officer or someone who might be willing to come out for free and tell you what you can do, although in my experience, it's mostly all the things you can't do, which generally covers anything you might want to do.

If you're talking about blocking the pond visually, plant stuff. There are a huge number of pretty native trees and bushes that like the end of ponds, swamp azalea, calycanthus, spirea tormentosa, and more.

I don’t see any unsightly pond. Where is it?

(Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course. As country-born-and-raised, I see nothing wrong with what you have pictured.)

If you don’t want to see it, plant evergreens. Arborvitae, probably.

Install a hidden fence. Plantings aren't going to deter a determined water dog, and my experience with labs is that they are determined water dogs. They were bred to go into ponds like this. It's unlikely that you will be able to fill in the pond, although you may be permitted to expand it such that it's full of water all the time. That might make your dogs less muddy. Expanding though will be a fair amount more expensive than a hidden fence.

I'm confused. Is your issue: 1) an unsightly pond which you don't want to be able to see, or; 2) your wonderful dogs love the pond and come home muddy, or; 3) both, or; 4) something else.

You need to define the problem before a solution is possible...! :-)

Water and water/hunting dogs go together. My in-laws had a Golden that was constantly going for a swim off their dock when they were on Martha's Vineyard. The result was a dog, soaked through with salt water, that would cause skin problems if not washed off quickly.

They solved the problem with an invisible fence that kept the dog from going down to the dock at all. It worked.

I doubt a fence would even be allowed, and it would not look very good. Go with an invisible fence - it will keep your dogs out of the pond and keep them from disturbing wild life, or falling in when ice breaks in the winter.

First, I just want to go on record that I'm agreeing with @SophieWheeler on something.

With that said...

If there is a pond or wetland then it is likely vital to water mgmt in the area. You could try to fill it or change it or divert it but the water will appear somewhere else and that somewhere else will very likely be where you or your neighbor (and their atty) don't want it. It's not nice to fool with mother nature. And mother nature very often bites back when we try to fool with her.

So, first of all, leave the pond and enjoy it. And from the photos I don't find it at all unsightly, quite the opposite.

Now you're just dealing with the dogs. A doggie shower/bath is a great idea. It takes time but I always found it rather enjoyable together time. If life is too busy then maybe it's time to change life a bit? Or decide that maybe you're not a dog person.

A fence? Maybe. I'm still not sure about the cruelty or not of hidden fence. A physical fence with a large enough area then?

Actually, an underground fencing system is not a bad idea. You just have to use them correctly. It exists SOLELY to prevent boundary wandering when you are home and supervising their activity. You don't just throw them out into the electric fence area and then leave. Because, as was pointed out, it doesn't keep things from getting into YOUR yard. But, to be able to let them out while you're doing dishes and know that they can't go for a dip in the pond? That's what those products are made for. Then you can take them down to fulfill their desire in the (probably much cleaner) lake.

You could grow a bamboo wall by the pond.

I love my dogs very, very much. I am very much a "dog person". But would I want to bath them daily or sometimes multiple times a day due to a dip in the pond? No, I would NOT! I've also never wanted a career as a dog groomer who bathes dogs all day long!

An invisible fence is the way to go to keep them out of the pond. No, it will not protect them from other animals. If that is a problem in your area, you will have to consider fencing in an area for them to safely go outside.

But it sounds like the pond and being constantly wet, is your biggest problem.

In my area, coyotes, bobcats, bears, and one very annoying mountain lion. The average dog fence would be no impediment to any of he above.

Definitely the answer is to curb the dogs and if there is an undesirable interactions with native mammals potential there then quite a substantial permanent fence will have to be put around the part of the property they will be let out into. With a top that can't be climbed over (look at printed or web pages about gardening with wildlife for discussion of what is needed).

Site shown will have wildlife. I think I've had raccoons living under my garden shed for years, have encountered a coyote lounging in my back yard in recent years. My town had a doe trotting through an intersection during rush hour last year. This year in another local town I was driving through a buck came down the opposing lane from across a through route and clopped past us on the left, just like he was in a car.

This is long ago built up residential neighborhoods with typical often small open yards offering little cover. Photos in original post look like site asked about is part of a large wild area, with plenty of natural vegetation.

Not sure where all the fear of keeping animals out escalated from but the OP says nothing about wildlife?

Because, and I say this with ca. 20 years experience in veterinary medicine, most owners utterly misunderstand what an electric fencing system can do. And what it can't. It's SOLE purpose is to prevent pets from going where they shouldn't WHILE YOU ARE HOME. It cannot prevent other animals, whether wild or domestic, from crossing into their territory. And they can fail, with disastrous results. Dead batteries, or enough of a stimulus to cause the animal to cross over the boundary - and then be unwilling to accept the shock to come back IN. Ergo, I never recommend them without underscoring their correct usage and the dangers thereof. Too many people get complacent.

I had an electric fence for my golden retriever (sadly now in the land of the slow moving squirrel (dog heaven)). It is as several people have described GREAT for letting the dog out while you are home - you are gardening or otherwise hanging out in the yard, the dog wants to be with you, you do not want the dog going into the street or visiting your neighbor's cookout while your attention is focused elsewhere. A physical fence around your entire yard is not necessarily permitted as a series of fenced yards prevents wildlife from traversing the area. Physical fences are regulated where I live.

I would not leave a dog out on an invisible fence while not at home. The dog might bolt, the coyotes may decide a dog would be a tasty snack, etc.

Why is it an assumption to point out that an Electric fence may be a good solution for the OP, so long as she/he understands its parameters? Why should we NOT point out the downsides to them? Is it not more helpful to know what something can and equally what it cannot be used for? As far as I'm concerned, all of that information is absolutely and completely on topic to the OP's question.

*shrug* That happens. Have you appointed yourself the Forum Police?

I've quite often appreciated the extra off-topic thoughts that people have added to responses to my and others questions. These are very often things I'd not have thought of and I'm glad someone brought it up.

I live in a suburb where the deer and the coyotes come in through the railway lines. Three doors down in one direction is a fox den with kits in an old drainage pipe. The neighbor two doors down had a cat killed by a one of the foxes. Because she refused to keep him inside.

Three doors down in the other direction had a 5K vet bill when his bulldog was ripped open by a coyote that came into the yard with him watching through the window.

Raccons and possums outnumber dogs in cities. And raccoons can be mean and carry rabies.

Wildlife is abundant everywhere. Wildlife doesn't wear a shock collar. And they will kill or maim unsupervised, unfenced, pets outside with or without an invisible fence.That location is going to have far more wildlife intrusion than a suburb. That has to be thought about. From the damage that the dog can do, to the damage that can be done to the dog.

Even a good sized chain link dog run won't prevent a hungry coyote from getting over if they want to. But, it's like a lock on the door. It won't prevent the truly determined. But it will prevent crimes of opportunity.

Nothing prevents a hungry bear smelling improperly stored garbage or food. Bears are not uncommon.

Sadly, many people proclaiming themselves to be animal lovers are in fact clueless about animal nature. Whether the OP asked about protection from predators or not, the threat in such an environment is very real. Invisible fencing was brought up as an option, and to discuss it without mentioning the inherent dangers would be irresponsible. Rather than being intrusive, the replies here are on par with disussions of the safety of children — it is never wrong to speak up and point out an overlooked risk to innocent beings.

I guess I assume that an adult would be aware that an invisible fence is NOT a physical fence that will keep animals out of ones yard. It appears pretty obvious to me.

As to its usefulness - well, it depends. In many subdivisions in my part of the country, the HOA forbids putting up any kind of a physical fence at all. So, an invisible fence is better than NO fence! Of course, it has limitations, but if they were that important to a person, they would not buy in such a subdivision. We didn't - one we quite liked had a "no fence" policy so we bought in another subdivision that allowed fences and put one up quickly.

My in-laws had one of the first invisible fences in Westchester County. That was about 45-50 years ago, There was 5 acre zoning where they lived so fencing it all would have been cost prohibitive. Hey had a Golden and a Scottie. They were far more worried about the dogs chasing deer than being bothered by wildlife and they always went out with the dogs - never just "let them out". As they got older and needed to do that, they fenced a small section off the dining room where they could just open the door and let them out. By then, they were down to just the Scottie.

Not every rural area has bear, bobcats, foxes etc, but some rather urban areas do (especially in NJ - major bear problems!). In my area, it's skunks, possums and the occasional raccoon, but they prefer to climb rather than meander through ones yard, here. And it takes a really good fence to keep out a skunk or possum. They're practically like mice who can make themselves small and get though places one would not have thought possible.

I'm assuming that the problem is exactly as the OP asked - how to keep the dogs out of the pond and the mud that is there when it dries up. They really don't need a lecture about wildlife protection. Of if they do, they don't want it.

I am a dog owner and lover and dogs should never roam free off leash unless they are with you in a fenced area. It's not only for their protection, but for others.

Caroline so you never take your dogs for off leash hikes or adventures?

And do you allow any room at all in your philosophy for working dogs who need to roam independently?

This all depends on where one lives and the size of the property! I live in a 6th clads city, that in fact, is a 70+ yr old subdivision We have a leash law, regardless of the breed of dog. It's taken about 30 years to get the majority of homeowners to get with the program, but nearly all have.

Working dogs who "roam independently" can get themselves into a heap of trouble. I have a friend who lives on a beautiful old street in Indianapolis. All the lots are 5 acres, mainly narrow but deep. The houses are very large and well set back from the lane. My friend had taken her dog with her to the grocery store and was bringing in groceries from the garage to the house. The dog was going back and forth between the two until she heard barking. She took off toward the road, my friend right behind her. She went across the road and down a very steep, rugged hill, where two hunting dogs were, well "hunting" for prey. Unfortunately, they decided that this little 15 pound dog was the prey. By the time my friend got down the bluff, they had badly damaged the dog, She threw rocks at them so she could rescue her little dog. They had torn her to pieces but she was still alive. Friend climbed back up the hill carrying the poor little thing. She died in my friend's arms on the way to the vet.

Certainly, a farmer or hunter can allow a dog off-leash on a large property, but even then, the dog must be trained to come when called and the owner should be out with the dog. A dog should not just "roam" with no supervision.

We are getting off topic, and the OP wasn't asking about working dogs, but...

We have a working dog — a Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dog. Pyrenees tend to roam, as they think their territory includes the surrounding county. It is generally accepted that unless one has thousands of acres, LGDs need a good physical fence. With invisible fences, motivated dogs such as an LGD chasing a coyote — will endure the moment of pain to continue their pursuit of the predator.

BTW, one never takes a Great Pyrenees out off-leash, even at the beach. What do you call an off-leash GP? Gone!

The OP has never responded to a single post even before they got off topic, so I don't feel too bad about following philosophical rabbit trails! My next comments are not argumentative in tone, they are intended to be conversational :)

Anglophilia your friend's experience must have been horrific. But I would argue that those dogs weren't working dogs though they were a working breed. "Hunting" dogs that are allowed to roam at will and hunt whatever they want are not working dogs; they are poorly cared for and badly trained pets with negligent owners. A properly socialized dog doesn't see other dogs as prey whether it is a hunting breed or not. I know many many people who hunt with dogs. Their dogs would never ever ever be wandering free to hunt for themselves. They are simply too valuable to be allowed out unsupervised but also, they are too meticulously trained to act of their own volition that way. They hunt what they are trained to hunt when they are commanded to do it and kill nothing. And their prey is certainly not another dog of any size.

I don't have any personal experience with Great Pyranese though my s-i-l had one. I never met him; he was always with the sheep. I do have experience with different breeds that I have successfully trained to never step foot off our property without permission and a leash. Could it happen? Of course. And if it does, they are properly socialized to have no aggression toward other dogs, livestock, or humans. By contrast, our neighbours with invisible fences have had their dogs:

• bolt and be too afraid to come back
• bolt to bite bicyclists (say that three times fast!)
• bolt as soon as the fence gets inadvertently turned off by a babysitter who didn't know how to turn it back on (resulting in the loss of 5 of our chickens in a matter of seconds, since the dogs had never been properly trained to learn that chickens are not prey. After all, the fence was there to stop them...)
• run up and down the fence line barking their fool heads off at everything that moves and striking terror into the heart of those who don't know them including pedestrians and other dogs.

These are all incidences that have happened since I moved here 14 years ago.

There are a lot of really effective methods for managing pets, but none will work for every animal and none can replace a responsible owner who will diligently fulfill the needs of each animal as an individual.

ETA: haha just noticed that in one breath I said I wasn't arguing and in the next I said "I would argue..." I hope everyone understands that I didn't mean "quarrel" in the second sense :)

No my dog is never unleashed unless we are in a fenced in area or indoors. We have a leash law in our community. It is illegal to have a dog off leash here. Still my dog has been attacked by several off leash dogs! The last time it happened the owner didn't apologize for his dog biting mine. He simply said "sorry he does that sometimes!" It is also dangerous for the dog to be off leash, they can be hit by a car, attacked by wildlife, etc. I am surprised that you think it is ok! In addition I am an avid runner and I can't tell you how many times I have been chased by an unleashed dog!

Again Caroline, that comes down to training and socialization. A dog that will bite while off-lead will bite while on-lead as well.

Dogs that chase cars, etc while unrestrained will chase in the presence of a fence or tie-up, too. And fences aren't infallible. Nor are leads. I regularly see dogs ripping their owners' arms arms out of socket (//hyperbole//) because they haven't been properly trained to walk on-lead.

An owner who allows their dog to act with aggression is negligent whether the dog is tied up/fenced or not.

Bottom line, the leash is *in the dog's mind*. A well-trained dog can walk next to the owner in a perfect heel with no lead whatsoever and respond to a one-word command given once or a hand gesture given with no vocalization at all, over the distance of 10-100 ft. That is attainable for every single dog in existence (maybe excluding those with mental deficiencies) but relatively few owners seem to care to take the time. (15 minutes per day of intense training btw)

Every dog has its weaknesses just as every human has. And as owners we are responsible for making sure we protect them and others against those weaknesses. That may mean tie-ups and fences, but it doesn't have to.

"It is also dangerous for the dog to be off leash, they can be hit by a car, attacked by wildlife, etc."

I forgot to respond to this part. Being on-lead is minimally effective to protect against these dangers. Some dogs pull while on-lead, even into traffic, potentially endangering themselves and their humans. Some people drive like maniacs and stop for nothing, whether they see it or not. I hear stories often on the news about dogs being attacked while on-lead both by other dogs (restrained and not) and by wildlife. Again, down to training all around except in the wildlife instances.

My dog's job happens to be guarding our property, mainly against predators. She stands a good chance in a fight with a coyote or two if they are bold enough to get close enough for that. Her bark seems to be an effective enough deterrent. But if she's tied up or in a fence from which she can't escape (flight instead of fight) her chances are significantly lessened.

Like it our not, humans have been using dogs as partners for millenia and part of the success of that partnership has been that dogs are able to be both remarkably obedient and surprisingly independent. It really isn't necessary to treat them as we would fragile human babies. By age 3 they are fully developed adults with adult capabilities. It's my belief that the seperation anxiety, neurosis, eating disorders, etc that are becoming more prevalent in dogs are because they are being infantilized by their owners. And as a result of irresponsible breeding which is a whole nother can of worms.

I do hope this gives someone some food for thought. There are times and places when restraint is appropriate, and times and places when it isn't.

I have an electronic fence and an electronic doggie door with two dogs both under 15 pounds. My dogs are a Temperpedic prince and a princesses who when they are not snoozing on the bed are sunning themselves in the conservatory. I have bob cats, water moccasins, coyotes, foxes and probably next bears. I live in an unincorporated area of the county near farmland on 2.75 acres on a lake. My dogs come in and out to use the bathroom via the electronic door. I also keep a wee wee pad in the garage - just in case. I can assure you my dogs know if their are predators outside and the wee wee pads get used. My favorite story was the barking contest between the dogs and a coyote with the window in between. Invisible fences only keep your dogs in, they don’t keep wild animals out. If you wouldn’t lock your children out of your house, you should not lock your pet out either.

I love Sophie’s idea about the outdoor shower station for the dogs. Also you might want to check with the Corps about whether you can alter the water flow - they also might have ideas about how to rejuvenate the land with natural planting’s indigineous to the area that will solve your problem.

Lindsey who is talking about tying up a dog? When I say my dog is on leash he is on a leash WITH me. I think it is completely irresponsible to tie a dog up anywhere without supervision. My dog went through a lot of obedience training and listens when we are out on walks. No pulling. Yes I can control him running into traffic and me being with him is a deterrent to being attacked by wildlife. The dogs that have bit him have been off leash sadly. And they come out of nowhere. I literally had to pull the last one off. I should have reported the owner who told me their dog likes to bite other animals! And who is responsible for an unleashed dog chasing or attacking a jogger? The owner! I am considering carrying pepper spray as I have been chased by unleashed dogs on more than one occasion!

Definitely carry pepper spray.

Lots of people still feel it's ok to tie a dog. They might even be reading this conversation.

I never meant to suggest that *you* are an irresponsible pet owner Caroline! It's really obvious from your words that you care deeply about your pet.

I only want to point out that there is room in the pet ownership universe for different methods and approaches. Each owner must do the best they can for their pet, and that will be different for each animal. If for your dog that means being on-lead whenever s/he is out of your house or fenced yard, that's perfectly reasonable. And if it means that for Alison's dog daily off-lead adventures are safe and enjoyable, that is also reasonable. And for my Little Lady (80lb Rottie), it means that she is never tied or fenced and is expected to make smart decisions regarding vehicles and predators. That's reasonable too. She can access a safe place if she needs, but she's not forced to stay in it.

Some, well trained, dogs can be off leash and function just fine. There’s a local guy that has a beautiful S&R GSD who is trained to heel with no leash better than many dogs on a leash. He still has to put a leash on the dog to walk him on the public park trails or to take him into Home Depot.

One poor employee at the local HD almost hurt herself running from the sweet dog that wasn’t chasing her. People are just scared of dogs, and physical fencing and leashing can be as much about how irrational scared people can act as it is about making sure the dog is under control and safe.

But, I don’t think anyone is crazy enough to try going everywhere with an unleashed husky. Or a sighthound like a Saluki. Or a scent hound like a beagle. And that type of dog needs way more than an electric fence for containment. Labs around water do too. Or you will have a wet muddy dog afraid to cross back over the shock boundary.

In addition to the previous reasons why I choose a physical fence, I'll add one that exposes my illogical, paranoic side:
When we lived in town, there were several incidents where people trained fighting pit bulls by letting them attack innocent and often elderly dogs in the community. I know that the likelihood of this happening is slight, but the thought of this happening to one of my dogs so horrified me that I have never forgotten. It is just one more reason we always have a good, solid fence and a locked gate. (Paranoia has always served me well...)