Is it common for neighborhoods to even allow you to build a fence? Fences aren’t permitted in my neighborhood because of aesthetics so almost everybody has electric fences, some have tie outs. Most of the city is the same.

My Bernese mtn dog will lay in the sun for hours watching the neighborhood if I let him. He loves it and there’s no way I’d shock him w an electric collar so the tie outs really my only option. I bought him a 30ft rope meant for horses and tied it to our deck so he can chill outside whenever he wants. Sometimes we’re out there w him doing yard work/gardening or just hanging out, sometimes I don’t directly supervise but I’m always within earshot.

I also put him on the rope so he can go potty in the yard just like other people let their dog out into their fenced yard for potty. I don’t think there’s a huge difference between fence and tie out. There’s nothing inherently wrong with either, they both have safety risks, they both can be misused and abused. The dog has a boring view with the fence though.