I had a two axis, overhead trolley system with a coiled drop in the backyard at the old place that let the dog have access to pretty much the whole back yard.
It worked great.
They do work great! I had a 20-pound terrier whose paws fit in the spaces in my short chain link fence. Without it he learned how to climb it and get over in just seconds. On the 75-foot trolley wire (with a 15 foot drop line) I put stops to keep him from contacting the fence where he could hang up. He had a dog house, a big tree for shade, an old rug for comfort. He lived to the ripe old age of 14 when he died last year.
This could be the exception to the rule. I wish they made it a law in every state. I'm having a big problem with a neighbor in back of me with two 9 mo puppies they leave chained up without food, water, or shelter; rain or shine. I've called the Animal Control officers on them as a last resort (twice) after talking with them politely and even fixed a long stretch of fencing the dogs were able to jump. All they had to do was fix one other stretch then they didn't need to chain the dogs out in the open so they wouldn't knock over what little water they were given. They were so hungry they chowed down the dog food I gave them while fixing the fence.
Some people should not be allowed to own anything more than a goldfish. Why have a dog if they are just going to keep it chained up in the yard. Get a motion sensor alarm. Much cheaper and more stealthy or not. They can choose to make it warn those who get too close while they are being filmed.
These crack addicts actually called the Sheriff on me today saying I've been in their back yard at all hours. I explained to them that these people are known liars. It's what they do. I moved my motion activated video camera to focus on their property (they're renters of course). So if they call again I can produce a video to prove the crack addicts are liars.