My neighbor and his wife like to give my boys treats and pets, but the fence made it hard. ❤️
He cut a window added hinges and a latch so he could pet the dogs.
The smooth side does indeed face the owner. But it's about maintenance, not appearance. If the fence faced the other way, you'd have to be standing in your neighbor's yard to fix your own fence if it has a broken board.
Of course, that doesn't mean that some people don't install their fences backward.