Invisible/Electric Fencing?

[Vega]

Hey all, I'm looking for input here. I'm moving within the next month or so and the the issue of fencing has come up. I personally don't have good views of
invisible fencing, but that seems to be my only option.Soooo I was looking to get more input from others who have used them. Things like the pros/cons. DId it take long to train the dogs (or cats) so they didn't keep getting shocked? Did it work well enough to *really* keep them contained? How difficult are they to install?

I wouldn't mind spending the money for a chainlink fence, but the landlord (my brother) informed me that the guy who cuts the grass uses a small tractor to do so. Should I install a chainlink fence, I'd have to also purchase a lawn mower and cut it myself. *sigh*

[Mr Five]

I guess with the issue of the "Invisible/Electric Fence" Please put the device on yourself and then walk outside of the limit. I know that I would not want to put any of my animals through that.

This is just my opinion (JMO)

[MandysBlackRoses]

My mother has her shepherds trained with one she had installed last year. I takes months of training!!! And her dogs sometimes still go out side the boundries. Your sappose to take the collars off when they have been trained enough to know the bounderies of the yard.

I don't think it took too much to install, they dig a few inches under ground, and run the "fencing" which is a cable more or less. There will be flags to poke into the ground so you and your dog can see the fence. The kit usally comes with a sign letting people know that your dogs are contained. (So the mail man don't flip) But it takes months of walking around the yard and them getting shocked, before they do learn. There will be instructions on how to trian with the under ground fencing im sure.

As far as it being overly painful, it's not, and yes I have worn one! lol, It just does what it says more shocks you then hurt. It also gives a warning beep before admitting a shock. It lets the dog know he is too close to the set limit. There is setting to put it on high-med-low depending on your dogs coat size, and training level.

For the most part I have seen them work great. You WILL feel bad about hearing them get shocked. And they more then will cry out. Unless you have a husky or something with a thick undercoat. But with determination, and dedication, the training can be done, and the collars removed. I always say the use of under ground fencing is a better alternative then the dog getting hit. And bark collars are better then having to bring your dog to a pound, or get evicted for noise. I use to think they were cruel too, but they are sometimes needed. Basic obedience is the key though. You should make sure they are trained to "come" while off leash as well. Just for there safty.

[Monica]

It depends if you get the underground version or the enterchangeable version (great for camping). We have an 'older' version where the shock isn't adjustable, however to get a new collar would cost the amount of what was paid for collar and base. We had been using it for our stubborn dog Bullet (lab/chow/aussie? mix) and after learning the boundary did well (but we kept the collar on him to ensure he wouldn't get any other ideas). He rarely went out of the yard.

I also saw it put on a shihtzu which worked so well on him he wouldn't come off the front porch!


This system worked better for us, as we DID have a fence yard, but we can't afford to fix it up 1-2 times a year due to high winds nocking the fence, add to that the dogs destroying the metal fence, and we did use cables and chains, however the cables and chains kept breaking or the collar would break. So in truth, this 'Invisible Fence' system worked great for us... that is, until we took in a few more dogs who taught Bullet to ignore the beep, and actually RUN through the boundary before it had a chance to shock him.


Needless to say, we are currently using 3 cables.....




If you can get your dog(s) trained to them, and replace batteries whenever dead, it's a good system when you don't have a fence, or if you do but the dog still gets out. It's only a problem if the dog wont learn or stands near enough to the boundary for it to beep repeatedly until the battery dies, then go over (heard of this one happening!).

[Irish]

Don't forget--while you may be able to get your dog trained not to leave the perimeter of the invisible fencing, it will NOT stop other dogs from coming onto your property. I would worry about the safety of my dog from the animals who aren't trained not to cross the invisible fence, and enter his/her territory.

[Dayna]

Look at it this way. The invisable fence is supposed to keep the dog in. But what happens if it sees say a squirrl? Then chases said squirrl. The goes over the fence line due to what I call "tunnel vision". What then happens if the dog is on the "other" side of the fence not being shocked anymore? Does he get shocked if he tries to come home? That is something important to find out before installing something such as this.

I would go buy a lawn mover.

[jimpierce7]

my sister tried it with her dog years ago and it didnt work on him. But then he wasn't the brightest critter, as soon is it shocked him he would bolt, away from the house!

[Monica]

Dayna, if the dog crosses the border, and the collar goes out of range of the base, then it will stop shocking the dog. It actually needs a few moments to reset itself when it's brought back into the perimeters, or at least from what I have noticed.

We never did mind other dogs coming into the yard, as Bullet would either chase them off, love them too much, or rough house with them! Currently, the pit from across the street LOVES to come over here and play with either Bullet or Kodi, but she seems to prefer Kodi over Bullet now, as the puppy is far more playfull, and this makes Bullet upset!



I did have something else to say in this thread... however I can't recall what it was... of course it was about the subect, invisible fencing, but eh, maybe I'll remember later!

[felisdomesticus]

Everyone has pretty much covered the cons of the Invisible Fence (shocking the dog, doesn't keep other animals out, they can run through it if they choose) but I will add this--if the collar falls off or the batteries die, guess what--the dog is free to leave the property.

I agree with Dayna. I'd just buy a lawn mower.

[Irish]

We live on a fairly busy street, with no sidewalks, and lots of kids walking down the road, being passed too dang fast by "ricers" and the guys with their 2DBig trucks. Not only would I be scared to death that the dogs would get into the road and hit by a passing vehicle, can you imagine how frightened pedestrians would be to see 11 dogs sitting in a yard with no visible means of keeping them contained?

I prefer the lawnmower option. Better yet, I prefer to let the neighbor kid come by and make a few bucks every couple of weeks by mowing our lawn with HIS lawnmower :-).