Why would someone use it on a canine family member? Maybe to save it's life... We have two husky/lab mixes, who from a young age found every opportunity to escape, and then run the equivalent of the Iditarod. My husband tried time after time to "puppy-proof" the yard, but every time they managed to dig under, or squeeze through, and eventually to jump over. Our running joke was that once we dug the moat and put in 3 layers of concertina wire, we'd be good. We thought about getting a 6 foot rather than a 4 foot fence, but after one escape my son saw the more athletic of the two scale a 6 foot fence, so we figured we might as well save the money. If I didn't think they would brave the shock in a flash to chase after squirrels, I'd get an electric fence in a heart beat. As it is, we have to clip them onto a rope everytime we let them out into the yard to go to the bathroom. Every slip-up could cost them their lives. I think it's a miracle they've managed not be be hit by a car by now (they must be part cat, because they've had at least 9 lives!) I seriously don't think a few shocks is anything compared to being hit by 2,000 pounds of hurtling steel.
Oh, and we've even tried a dog training class. They listen great in the house, but once they see freedom our voices mean nothing!
