Invisible Fence

[buzz2400]

Please keep in mind that an invisible fence will keep your dog in (unless it doesn't care about getting shocked which some dogs dont care about). IT WILL NOT KEEP COYOTES FROM ENTERING AND TAKING YOUR SMALL DOGS!!!!!!! Coyotes do come in and take cats and dogs from your yard. I lost a cat to this.

 

[2dogmom]

I have one that we installed ourselves in 1999. It only took a few hours to install. I had 2 dogs on it for years. One was a lab/malamute mix who we didn't think would obey it but the first time she felt the shock, she was trained. The other dog was a aussie/collie mix with really long hair. We had longer prongs on the collar for hers and it kept her in the yard as well. I recently trained a black lab and she was very easy to train as well. The beep definitely deters her.

I have to say I was totally against it at first and had to feel the shock so I knew what my babies would feel. It is true it doesn't keep critters out of the yard, but it definitely kept my dogs home.

 

[KristinU]

We really like ours! We are on our second Pet Safe brand system. We installed the original one ourselves about 12 years ago and used it with our old dog for many years. As she got older and less mobile we just walked her into the yard and didn't need to worry about containment any longer since she wasn't that fast any more. So, without thinking we chucked the collar and pulled the wires that went into the garage to the main unit.

So fast forward a couple of years to a sad goodbye to our sweet old girl...then along comes a rescue puppy and somehow ended up as part of our family We noodled on resurrecting our old invisible fence or having a physical fence installed, but our poroerty is weird and slopes down to a wooded area - doesn't really lend itself to a fence (not to mention the quotes we got on basic chain link around just a rectangular portion of the back yard were shocking!) So we decided to go once again with the invisible fence. We bought a new setup and were able to use the same buried line that we installed all those years ago and just had to rewire into the garage. Our new system has a rechargable collar, so that's awesome, and training went well for our new little guy.

Training is key, you have to be willing to train with it. You don't just turn it on then let them out, that's for sure. But following the directions makes it pretty straightforward.

For the record, both of our dogs are/were labs - one female and one male. Both of our dogs are/were inside dogs that go out to potty and play and since we're typically either outside with them or looking out the window at them, I've never had occasion to worry about coyotes or breakouts.

I will admit to wishing for a physical fence at times, though, for having dog friends over to play. An invisible fence doesn't help with that.

 

[Green Tea]

One thing to remember with IF, is the cost is in the equipment, not the wire in the yard. If you move just make sure it is noted on the contract that the IF equipment goes with you. Just have new wire installed, reflag and the dogs are ready to go with the collars and the wall unit from the old house.

 

[kellydizfan]

Regarding the coyotes. We keep our small dog 25 lbs inside but our large Aussie and Mix Breed go outside. We haven't had any problems in the 6 years. Our cats are indoor cats for this reason and also the large birds that could carry away a small cat or dog.

 

[ErinC]

We have a DogWatch brand invisible fence. We've been really happy with it. We have a pretty large yard and it was around $1500 professionally installed. Regular fences are not allowed in our area. We've had it about 7 months. I've been pretty happy with it. Dogwatch even offers small discs that radiate the signal and shock on the inside of your house too. We had "issues" at Christmas with the dogs eating presents. We put a disc under the tree and they wouldn't go near it anymore. The signal works for about a 4-6 foot radius. It also used white flags as warning signals. I really didn't want them going upstairs in our house, so I just put the white flag on the stairs and they don't go. Nothing would happen if they did, but their trained to know that the white flag is a no no area. Now we have a disc in our master bedroom closet. After losing about 4 pairs of shoes, it was a must!

 

[ceecee]

When we got the Invisible Fence they left those disc things with us to train them inside first (just to listen to the beep...no collar on) and it worked well, anytime they saw it they ran! They weren't getting shocked either it was the sound they hated. We don't have coyotes, but our neighbors two dashounds will occassionally come over (we each have 2 acres so luckily they aren't close by) our labs will back up when they come over. They are just as afraid of small dogs as the fence! I was against the shock system too, our vet recommended it and said it was more humane than getting lost or hit by a car! They let me feel the shock and it wasn't bad at all, they had different settings you can you use. The fake fence DH installed really must have hurt because our lab wouldn't go outside again for days, she had to go so bad when she did finally go out she only make it to the porch. I only checked out the real Invisible Fence because of the 100% $ back guarantee, I was so sure it wouldn't work.
The best $ I ever spent, the girls are out playing now and I can just watch them out the window. They are seldom out for more than 20 minutes to play but I don't have to have them tied or on a leash.

 

[peanut12392]

My two favorites, german shepherd and border collie. Our german shepherd died about a year ago, and now we have a 9 mth. old border collie. Since we have a border collie now, did you find yours wanted to chase after things? Any problem with it trying to run through the fence?

Just the opposite of us, we lost the Border Collie in the spring! She chased ahd herded EVERYTHING (deer, racoons, squirrels, ground hogs)!! (including the kids). But she would NEVER cross the inf fence no matter what she was chasing. We followed the training, and never had any problems. Would love to see a pic of the border collie!

 

[Fire14]

WE had one whe I lived at home but it never worked that well for 2 of the 3 dogs. I thought ours was IF brand but I maybe wrong. I know my Dad installed it and we trained dogs. THe Husky would obey at times other times just yelped as he ran thru fence, husky/mal mix never obeyed it. The heinz 97 obeyed fence/flags but he was never the "problem Child" he came home when called. Lightening stuck and followed wire frying box and phone lines after few years and parents never did anything more with it since 2 dogs didn't really obey anyway.

 

[bucket o' butter]

We bought an invisible fence for our dogs last spring and it has been a great investment. We do have a regular fence and our dogs were constantly running out in the road. Although we live on a semi-private drive, they were bound to get hit by a car sometime. I was hesitant at first to put one in, but decided to try it out. We put it around the entire perimeter of the yard which cost us about $250. We have two dogs so we had to buy an extra collar and I think that was $50. I couldn't watch the first time the dogs crossed it. I don't think it hurt either one of them too much. They immediately crossed it and very quickly let out a yelp and jumped back. They NEVER crossed it again. They learned their lesson quickly. I know it seems cruel, but getting hit by a car is a far worse pain than a shock by a collar. My son even volunteered to carry the collar across the line so he would know how it felt. He said it startled him more than hurt. He said it was just a very sudden vibration. I felt a lot better about it then. It has been a great investment because our dogs still have the freedom to run and get exercise, but are safe in the yard.

 

[fbarker]

I am sorry, and I will probably will not be popular here, but come on folks how can you think its ok to administer an electrical shock to an animal. There are better ways and if you commit youself to be a responsible pet owner you will take the time to make sure you are treating your dog appropriatley. Electrical shock is not appropriate!!

 

[ceecee]

I am sorry, and I will probably will not be popular here, but come on folks how can you think its ok to administer an electrical shock to an animal. There are better ways and if you commit youself to be a responsible pet owner you will take the time to make sure you are treating your dog appropriatley. Electrical shock is not appropriate!!

I have felt what my dogs would feel and it is not an electric shock, like the pp stated more like a vibration and being hit by a car would be much worse. The beep is what scares the dog and most don't get the shock more than a few times at most.

 

[North of Mouse]

One PP mentioned their fence went out and now they chain their dog (I believe NY). It's against the law to chain a dog where we live. I'm also against the IF for a different reason. I have seen very vicious dogs on our bike rides that run right up to the line like they're going to eat us up. I'm very afraid of big dogs that bark and don't wag their tails. Our former neighbor had two big dogs, an IF, but the meanest of the two was not afraid of it. More than once it went right through it and almost attacked some of our neighbors walking their dogs. Thank goodness they moved - if they would have EVER come at me, I would have pressed charges. We have lots of small children around. Our daughter was bitten on the face IN OUR YARD by a dog that all she did was try to pet - neighbor kids had him on a leash. She still bears her scars, but amazingly still loves dogs. I'm the one that stayed scarred for life - to see your small child bit on the face.

 

[poohlover]

We also use the IF brand going on 21 years now. We have trained 3 Rotties, 2 English Mastiffs, and currently have 4 Newfs and a small terrier mix.

We have about 1 1/2 acres "fenced" so the dogs have the run of the yard. We are off the street, set back into the woods, we do have an occasional coyote, but I believe due to the size of the dogs and the amount of them thy stay clear of our yard.

The dogs are trained to the beep they get prior to being shocked, not to the shock itself. PP are correct that the IF does allow other animals in, you as the owner must decide if this is worth the risk to your animals. In our case we do not have roaming dogs, deer visit but the Newfs just sit and watch them.

I never allow the dogs out into the yard when I am not home, or able to keep an eye or ear on them. You need to be a responsible pet owner as nothing is totally safe.

 

[heartsy77]

We have had it for years and DH did it himself. I wouldn't have dogs w/o out; we just use the stubborn dog collar for our Dalmatian!

 

[crisi]

I am sorry, and I will probably will not be popular here, but come on folks how can you think its ok to administer an electrical shock to an animal. There are better ways and if you commit youself to be a responsible pet owner you will take the time to make sure you are treating your dog appropriatley. Electrical shock is not appropriate!!

Thanks for your opinion, but it isn't an opinion held by myself, or my vet. Or my dogs professional trainers. My opinion, and theirs, is that a small electrical shock used as a training device is a very effective way to yard train my dog and does not real harm.

We live in a house where we cannot fence our front yard, and our front yard is what our family uses (our back yard is small and the layout of the house means it seldom gets used). Our dog wants to be with us, in the front yard. It would be far meaner in MY opinion, which is what counts when talking about MY dog to out him in back where he can't be with his "pack". The other opinions I take into consideration are those of professionals I have entrusted with the care of my dog.

 

[caitlinsmom]

I am sorry, and I will probably will not be popular here, but come on folks how can you think its ok to administer an electrical shock to an animal. There are better ways and if you commit youself to be a responsible pet owner you will take the time to make sure you are treating your dog appropriatley. Electrical shock is not appropriate!!

It's a beep and a vibration, first off.

Secondly, a properly trained dog will never feel a vibration because they are trained not to go past a certain point. Our dogs know exactly how far they can go and at most hear the warning beep. Neither of them have been vibrated since the initial training.
Plenty of times the power has gone out and the dogs still won't leave the yard because they have been trained not to.

 

[kermit116]

I've been doing some research. It sounds like it may depend on what kind of dog you have. The ones who try to run through it are the prey driven breeds who may see a squirrel or something.

This. If your breed of dog is particularly prey driven, or bred to be a hunter of some sort (this includes small dogs like terriers, who were bred to kill things rodents), an invisible fence will not contain them.

If you have a more docile type dog, like a golden retriever, it can work well, especially if you have a large area like a few acres or more.

 

[fbarker]

Thanks for your opinion, but it isn't an opinion held by myself, or my vet. Or my dogs professional trainers. My opinion, and theirs, is that a small electrical shock used as a training device is a very effective way to yard train my dog and does not real harm.

We live in a house where we cannot fence our front yard, and our front yard is what our family uses (our back yard is small and the layout of the house means it seldom gets used). Our dog wants to be with us, in the front yard. It would be far meaner in MY opinion, which is what counts when talking about MY dog to out him in back where he can't be with his "pack". The other opinions I take into consideration are those of professionals I have entrusted with the care of my dog.

I have worked at a Shelter and have been the Adoption Center Director of a major shelter in Chicago and I respectfully disargee with your position and your vet and the dog trainers. All the vets that we have worked with as well as the trainers do not support electric shock, no matter how "minor," is a humane way to train a dog.

I have a dog and she has been trained to stay in the front yard and not to wander away even if another dog approaches. She has been trained, when we play with a fresbie to stop and sit if that toy goes into the street.

A dog can be trained effectively, without electric shock, if you know what you are doing and have the patience.

 

[Bell30012]

When I had my electric fence installed the problem wasn't keeping the dog in. He learned. My problem was that with an invisible fence, I encountered people who would walk up to my house despite the Beware of Dog, No Trespassing and No Soliciting signs. Now while my dog would be more inclined to lick you to death as eat you, not many people stand still when a two hundred pound plus bullmastiff is coming at them.

Electric meter readers, package delivery people of all flavors, Jehovah's Witnesses, Girl Scouts selling cookies and even one local politician. I finally opted for a privacy fence in the back yard and a few more signs.

It's a shame because he really liked those dropped cookies.