4 replies to this topic

[Jerry]

I know this topic has been mentioned on this forum, but I am having trouble finding it. Has anyone used one of those electronic fences. We have a 6' redwood fence, but Lola is a slippery little bugger, and she escapes every day. We are on a steep hill with uneven ground, so sealing up the bottom of the fence could be impossible.

Luckily, Lola goes to the same place every time. Her best friend lives one block away. Unfortunately, she has to cross a busy street to get there. Not good.

Any suggestions?

[Allison]

We have several neighbors who use the electric fence with mixed results. Often thought about it my self, but things have not gone so far as to make me follow through.

I have seen Caesar Milan use electric devises with great success, also.

As I watch the people around me, I would only warn you that for some dogs, there is a small window, between the implementation of the device, and the time it takes their dog to realize that once over the fence, and after that first shock, all is well.

I believe that it takes the intention to show the dogs the boundary, and make use of that initial introduction to the shock. If you leave the dog to it's own devices, they may figure out the trick of it.

I believe that the manufacturers provide a training plan. I'd be willing to bet that the mixed success I see, is the difference between those who took the time to follow the plan (or their own version), and those who did not.

If you decide to try it, I will watch your experience with interest.

[Karen]

Having had a rep for invisible fence over to the house, their method for training involves training the dog on the flags and collar inside the house before you ever introduce them to the fence outside. This effectively closes that window.

[Starghoti]

I know a lady that does malamute/siberian rescue and she uses a strip of small animal livestock e-fence tape a foot or so inside the fenceline. They can't dig under without getting zapped. And in her jumper area, it is several feet (the launch distance) from the fence. She had bad results from shock-collar fencing. Tho I don't know the approach she used for training.

[miz molly]

I used an electronic fence with one of my dogs in the past and it was great....It's really important to do the training, and then watch for low battery's on the collar. The dog I used it on was also an escape artist, and figured out that when the battery was low, she could run through the electronic barrier and down the drive way and off she went. Another smart dog. The good news is that there is absolutely no more digging at the fence line. Good luck.