invisible fence for dogs

[GaryS]

we have ~7 acres and my girl wants a dog this spring. I'd been thinking about installing an invisible fence and came across this kit Invisible Fence from Northern Tool. Thoughts?

Any one have experience with installing one yourself? Do they really work over this kind of distance?

gary

 

[Jagmandave]

They work great, but you have to train the dog as to why he get's shocked when he goes to a certain place in the yard. There should be dog training instructions come with it. Bear in mind, it won't keep other dogs and animals out, only your dog in...........

Also, some tall and high jumping dogs figure out that if they jump over the magic spot, they don't get shocked, but that's still just a training issue to me tho........

 

[jfh28]

Whether this type of fence works or not is dependent on the type of dog you have. Training will only go so far. For instance pain means nothing to a dominant, headstrong dog if he feels he needs to cross the fence line. I have had a lot of experience with this type in my life /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

It would absolutely not work with a guardian type breed like our pyrenees. If he felt a threat to his family existed on the other side of the fence he's going over there. I doubt it would work with our wolfhound either.

If you have a dog that will come to your side the instant he is called then you have a chance in training him to respect the fence. If his ears are only painted on, I wouldn't risk it.

Before investing a lot of money and effort into installing 7 acres, perhaps try it in a smaller area and see if your dog will obey it.

I hope it works out for you. Dogs can teach children so many wonderful things. For that matter adults can learn a thing or two also!

Jack

 

[newcountry]

There is another type of 'invisible fence' but won't give you so much coverage. It consists of a transmitter you place (usually in or by the house). As long as the dog is within the range he doesn't get shocked. When he wanders too far away the collar will beep warning the dog to get back inside his area. If he doesn't he will get shocked and continue to get shocked as long as he's outside the range - whereas with the one you linked too, he's only shocked right at that line but once he gets past there's no reminder. The idea is that some dogs will learn that if they run hard (or jump) they won't get shocked much or at all. I can't remember what it's called but it's at the big pet stores and is a pretty big brand-name in electronic dog fencing.

There's still lots of training, and there are flags to let the dog know the limits of his field. And, it's not for all dogs.

 

[dieselsmoke1]

If you plan to get a large dog, or as mentioned a guarding breed, don't bother to start with the small collar that runs on oversized hearing aid batteries. When my Aussie was young he would brake through anytime something beyond beckoned him. But when I changed to the bigger collar with a battery that looked like a sawed off AA, one run in with it was enough to convince him.

You can get collars that run off a 9 volt transistor radio battery now.

 

[JoeR]

The only problem I have seen with the invisible fence is that it doesn't stop other peoples animals from coming onto your property and fighting with your dog. What happens if a child wonders onto the property, and your dog is territorial? A fence would at least create a visible boundary.

Joe

 

[dieselsmoke1]

Certainly truth to that. The neighbor kids would wander onto our property from time to time, some actually came to play with him. never any problems, lucky I guess. Worst thing that happened was he got a good lesson about challenging a full grown coon.

 

[MadDog]

We have a Black Lab and a Newfie. We've had an invisible fence for over 7 years and it works great for them. My wife and I both work and the dogs are outside on our property on their own for 10-15 hours at a stretch.

The Lab is always testing the fence and she'll find out if the battery is dead within a day. The Newfie could care less and I doubt that he would cross the line even if we left his collar off for half a year.

It is so effective that you can throw a stick across the line and the Lab (who lives for bringing back sticks /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) will stop dead in her tracks and give you a hurt look that says "meanie -- you KNOW I can't go there."

We had ours installed by the Invisible Fence franchisee who sold it to us, but it isn't much of a job if you rent a "ditchwitch" even if your soil is somewhat rocky, as ours is. The wire only goes a couple of inches down.

As to dogs learning to "beat it" on our fence, you can adjust the range of the warning (and shock) so that even if they build up a head of steam and try to run across it, they're going to be uncomfortable for longer than they want to. The Lab went through it a few times when she was young, but soon quit and we haven't had a dog out in 5-6 years.

True, it won't keep kids or other animals out, but given the size of our dogs, kids who don't already know them don't come on the property and they have been able to take care of themselves with respect to animals so far. Rumour has it that there are some bears appearing in Eastern Mass. and I'm not sure how they would do against bears. They're fine with anything else. If we had small dogs, it would be different.

 

[bher]

Yes, invisible fences are useless for Great Pyreness and other guarding dogs. Here is a pic of my two Pyrenees. I built a sturdy 5-foot wood and wire fence for them.

 

[jfh28]

Those are two beautiful pyrs. Our guy's a rescue and the first week we had him he jumped our 5 1/2 foot high fence twice. Like a freaking deer. Had to replace it with a 7 footer.

We're up in the poconos and will be down your way next month at the national pyr show as part of the rescue group.

If you really want a butthead breed get a kuvasz!

Jack