Wireless fencing?

[Chamomile]

Hi guys!

I have a dog that was raised in a kennel situation and is very timid. He is my best friend though and I would like for him to be out and about. But the times I've let him out he jumps the fence and takes off... We live way off the road and on 20 acres, so I have caught him before he made it to the road, but it's no fun to let him out off leash and it's not always an option to have him out on leash when I'm working the horses or mowing the lawn... or building snowmen with my boys

Sammy wants to be out with us and barks and barks. When he is out on the leash he loves it! I want to let him out and was thinking about the wireless fencing. Has anyone used it? Does it really work? What do you think about it?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Farmhand]

I don't know about the wireless fence, but we have used a shock collar on one of our dogs that used to like to run. That was the best investment we made. She only needed to be shocked once (it was set on the mildest shock). She would not leave when she had the collar on. It did not even have to be turned on, she would stay close to home.

 

[tuffsmom]

When we got Ace as a 3 month old puppy, we used the "Invisible Fence" from Home Depot. It works like a charm, he figured it out very quickly. That dog won't set foot within ten feet of the road. We don't even use it anymore, he doesn't need it. It's kind of expensive (I think we spent $50.00 bucks on it), but it's worth it.

 

[Marty]

I have one of those screw jobs that goes into the ground for my bad dog. Actually I have a few of them stragically placed around wherever I'll be working outside with a very long chain on it.

 

[anoki]

My coach has one for her dog...it has been a miracle!!! I still remember in the dead of winter chasing him to the back of a 100 acre farm!!! NOT FUN!!!

I just bought a collar for Moxie when we are at the barn, coz she has found out that her brother lives across the road (they are very close to the road), and when she felt like playing, she would rip across the highway....a very busy highway at that....it is definately better than paying a vet bill, and after only having it on her for 3 days, she already knows her limits!!

~kathryn

 

[Chamomile]

Thanks guys! I think I'll go ahead and do this. Sammy is very smart, so I think it won't take him long to understand...

 

[minimomNC]

I have Invisible Fence. Got it because of our cocker spaniel, she would take off if she got off the leash. And we live near a very busy road in a housing development. Took her 3 days to learn it, same with our male silky. I love it. But remember if you install it yourself, you have no backup when things go wrong. I had mine professionally installed, took them two hours. I have a battery backup incase of power outages and I have collars on three dogs. It cost alot, but still less than the heartache of seeing my dog hit by a car. Also with the invisible fence company, they have a one year dog training warranty, if it doesn't work on your dog within that year, they refund your money, and they do two training sessions with you. If any of the parts break (except wire) they fix or replace for free. Even if a dog chews a collar off another dog, they will replace it. I also got the battery plan and now for one year they will send me a battery for each dog every three months. So far I still have the original batteries on them, they also gave me a tester so I know when the batteries need to be changed. I do love the fence and recommend it, but I did have mine done professionally and when I have a problem, I have someone that will come fix it. Just yesterday they came and fixed the wire, lawnboy, while mowing, pulled the wires loose where they go into my garage. I called yesterday morning, there were here by 4. But my dogs still stayed in their yard, so they learned.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

On a lot of dogs they will work. If your dog is running scared they will NOT work. The dog will run straight through the boundary and get a shock and so run even more. I use the collars on all my dogs except the funny little one who does not respond to it. With the collars you can warn the dog with a beep if it gets more than an acceptable distance from you. Although the boundary fences also give warnings, if the boundary is a long way off the dog will already be going quite fast by the time it hits the warner. As I said, it depends on the dog- it would be great for my dogs who just hurtle around the edges anyway, and have been trained not to leave the property, (and to my surprise, actually don't!!) It would be fine for a dog that ambled around like a LGD. For a dog that is actually running away, no, I would get the collar and handset. AND of course, it takes a while to train the dog to any new means of control.

One thing I also always mention, which really only concerns LGD that are out all night- the collar works on your dog, it odes NOT work on bears!!! A friend in NE had just brought her Bouvier into the house when a bear ambled by- if the dog had tried to get away it would not have been able to.

Perhaps the authorities should try putting collars on repeat offender bears??

 

[OhHorsePee]

I really never took much stock in the invisible fence because I was always concerned about people being over confident with it. It also does not keep other dogs out so that was a great concern.

Fran

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Hi Mindy!

I just got a kit (off ebay)1000' of the wire and 2 collars and the flags. Will be installing it this week for my brittany, she likes to roam too far. I'll let you know but the folks I got it from (and this is brand new) quarenteed it's working on the dogs.

 

[Bluerocket]

At the TB farm where I work, they have wireless fencing for the dogs.

they work great as long as:

1) the batteries are good in the collars -- if the battery is discharged the dog will learn quickly that he/she can escape.

2) no one accidentally cuts the wire in the ground (planting - or doing repair work etc..)

We have 2 sets of wireless fence installed here -- one for a small dog (smaller area closer to the house) and one for the Labrador (bigger range). One time - I don't know why -- the collar for the Lab suddenly started working with the wrong fence -- I also don't know how they corrected this.... - you would not experience this if you did not have 2 separate fences.

Also - some very smart dogs discover that if they run through the area very quickly that the "pain" is short lived and they are still free --- and of course they are not willing to cross back over the fence to come back home again.

Training is important when using the fencing -- using the flags and walking the line with the dog to make sure they know where the boundaries are --- and getting the right collar (charge!) for your dog's size.

Overall - I recommend them.

PS - if your dog wearing the collar and is riding in your car and you cross the fence it does NOT shock him -- at least that is how ours works.

 

[Chamomile]

Thanks so much guys! I would only use the fence and collar when I am outside with Sammy. He wouldn't be allowed out loose without me around

I'm crazy that way! He is a very sensitive and smart little dog. I think with training he will do well. He isn't one to just run stupid. He doesn't "run" away, he just jumps the fence and trots away, slowly, so as to smell all the pee spots and stop to mark them

But he won't come when called because he wasn't ever taught that. I've been working with him on obedience, but he doesn't like any treats from your hand... so it's a slow go! Thanks again!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Mindy, as tip here...feed him his meals from your hand. Start with a small bowl that you hold and he eats from and you fill up again until he has had his meal. Progress to feeding him from your hand instead of putting it in the bowl- so you hold your hand as if it were a bowl. Then just feed him a bit at a time until he is desensitised- If he is scared of letting anyone near when he is eating, first make sure all other dogs ( competition) are out of the way, Then juts put his bowl down beside you as you do something els- watch TV , knit- anything. BUT, bring the dog to you, do not go and stand beside the dog, this brings him into your territory for nice things to happen. It should take a week to completely desensitise him , that is all. I've had the most nervy dogs come round really quickly once they learn about titbit's- and I don't even use them with mu own dogs!! Mind you I'll use anything that works

 

[Chamomile]

Thanks for the idea rabbitsfizz!!! I'll try it! One time I did get him to eat the little liver treats and he seemed to really like them, then he stopped

I'll try your idea though! Thanks