Electric Fence? Yes or No? Opinions?

[Asiel]

We had electric fencing for our property but to keep our horses in. We had 3 dogs at the time and they respected the fence, never went near it, maybe picked up from the horses that it was to stay away from. But...the neighbors dogs ran through that fence like it was a thread. So we replaced it with page wire .
I wouldn't use it for dogs with high prey drive, they would go through it without a thought if they took off after something.
I wouldn't use it on any dog myself, we have chain link for the dogs.
Little dogs could get a mighty zap from an e- fence, they might not want to go out in the yard after that.

[robinh]

I don't use one, but my old boss had the electric fence and two boxers. One of the boxers wouldn't go near it and the other one you could see him steeling himself up and running right through it. He had a really high prey drive and the fence meant nothing to him.

[Louie and me]

My neighbour had an electric fence to train their Schnauzer Victoria. Once she was trained to know her boundaries it was disconnected. It was fun to watch Victoria tearing down their driveway barking like crazy and coming to a sudden halt at the end knowing that was as far as she could go and this was years after the "fence" was removed.
I'm not sure I would use one in a situation were dogs were allowed out to run free all day because I would think there is no guarantee other dogs or animals wouldn't get in or the dogs figure out they could get out but then I wouldn't let a dog run free, unsupervised all day anyway.

[beeniesmom]

We've never had one but I understand why you would consider it. Having such a large property, a real fence would be so expensive. Maybe just have a dog run installed to the side of the house just for thier business? Beenie is fine with no fence or leash. She has always stayed in the back yard with me standing there supervising. She does her business and comes back, even with squirrels or bunnies within a few feet of her. Frankie on the other hand needs to be on a leash when outside. He's unpredictable and has a high prey drive. He'd take off after a bug if not on a leash and an electric fence would not stop him. Good luck in finding a solution.

[CountryWolf07]

Thanks guys! Hmmm, well I'm not entirely "sold" on the idea of having a electric fence - the idea of it makes me nervous, but Mike insists that it works well. His uncle/aunt had dogs and they had that, and it worked fine - but all dogs in his family were Labs and still Labs today. Half of those dogs do so well off leash that they are always close to you in the yard or in the backyard. I wonder, how the heck do you train a dog to stay with you in the yard and just know you can trust him/her? Mike has Dozer and he is always by your side, no matter what. You let him out, he does his business, then all he wants to do is to be by you and lay in the garage or in the yard. They even let him out and he'll "bark" at the door to be let in. I guess I'm just curious how that works, because I've never had a dog that did well OFF leash! LOL

[Alysser]

I have a sort of electric fence for our dining room. They are pods though, and Mikey has a collar which we don't use anymore. When we first got him, he kept peeing in the same spot in the dining room. My mom was NOT amused and wanted him out. He would be fine all day then pee in there. I had to do something fast so I used a shock collar. I was successful with it. He doesn't go near there anymore. But many dogs are not so lucky. I am not saying all dogs that have shock collars are going to turn aggressive, but I have seen the effects of negative reinforcement at work. I was lucky and in a desperate situation, but if I had to do it again I wouldn't. Positive reinforcement was new to me when I got Mikey and after the fact I tried it. Believe it or not that works a lot better, at least for me!

I would advise you to get a real fence rather then it being a gamble on your new dogs life. Rachel, I really don't think you'd misuse a shock collar like many do, and I know you are a responsible pet owner. No one's saying you have to fence in all 3 acres, just a certain amount. You can then work on recall training at home with him and maybe then you can have a good off-leash pup on your hands!

[Sowa]

I don't think I'd trust them. I'd be too worried the dog would get past it. Also other dogs/animals come into the yard that may not be friendly to my dog.

[CountryWolf07]

We'll see, I suppose. Of course I wouldn't misuse it. You all know me. We absolutely CAN NOT afford a real wood fence to fence in our backyard or even parts of it. Honestly, I'd love that, but not right now, it isn't in our budget.

[Freedom]

Thanks guys! Hmmm, well I'm not entirely "sold" on the idea of having a electric fence - the idea of it makes me nervous, but Mike insists that it works well. His uncle/aunt had dogs and they had that, and it worked fine - but all dogs in his family were Labs and still Labs today. Half of those dogs do so well off leash that they are always close to you in the yard or in the backyard. I wonder, how the heck do you train a dog to stay with you in the yard and just know you can trust him/her? Mike has Dozer and he is always by your side, no matter what. You let him out, he does his business, then all he wants to do is to be by you and lay in the garage or in the yard. They even let him out and he'll "bark" at the door to be let in. I guess I'm just curious how that works, because I've never had a dog that did well OFF leash! LOL

In my limited experience, that is very dog specific, and not something you train, lol. The dog already has those tendencies, and you put it to command and such.

A wooden fence will be costly, yes. That is why we did the much MUCH less expensive plastic covered wire. You can see it here, with one gate (white) on the left:

Here it is up close, behind Willy:

[Glacier]

I'd never trust one. I'd never leave a dog unsupervised outside with only electric fencing. Of course, I have huskies and occasionally 7 feet of high strength wire, buried a foot underground and reinforced with concrete hasn't been enough to keep them in the yard!

My other issue with them is they don't keep other animals out...loose dogs, roaming cats or where I live bears, moose, wolves, coyotes and foxes! My fence is built as much for keeping the area wildlife out of my yard as it is for keeping my dogs in the yard!

Daisy has an electric fence at her real home...Daisy who has been at my house pretty much daily for 8 years! The shock occasionally stops her from going home, it never even slows her down when she's leaving. I haven't seen her collar on for quite awhile; her owner probably gave up on it or my dogs chewed it off her again!

[wolf_Q]

My friend tried one with her german shorthair, didn't stop her, the shock was worth running the neighborhood. I personally wouldn't use one, at least for my dogs - I really don't think it would stop huskies, they may be good for a while but if there were a cat or something to chase they'd run right through it. I would never ever leave the dog outside unsupervised with one, other dogs/animals could come into your yard and harm the dog. So if you were just using it when you are out with the dog it would probably work okay. I'm too lazy for that, I let the dogs out and they play and run and they let me know when they want back in...I do look out the window and check on them but I don't stay outside with them every time I let them out. I think just doing a smaller fenced in area is what I would do for now when I wanted to leave the dog outside for a bit to go potty then otherwise take them out on a retractible leash until they can be trusted to be off leash with you in the yard (if possible).

[lizbud]

My other issue with them is they don't keep other animals out...loose dogs, roaming cats or where I live bears, moose, wolves, coyotes and foxes! My fence is built as much for keeping the area wildlife out of my yard as it is for keeping my dogs in the yard!

I would never use one for many of the same reasons you've listed, mainly loose dogs and wandering cats.
ps. It's good to know that Daisy is still hanging out with her buds at your house.