Electric Fence? Yes or No? Opinions?

[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.

[moosmom]

No bashing here.

We had two Airedales growing up. We had a fenced in yard, but Tinker's Terror was ALWAYS getting out. We put up a fence and he always managed to get out. My Dad put up an electric fence. He only turned it on ONCE. Just enough for Tinker to get the idea that everytime he tried to get out, he'd get zapped. Tinker did get zapped once and that's all it took. My Dad turned the fence off and never used it again.

That's may be all it'll take. I don't like those "invisible" fencing things, as your dog could be a target for other animals that don't have the electronic collar.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out!

[buttercup132]

We do want to protect our dog, because it's family.

Then don't get one, it will not keep other animals out and the chances of it keeping your dog in are slim given he is mixed with a hound.
I really don't blame the other forum but hey thats just me and I'm a very blunt person.
Get a chain spot or a cable run to keep him contained.

[Varga]

I'd never use anything that emits an electric shock on my dog. I've heard countless horror stories where the device gets faulty and shocks too much or gives continues shock. Really any kind of shock collar would not be safe to have on the dog when he's not supervised - just in case it malfunctions - so where is the use of an electric fence then.
I also admit that I personally HATE the feeling of getting an electric shock (like when I get static shock etc.), so I am biased for sure. It just is one of the worst pains imaginable for me - yes, despite that it doesn't last that long - so I just could not justify doing that to my dog when I know for sure that can't stand the pain myself.

[buttercup132]

I'd never use anything that emits an electric shock on my dog. I've heard countless horror stories where the device gets faulty and shocks too much or gives continues shock. Really any kind of shock collar would not be safe to have on the dog when he's not supervised - just in case it malfunctions - so where is the use of an electric fence then.
I also admit that I personally HATE the feeling of getting an electric shock (like when I get static shock etc.), so I am biased for sure. It just is one of the worst pains imaginable for me - yes, despite that it doesn't last that long - so I just could not justify doing that to my dog when I know for sure that can't stand the pain myself.

It's not a shock it's a high level of vibration.
The lowest setting would feel like a phone vibrating.

[Pinot's Mom]

First, just to be clear, you're talking about an 'invisible' not an 'electric' fence - correct? I just want to make sure, because my answer would be very different.

The only exposure I've had to an 'invisible' fence was the Shepherd across the way. There are very strict covenants regarding fencing in our neighborhood, and they could not have a fence. The German Shepherd, Jasmine, did quite well with it; BUT, after the family moved away, we talked to Sharon, who owned the dog, and she discovered after they moved that Jasmine had been blind for some time and they didn't know it. It seems Jas knew the property/house so well she didn't need sight. So, I don't know how much of the behaviour modification was the fence and how much was the blindness.

Sorry; that probably didn't help much, but it's the only exposure I've had to an invisible fence.

[JuniorxMyxLove]

We use one for both of our dogs (border collie mix and then a basset). We kind of have to, though, since we aren't legally allowed to have a fence in our neighborhood (dumb rule). We've got like an acre of yard with all sorts of trees and obstacles so using a rope or anything like that wouldn't work, either.

Sadie used to get out occasionally when she was younger, if she got super focused on something and hit it at a dead run. That was only really during her demon days, though. It did take a while for her to understand that the little beep meant that she needed to stop...she got a shock quite a few times when she was younger.Now that she's grown up and chilled out a little, it works fantastic (half the time I forget to even put the collar on her, haha. She just knows where the boundaries are).

It works great for Babs...I don't think she's EVER gotten out of the yard. She hears the beep and backs off.

We'll leave them out there for a few hours (as long as they're not at the door asking to come in) but there's always someone nearby/on the ground floor to make sure they don't get out. I still wouldn't trust them out there completely unsupervised...we have a lot of deer and turkeys come through our yard and I wouldn't put it past Sadie to chase them right out of the yard.

[buttercup132]

Yes, that might be. But for it to be effective the dog has to at least once feel the pain of the actual shock which comes after the vibrating. For most dogs I imagine they would have to feel the pain several times before they get the message and heed the vibrate only.

You should really educate yourself if your going to try and argue a point.
It is not meant for pain and does not cause pain, if something was buzzing at your neck at a high speed it would be uncomfortable and get your attention.

Shock collar USED to be used centuries ago but times have changed, do you really think they would able to be sold if they caused the dog so much pain?

[Lady's Human]

You should really educate yourself if your going to try and argue a point.
It is not meant for pain and does not cause pain, if something was buzzing at your neck at a high speed it would be uncomfortable and get your attention.

Shock collar USED to be used centuries ago but times have changed, do you really think they would able to be sold if they caused the dog so much pain?

Centuries ago shock collars didn't exist, as the most advanced electronic device was a leyden jar.

They are still quite common, and the first hit I got when searching for an electric fence was (drum roll please) a fence utilizing a shock collar for compliance.

[buttercup132]

Centuries ago shock collars didn't exist, as the most advanced electronic device was a leyden jar.

They are still quite common, and the first hit I got when searching for an electric fence was (drum roll please) a fence utilizing a shock collar for compliance.

I meant decades not centuries
A lot of companies still call them shock collars but they are not, collars that emit a electric shock are not sold.
The only thing they would be referring to is like a static shock type collar which is again not painful, uncomfortable yes but again like I said you can't sell things that cause the dogs that much pain.

It's just like people who think pinch collars are cruel and painful, they are just uneducated and mis informed.