Question about country dogs

[Dot]

Good point, Anna! A fence with an electric wire top and bottom is a great idea! I expect once the dog learns that it hurts to touch the fence, they will stay away even if the power should happen to be off temporarily.

[aly]

I agree that Anna's fencing solution works best. An invisible fence alone does have its problems. Even if a dog knows its boundaries, it may be very tempting to follow one of their friends right out of the yard. Then once they're out, they don't always come back in because they don't want to cross that fence line again - it isn't pleasant!

[Nomilynn]

I agree that an electric fence isn't enough on it's own. My friends had one for their dog, plus a 6 foot wooden fence. This dog could JUMP the fence, and he knew that the little zap lasted for only a second and he could still be free!! He would just jump over extra fast to get minimal zaps. I hope that you find a good solution that involves keeping the dogs contained, in some way, because it is way too risky to let them roam no matter where you live.

[stacwase]

When Jake was younger and more energetic, we tried one of those underground fences. He learned that if he ran through it really fast it wasn't too bad. Then he wouldn't come back through. I remember one time he wasn't anywhere near the fence and he started getting zapped by that collar. I had to run inside and switch it off. He was throwing up from it.

I know Max would do the same thing. A real electric fence might be a better idea - and you gave me an idea. I wouldn't have to worry about him digging under if I built a kennel (would have to be like 9 feet high!) and put the electric wire around the bottom of it.

With electric fences near the ground, what happens when it rains? Do you get zapped just standing on the wet ground?

[Toby's my baby]

Well, living on a farm I can tell you some of the things we do:

Our dogs are never, ever tied up, we live about 1/4 mile from the highway.

Our dogs never leave our yard, they are usually in sight unless they are chasing stuff in the woods.

Yes, more than likley they will be sprayed by a skunk , you just have to put up with it, (If you buy "Skunk Off" to wash your dog it helps a lot.)

No, when it rains outside it doesnt zap anything below it, just whatever tuches it.

[anna_66]

Originally posted by stacwase
With electric fences near the ground, what happens when it rains? Do you get zapped just standing on the wet ground?

Nope, we've never had a problem with anyone getting zapped!
The fence is about 5 inches from the ground. The only thing is we have to make sure we keep the dried leaves from gathering under it...they make a spark

[Twisterdog]

My sister has eight Siberian huskies that climb as well as dig. They were simply uncontainable before she put up electric wires at the top and bottom of the fence. Now none of them even try to get out.

I do not like "invisible" fences, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, your dog wearing the collar may (or may not!!!) stay inside the "fence" ... but to all the other dog roaming free, the "fence" means nothing since they don't have the collar on. Those dogs might be aggresive, sick, carrying parasites, etc. Around here, too, we have rabid wildlife. Scary. Also, a lot of dogs simply learn to ignore the "fence" anyway, I've seen it happen ... especially if they see a cat or a rabbit running by. Plus, batteries go dead, etc. A real fence is SO much more secure.

[Shelteez2]

Originally posted by Twisterdog
Plus, batteries go dead, etc.

I heard a story of a border collie that would stay just in range of the fence to make the collar beep it's warning beep until it wore the battery down. Then it would leave.

Also a potentially bad thing that was brought up by a person on another board I visit, is if you have a sensitive dog it may become scared of the beep. She knew her dog was sound sensitive, but she didn't realize the cause until one day she was walking her dog through the city and they were waiting at a corner for the light to change. Well the lights were the ones that beep when it's okay to walk. At the first beep her dog threw itself to the ground and refused to go forward. She realized it was because the beep sounded like the warning beep from the electric fence.

I think the best thing would be a fence and wire it if you have to. If you have a big property then fence off a huge section. I don't think dogs need to roam free to be happy or else there are thousands upon thousands of dogs that are "unhappy" living in cities all over. I would fence in the area and then take the dogs for walks where they could explore and roam, as long as they have a good recall.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Tonya]

I live and work in a fairly rural area. I will start by saying that there is something very beautiful about seeing a farm dog roam free. It warms my heart to watch them work and/or play. They always seem so content and happy...

I hope I make sense on this part...I also think that dogs born in the country have a different mentality then city dogs. For instance, my dad's neighbor dogs were all born out there. They have the sense to keep out of the tractor's way, to not lay in the road, to not get over excited when chasing a rabbit, etc...My dogs and my dad's dog, on the other hand, are besides themselves when they are off leash out there. They are so goofy and excited that they lose all logic. If I let my dogs roam free out at my dad's, they'd get themselves killed.

My dad does let his boxer loose when he's outside working in the yard. Slowly, but surely, Joe is getting some smarts and not acting so city like. BUT, he did get hit by a car before he figured that out.

If I was to move my dogs out into the country, I would more then likely keep them enclosed unless I was around. But, I have seen many many many dogs who were born and raised in the country lead wonderful lives free.

[Tonya]

p.s. Those electric fences totally work! I am working right on the property line of a ranch right now...I couldn't figure why the dogs were barking and growling so agressively towards me, yet they wouldn't come near me. I complimented the owner today on how well trained they were, and she told me that they didn't step off of the property because there is a buried fence.

[Glacier]

Originally posted by Tonya
p.s. Those electric fences totally work! I am working right on the property line of a ranch right now...I couldn't figure why the dogs were barking and growling so agressively towards me, yet they wouldn't come near me. I complimented the owner today on how well trained they were, and she told me that they didn't step off of the property because there is a buried fence.

They totally work for some dogs. My closest neighbor uses one to confine his dog, Daisy, who as most of you know spends almost all of her time at my place. If you live somewhere where it snows, the fence will be useless in the winter. The snow acts as an insulator and the dog doesn't get shocked. They also don't keep other dogs out. I know of several dogs who were injured by roaming dogs coming into the fenced area. I also know several who won't go home once they escape--don't want the second zap!

Just a couple other comments on this thread--i live in the boonies. Some of my dogs are allowed off-leash, but only when I am with them. THey are never allowed to roam free when I'm not around. I have huskies so not all of them are allowed off-leash. Some would vanish into the bush and never come home given the opportunity.

We have had a few encounters with porcupines. There is nothing cheap or easy about porcupine quill removal. Most dogs don't learn and keep going back. My average bill for quill removal has been around 300 bucks. Muskwa almost lost an eye two years ago when he took the tail of a porcy across the face. he later needed surgery to have a migrating quill removed from his ankle joint. My dad's GSD had to be put down after a quill migrated into his brain! it was not pretty! The quills break under the skin and move throughout the body. Just because you can't see any doesn't mean they aren't there!

One of local area residents shoots any dog that comes on his property. Because he has horses, he can do that legally. doesn't even have to prove they were harassing the horses. A dog loose on his land is dead!

We don't have that much vehicle traffic around us, but every year a few dogs die after being hit by quads or snowmobiles. Just because there aren't cars around doesn't mean your dog won't get run over.

Country life comes with it's own set of hazards for dogs. Dogs under 35 pounds are easy prey for a coyote. Dogs of any size are easy for a wolf! Hobo and Diesel are the only dogs I've ever heard of who survived a wolf encounter. You don't even want to know what the bill has been for that! I've had a bear circle my dog run and try to take down the door to my house. A kick from a moose or deer will kill a dog instantly.

Build a fence and find a safe place/way to let your dog have supervised off-leash time.

[wolf_Q]

Since Melissa lives with her parents and her dad won't put up a fence, she went and got one of those underground electric fences for Lady. It worked for a few months, then Lady decided the little zap was worth the escape. Now Melissa has to keep her on a tie-out as before. They don't work for every dog.

I don't think its a good idea at all to just let dogs roam free. Now if you are WITH them and they have a good recall (and far away from traffic) that's a different story...but just letting them roam while you are gone? No way, that's too dangerous for the dog and rude to neighbors IMO.

[aly]

Originally posted by Tonya
I hope I make sense on this part...I also think that dogs born in the country have a different mentality then city dogs. For instance, my dad's neighbor dogs were all born out there. They have the sense to keep out of the tractor's way, to not lay in the road, to not get over excited when chasing a rabbit, etc...

Even though dogs born in the country may acquire better senses and street-smarts, it doesn't make them safe. There are still dozens of possibilies of trouble they could get into that would hurt or kill them.

Its just never a good thing to do.

[chocolatepuppy]

My dogs have a fence and will never run free. I live on the outskirts of a small town and we do have a lot of wild life here as well as people who would do harm to them. I don't understand why people think dogs aren't happy unless they're running free when I can't cook dinner without a 65lb and 90lb dog under my feet! To me they are happiest when they're with you. My nerves could never handle the thought of them running free, anywhere.