Invisible Fence For Dogs
Invisible Fence For Dogs
I don’t love invisible fences for Dogs. But it’s probably not the reason you might be thinking.
It’s not about the technology of being an electronic device. Ok, maybe a little bit, because invisible fences tend to be very hot (aka very high level correction). They have to be. They are intended to be a one and done deterrent correction, so that the dog won’t even think about trying it again.
I’m not even opposed to the one and done correction for life saving purposes. I’ve used it with remote collars in some cases.
My Concerns with Invisible Fences for Dogs Include:
Most people do not train enough — they aren’t actually “teaching” the dog not to cross the barrier, they are letting the fence do the work. There’s a big difference. I want the dog do understand the rules, not just get zapped away from the boundary. Slow down the training & take your time, take extra time
Ensure the dog gets it at the flag stage, even before the fence is turned on. I want him to think about the boundary, not the electronics. The electronic should basically be a back-up to the dog’s decision making.
Really emphasize the safe zones and ability to move happily through the yard — not just the punishment area. I have seen many dogs become afraid to go in the yard at all after not understanding the safe spaces.
Your dog is NOT safe from other animals, children, and passers by. We shouldn’t leave our dog’s outsie unattended. Small dogs are subject to become prey for Hawks, Coyotes, and other predators. But yes, this is true with any fence. But with an invisible fence, other off-leash dogs, reactive dogs that pull free from their handlers, children running through the neighborhood may not recognize there’s a boundary for your dog and enter your dog’s territory. This can be a real problem on many levels.
Your boundary is in the front yard, near the sidewalk. Hey, we get it. Maximize your dog’s ability to enjoy the yard. But until you have been outside that boundary and seen a dog charging at you that you do not know will actually stop — and believe me for some distractions the fence doesn’t deter them — it’s terrifying to the passersby. Please DO train your dog that charging the fence, barking aggressively, dashing side to side through the yard as people and pets walk down the street is NOT ok. It’s really not good for their behavior, psyche and creates and increased risk of aggressive behavior. Circle back to those children or other animals entering your yard not realizing there’s a dog who may be territorial or unfriendly — even if they never have done it before.
Dogs are way to smart! They will know when the collar is on and when it’s not. Sometimes breaching the boundary when the collar is not on. I’ve even seen dogs know when the battery is dead. And I’ve seen dogs intentionally beep the battery until it is drained and then stroll on through.
Dog’s that bolt through the fence, thinking it’s only a momentary discomfort because they are adrenalized by the distraction, won’t’ come back through the boundary when their arousal level is lowered. So now they are stuck outside the fence.
And while it is possible to integrate remote collar training for when you travel, want to be off-leash on hikes or at the beach, or are trying to work through recall, aggression or reactivity issues — It’s hard. It’s especially hard if your dog has perceived the invisible fence correction as a punishment. (See item 1 — we want him to respect of the boundary but not fear of the zap or tone — there is a big difference. If you have the fear element, moving to the remote electronic collar even at the very low levels can be a big source of anxiety for some dogs and just too stressful to try and reteach. So it limits your options in the long term.
We can do boundary training in the exact same way invisible fence training should be taught — but you' manage the remote and the level. We can teach the dog appropriately and focus on the boundary not the correction — and eventually not worry whether they have it on or not
See my post on boundary training — How To Train Invisible fence North Myrtle Beach SC. Electronic fencing.
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