wireless electric fence

[tandemgal]

Because Chloe has started to leave the yard for the neighbors and has developed SYD (sudden yard deafness) we have opted for a wireless electric fence system. Even though we are in a more country sitting we are only about 4 blocks from a main roadway. Our yard is almost an acre and we don't want the expense of fencing because we plan on moving in the next 2/3 years.

We bought the Petsafe wireless fence at Petsmart a couple of days ago. It was easy to set up. It covers a round area that you can size. The transmitter is about the size of a small humidifier - we did need to buy a 2nd collar so both Girls will be covered.

Right now we are teaching The Girls their new boundaries while on their leash. If they get too close to the boundary I stop them and say FLAG! they hear a beeping noise to warn them too beside seeing the flags. So far it seems to be working well - Chloe did get a mild zap a couple of times. She now doesn't go near the flags nor seem traumatized by the zap.

I didn't want to go the route of this type of fence but a little zap is much better than dead! Does anyone else use an electric fence? If so how is it working for you and do you have any tips on training the corgi it's boundaries?

[Dillydoodle]

I will be watching this thread very closely as I was originally considering it for my yard. We have three neighbors down the road who have them, and they seem to work well. I have never seen their dogs out of the area however, I do worry becuase i was told that they get a shock if they get too close, but some dogs will keep on going, and then once they have broken through the zone and got their shock but are now on the outside of the fence, they can't re-enter the yard without getting a similar shock which most dogs dont want to do ...so that is the one thing that worries me. I am not sure where i heard or saw this but it may just be an old wives tale... I have wanted to give Dillon the freedom of running in the backyard free but there are just too many distractions and enough cars that i don't feel confident letting him go free unless i am weighed down with yummy treats and have my husband out in the yard with me .

Emilie

[corgimom]

T-Gal,

Yes, I want to know your success with this. My neighbor, two houses down, just put this in for their Rhodesian Ridgeback 1 year old dog that they got. Our other nieghbor has a Golden and a German Shepherd, but the German Shepherd goes through the fence anyway.

I hesitate to do it here, because there are a couple of dogs (one in particular) that leave their yards and roam into ours and that one dog would bite Cody, so I would still have to stand guard while Cody was out there to make sure this did not happen.

Let us know how this goes for you.

[Chip's Mom]

We bought a wireless fence several years ago for our mixed breed turned neighborhood dog to keep her in. She got zapped several times and kept going through the fence. We actually had a 4 ft fence and the wireless fence and she would still jump the fence, shake her head and keep on going to the neighbors. After many collars (expensive) and failed attempts to keep her in the yard, we gave up and shut it off. A friend of mine here at work has one for her little dog and there is no problem. The little dog stays in the yard. The only thing you do need to keep in mind is that sometimes the wire that is underground breaks and the connection is lost and your dog will be able to walk right through and of course, other dogs will still be able to come into your yard with this type of fence.

[pat_m]

Byron has been trained on an Invisable Fence. We went with the full package including the training. We did this since we live on a main road with a lot of foot traffic.

The training was about 3 hours - not really a big deal. They show you how to do it and it ends up being mostly your responsibility.

The system has worked out great. A couple corrections have occurred but he has learned how to avoid them. I can throw a ball outside of the field and he will not go after it.

The concern about dogs coming in the yard and going after your dog is valid. Byron is seldom left out alone. He would rather be with us anyway.

Believe it or not - We have also trained a cat on the system

[tandemgal]

we had our 1st yard time without a leash - only collars. worked in yard most of the day and The Girls did great. A few times they got close to the fence but I did the FLAG yell and they ran back.

it's a valid point about running thru the fence and not wanting to cross back over. Ours is a wireless signal - didn't need to bury any wires. If they go past the flag the signal is broken and that's what zaps them. when they run back into the signal area the zap stops. there is a cut off safety at 25 seconds the signal cuts off after they cross over so they aren't zapped anymore. also there are different degrees of current - after they learn the boundaries you can turn the collar way down or even just to a beep.

We are lucky there is only an old beagle who runs loose - Sally doesn't hurt anyone and never strays very far from home these days. There are a few other dogs but they have pens when they are outside. But I wont be leaving The Girls unattended - just cant trust them to not run out of our yard. If I'm running in and out of the house a dozen times doing yard work it's been nice to leave them out without the worry.

I'll keep you posted

[Jespah]

Tucker and Lulu's Mom Susan should be able to give you some advice, Tuck is trained to the evil yellow flags and I believe she is starting to train young Lulu to them as well.

[milles2]

I am a big fan of the electric fence. I'll shae some tips about training and my experience.... it will be a bit long and maybe one sided!

I had DogGuard company come and install the underground wire/electric fence summer 05 when Tucker was 6 months old. I live in the country, my property is just over an acre w/ woods and a creek. I have a very busy road in front of my house. I made the decision for wireless fence for vanity reason + I thought it would be best for Tuck. I live on a lake and there are no fences in sight. No oridinance against it but would look teribly out of place. As for Tuck, if I had fenced in an area, I could never afford to fence in the whole property. Tuck can go in the front yard, side yards, down in the creek, up in the woods, in back. Neighbors walking come up the driveway to say hello to him! And it has been wonderful for him. Truthfully, it is rare that he is out there ever w/o me. Usually I am nearby working, sitting on the porch, etc.

He is the Lord of the Manor. He has been playing in the creek or in the woods and got too close to the "perimiter" and get the shock. He comes running and usually runs to the porch and stays there for awhile. When he gets the shock, he acts the way he does when he gets stung by a bee. (Tuck has this thing for bees....)

If you want to take the dog for a walk, the fence company advises you select a "safe spot" and always leave your yard w/ them on leash thru the same exact spot. And they advise making it not an obviuos spot like the end of the driveway or sidewalk, etc. For example, when I want to take Tuck for a walk I cross the side yard the juts up against a dirt road, walk thru the "perimiter" then out to the main road. Of course I take the electric collar/receiver off him, but when we cross the "perimeter" I either pick him up or pull him very close to me and say "stay by Mom" and he gets to learn that it is safe to walk thru the perimiter ONLY if he is on leash w/ me. Any other time he tries to apporach the spot (w/collar on) he would get the shock if he went to the perimiter.

That being said, he went trhu the fence once last spring. I walked down the driveway carrying the kayak, turned to him and said "stay" then proceeded to cross the road to my waterfront to launch the kayak. Doesn't the little devil walk over to his ":safe exit spot" (instead of following me down thje driveway)and walk thru the perimiter/fence. He has his collar on so he gets the shock, freezes in place getting the shock for 3-4 seconds, then comes running across the road to me. Thank God no cars were coming. It could have been a disaster.

But that is the only time he went thru the fence. Is it worth the risk? I think so. Knowing Tucker, having access to the full property is best for him. He is master of his unioverse and he HAS TO know everything going on. Being fenced into the backyard would not be the same.

The training: The fence company places flags 6 inches to 1 ft from the buried wire. The collar is set up to make a beep when the dog reaches 6 inches from the fence line. If they go past the point where they get the beep and reach the fence line, at the line they will get a shock. So the company trains yout to have the dog on leash, when they reach the flags where they hear the beep, you gently jerk the leash and pull them away from the point where they get the beep. Praise them, tell them great job, then try it again in another spot. What happened with both Tuck and Lulu is that after 2-3 times of getting the jerk on their leash, they plant their butts and will go no where near the flags. At some point they are supposed to go past the flags, get the shock, you yank them back and praise again, then they know that first they will hear the beep and if they keep going they will eventually get the shock. I had a hard time getting them to the shock. They wouldn't go near the flags because they didn't want to get the jerk on their leash.

At some point you have to feel comfortable they understand the flags mean "stop, you can't go any further". Then you are told by the company to test their understanding. Walk thru the perimeter leaving them. During training Tuck "got it". You throw a ball thru the fence line. If they get the shock, they leanrn"no, you can't cross past the flags to get your ball". Tuck would NEVER go near the flags.

Eventually you start taking up the flags and the dogs learn that even though the flags are gone, they still can't cross "the perimiter". They still get the beep sound where the flags used to be. They learn where their boundry line is.

Tuck did great. Lulu has been a problem. I can't get her near the the flags. She plants her butt and won't go near it. Great! If she won't go near the flags she must understand that there is a boundry there. But I don't see it in her face that she really understands. W/ Tucker, there was an understanding.

So I am giving Lulu a break and will try the training all over again next week.

A very interesting thing: Tucker learned the "perimiter", not to cross the boundry and really (with the one exception) has done great with the fence. The flags have been gone for over a year. When I got Lulu's collar, I had them put new flags out. Tuck took one look at the flags, must have remembered the training, then suddenly wouldn't leave the front porch! He's gotten better and is now again using the full yard.

If I had a fence I suspect Tucker would dig under it. He loves to dig. We don't have wandering dogs in the area so I don't worry about it. We do get things like turkeys (and their "spurs") and I worry about a coyote or bear but I have never seen one. Again, I don't leave him outside alone for long periods of time and 98% of the time, I'm outside w/ him.

So I am a big fan of the fence. If either of my pups go thru it and get hurt I will never forgive myself. But seeing Tucker running free, happy, playing, lording over the neighborhood, I am convinced it is the right decision for me and Tuck. I hope I will feel as confident w/ Lulu but the jury is still out.

[tandemgal]

Thanks Susan!

after reading your post I feel we have made the right decision. I hadn't thought about how to get them thru the fence when we need too - that is a great idea on a safe spot! I'm going to use the "stay by Mom" command too.

I really think they are understanding about the flags now. I open the deck gate this morning and watched from the kitchen window. Chloe went off the porch and wandered around the yard but didn't go near the flags! She loves to explore and this is going to let us be outside without The Girls being on a leash.

Em is still on disability so she only gets to go out with me on a limited time for now.

[corgimom]

I just wanted to bring up this subject again.

I don't have the underground wireless fence, but several of my neighbors do and three that I know of no longer make their dogs wear the collar. They said that once they learn their boundaries and get zapped several times, they come to learn how far they can go. So do those of you that have these do the same thing? This seems a bit risky to me.

[Dillydoodle]

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[ZdogZ]

My son and daughter-in-law have one. The dogs would get out constantly. Their dogs haven't had to wear their collars in about a year because they remember their boundaries. They won't even go near the fence when my son is playing ball with them.