PetSafe wireless fence experience?

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I'm considering getting this for our hard-to-fence yard (weird property lines, not anything that would affect the signal):

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Wireless-Containment-System-PIF-300/d...

Has anyone used it with their doodle? I'm wondering if smart dogs like these would figure out ways around it, or if the longer hair would get in the way. Most people in Amazon reviews say their dog only needed to be corrected a couple times and now always stops when they hear the warning beep... sounds a little too good to be true!

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

We have it. We love it. She understands what the beeps mean and we take it with us when we travel or do weekends at the lake. Makes us feel safer. She never uses it unsupervised. At night she has a ruffwear beacon so it's easier to keep a visual on her. You can PM me with any questions. It's definitely not for everybody. :)

[Stella]

I have it and love it!! It took a bit of getting used to at the beginning, I really didn't like the way they recommend how to train your dog to it, which led to both dogs being scared to go outside for a while. So, I turned it off for a week or so and came up with my own training method which worked much better! My one stubborn crazy dood did go through it a couple of times at the beginning, but once he worked out turning around was a better option than keeping running, he stopped. Now they are both very responsive to the audible signal and have stayed inside the boundary even when I have had deer on the other side. I recently moved house and they are doing great with it at the new place, even with people walking their dogs past. You shouldn't leave your dood outside unsupervised, because the fence only stops your dogs getting out, it doesn't stop anything else from getting in!

[BG and Gavin]

We have used it successfully too at the cottage.  It has worked very well.  We need to do some retraining this summer however because we let the batteries lapse and Gavin has strayed but, only when we have left the property (like to a neighbour's over a few lots).  I think that he thinks he has a secret spot (and maybe he does because the signal is blocked?) because on the couple of occasions when nosy Parker has followed one of us, he left the yard in the same spot over beside our neighbours place.  As others have said, it should not be used unsupervised.  Also it only does 90 feet in all directions of where it is placed.  You may want to pace that off to ensure it meets you needs.

[Cathy, Josie and Piper]

We have the PetSafe containment system. The wire is dug under the grass. Our lot was too big for the wireless so we opted for the wire system. It was easy to dig the wire under the grass and gave Josie more room to run. She learnt very quickly where the boundary is and never goes across, even when the kids are running back and forth to the neighbours. Lots of times now we don't need to put on the collar. We love this system and would highly recommend it.

[Stella]

Sorry for the delay replying, I don't have internet access at home at the moment so don't get on DK as often as I would like! I found the recommended training method very difficult because at the time I got my wireless fence they recommended setting it up and then walking your dog on leash to the boundary while you threw treats and toys across it, so they got shocked. I found that this was hard on both the dog and me, and the dog associated me with the shock - neither dog would come near me for days, and both were scared to go out of the house. What I did is take a couple of days off, and then turned the shock off on the collar, leaving the audible signal. I made a game of it, go near the flag, hear the beep, run and race way other back to the house. Lots of treats and praise for running to the house. I tried to make it a fun exercise. When they were each consistently turning back towards the house, I slowly turned the shock back on again. Both dogs are reliably trained to the fence now. I recently moved house and set it up at my new place. Because of the snow I couldn't go and put the flags up, both both dogs responded really well to the audible signal as soon as they heard it and turned towards the house, neither tested it by going far enough to get shocked. I know some people think these systems are cruel, but I think correctly trained they are great for allowing your dog freedom to move and play outisde. I couldn't afford to physically fence in a space this large, and if I didn't have the wireless fence, my dogs would be on leash all the time or tied up - no fun for anyone!! They are never outisde unattended.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I have the wire Petsafe system and both my doodles learned quite quickly.  I followed the training instructions which I believe is key to making the whole thing work.  My system has a three part warning, there is a beep, then vibrate then correction.  My doodles just get to the beep part and know they are getting close :)

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Interesting that it is wireless and portable.  I read some of the reviews on Amazon, and they seem mixed on the dependability of the signal to the collar - but if it is in a clear area, most are pleased.  

Let us know! 

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

I agree, her boundary definitely changes depending on wind, and weather. But the beep is conistent in warning her and she knows no matter where she is that if she hears the beep she needs to turn around. We don't keep her collar on her when she's inside, so she gets excited when I grab it because she knows we're going outside to play. :)