Fence

[Wasseem Sidhom]

Today we finally bit the bullet and installed an electric fence.

Before this, we'd let Cooper run wildly outside in the backyard un-monitored and he would sometimes go into the neighbors' yards or cross the street to the neighbors in front of us.

Today though is a new day. 

Would love to hear all your tricks and techniques for training with an electric fence.  I did a 10 minute training right after it was installed, and he seems to be getting the hang of it, but would love to hear from the experts on DK. 

[Kerry L]

We LOVE our electric fence! We had ours installed professionally and the installer also worked with Hank. We put flags around where the fence was installed and walked the perimiter with Hank. When hank got close to the flags he would shake them at him. Almost scaring him a little. Ours beeps for a few seconds to warn him he is getting too close, then it shocks if his is about the cross. So Hank hears the beep, flag shakes at him, he's backs up. He associated them all together. We've had great luck with ours but you do have to work with the dog and teach them the boundaries.

Note: We've been critizied for having it but I have a baby and we live on a corer lot. Hank getting zapped is better than him getting hit by a car! Also, I intentionally felt that 'shock' (out of curiosity) and it's basically just static electricity. It's more weird than painful.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I don't have an electric fence so I don't have any tips for you.  In reading other discussions over the years, it seems that there are two things you do need to be aware of.  The first is that if the 'lure' is strong enough, the dog may choose to get shocked and go through the 'fence' line, and the second is that while your dog may not leave his area, other people and animals can come right in and get at your dog.  This is not meant as a criticism of this type of fencing at all.  (I use an e-collar to curb barking in my dogs and get criticized, but it is the right thing for my dogs and my situation so I am sure your fence is correct for your situation.) I just guess I would not leave my dog outside alone as I do with a secure physical fence.