"Invisible Fences" for dogs...

[Lewis526]

We're still thinking it over, but our one consolation is that the systems are (relatively) inexpensive enough that we aren't out a fortune, if we want to try it out.

The basic problem with invisible fences is very, very simple - it is asking an unthinking, inanimate object to train your animal using negative reinforcement without having the owner involved.

Time and energy are often the best investments for your pets. Instead of spending piles of money on dubious fencing projects, take your dog for a good old-fashioned walk every day. If you're a runner, take your dog for a run! If she gets plenty of exercise with you, she might not spend so much time inventing ways to walk herself without you. Border collies are a super-high energy breed, so they probably need a lot more than a good walk to be happy. It hurts my soul to hear about people talk about chaining their dog in the back yard all day. Why do you even have a dog if you're going to put her in solitary confinement 10 hours a day?

 

[Pbartender]

Why do you even have a dog if you're going to put her in solitary confinement 10 hours a day?

Because we had a big back yard with a fence around it for her to run around and play in up until a few months ago when the fence broke. Our landlady won't replace the broken fence, only remove it. We cannot afford to replace it ourselves. We walk her as often as possible, but a 15 minute walk every day (it's busy during the school year, and we don't often have time for longer) doesn't make up for being being to have the run of the yard all day.

We don't like her stuck on the rope either, which is precisely why we're looking into other options right now.

In the end, consider this - you will be trusting your dog's life and continued well-being to training when you aren't around. If you are comfortable with that, then the invisible fence is an option.

Not entirely, but it was a possible solution and so we wanted to muddle it out thoroughly before completely dismissing it... There might have been more or less to it than what we thought.

 

[frankthedm]

Because we had a big back yard with a fence around it for her to run around and play in up until a few months ago when the fence broke. Our landlady won't replace the broken fence, only remove it. We cannot afford to replace it ourselves.

Renting... well there's a problem right there.

How broke is it? A 8x4 sheet of plywood won't cost that much to bridge most gaps.

 

[Pbartender]

Renting... well there's a problem right there.

It's not ideal, but there are reasons for it.

How broke is it? A 8x4 sheet of plywood won't cost that much to bridge most gaps.

Oh, it's broke good... the main problem is whoever put the fence up (a previous tenant, not the landlords) made a pretty bad job of it.

The posts of the wooden fence were only sunk into the ground about a foot deep, and no concrete was used to fill in the post holes -- they were sunk straight into the ground. On top of that the fence was placed too close to several small trees which have since grown up. Rotten posts combined with expanding tree trunks have uprooted the fence in numerous spots. In addition, general rot has weakened the fence to the point that it leans precariously
in several spots, and both gates have had to be removed. We'd previously repaired it a few times, but now the fence is bad enough that it violates city ordinances and must be taken down.