"Invisible Fences" for dogs...

[RigaMortus2]

We have an invisible fence and I can tell you, it works wonderfully. No longer do my wife and I need to keep an eye out on the kids playing in our front yard. They haven't played in the street for months now. I highly recommend one!

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I would only recomend an invisible fence as a backup to a real fence or on an unfenced side of the house where you don't plan on the dog going out but it could slip through the door. It could be a valuable safety measure in either of those situations, but as your only fence it seems insufficient.

 

[Pbartender]

Your dog might learn to respect the fence, but nobody else will. Skunks aside, there are also strays and neigborhood kids to consider.

This is not a consideration at this point. There is nothing that an electric fence won't keep out that our current fence also won't keep out.

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.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I read some reviews on 'em a while back and remember that quite a few people didn't like the way it messed with their dog, that it isn't a very humane solution.

 

[frankthedm]

Seems Momma Skunk was taking all the Baby Skunks on a tour of the neighborhood. And his little Pomerainian was Charging them down full tilt...

Woof! Woof! YELP! YELP! YELP!

Readied Actions beat charges.

 

[Umbran]

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.

The idea is that the animal will become conditioned to avoid the boundary, but without you there to watch, and without any way to modify how the stimulus is applied, there's no way to be sure that's the message your animal will get. And if he doesn't get the correct message, the fence is worse than useless.

I would suggest that your veterinarian, who has been schooled for years, and has tons of professional experience, would be a far better source of information than a bunch of gaming geeks. So, call them.

 

[Merkuri]

I would suggest that your veterinarian, who has been schooled for years, and has tons of professional experience, would be a far better source of information than a bunch of gaming geeks. So, call them.

QFT. Very good advice. Your vet knows more about your animal than we do, and probably already has an opinion on invisible fences that he'll be more than happy to give.

 

[Pbartender]

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.

The idea is that the animal will become conditioned to avoid the boundary, but without you there to watch, and without any way to modify how the stimulus is applied, there's no way to be sure that's the message your animal will get. And if he doesn't get the correct message, the fence is worse than useless.

Actually, every bit of research I've done so far says that exact same thing...

If you want the invisible fence to work properly, you have to take the time to personally train the dog. The vast majority of failures seem to be what you're indicating... People who install the fence, and let their loose expecting the dog to figure it out himself without help.

Rest assured that I hadn't planned that at all... My dog's a pretty quick study when it comes to training, but she does need guidance.

I would suggest that your veterinarian, who has been schooled for years, and has tons of professional experience, would be a far better source of information than a bunch of gaming geeks. So, call them.

Yep, we're already tapping that resource. It never hurts, however, to get practical advice from people who have actually used the system.

 

[D.Shaffer]

2. The Golden Retriever.

There's one problem right there. Golden retrievers are pretty dogs...but everyone I know who's had one says they're not exactly the brightest breed of dog. Anecdotal? Sure, but this particular case doesnt help the stereotype.

That said, I wish we had one (invisible fence) when I still had a dog. We had to stop letting him run loose in the backyard once it learned how to climb chain link fence.

 

[Umbran]

Yep, we're already tapping that resource. It never hurts, however, to get practical advice from people who have actually used the system.

I'll disagree that it never hurts - anecdotal evidence can be darned misleading, and cause a great deal of harm. However, you are doing your homework, which is excellent!

My wife does not have a high opinion of invisible fences, but does not make recommendations over the internet. 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.