Invisible fencing questions

[Ritz459]

I know a lot of people on here don't prefer them, and I agree with everything that can go wrong with them. But in my situation, I think that this is the best choice. I need a cheap fence that can keep my dogs in my yard. An invisible fence fits the bill nicely.
And while my dogs will come back if they wander off, I'm hoping to adopt another Lab or a Basset come summer, and having a fence would make my life soooooo much easier. It was such pain with Sadie to always transfer her to a chain when we wanted to be outside. She didn't like it as she could only follow us around the yard to a certain extent, I didn't like it because she would throw such a fit that I'd have to unclip the end of the chain and move it with me, and then I was terrified that she would chew through the chain (it was wire) and get loose.

After browsing through a Drs Foster&Smith catolog, I figured up that it would cost me around $400-$500 to fence in 3-5 acres. But before I go ahead and ask mi padre about letting me spend that much on a fence, I have some questions.

What is the best brand to get? I want one that can transmit beyond five acres (that would make me feel better), one with a lighter weight receiver (or at least one that can handle the weather), and one that preferably has many correction levels, along with a warning beep/vibration. One that won't die during power outages would be nice too.

How hard would it be to install? This is going to be a big pushing point for my dad, because if it isn't his idea, it better have minimum effort involved or he won't go for it.

Also, if I were to put the fence into the ground in part of our feild, would this cause a problem with tractors and such? Right now the feild is in alfalfa, so there isn't a lot of tilling going on. But if a tractor were to come and till/disc the feild, would the wire be close enough to the surface to cause a problem?

[oc_spirit]

In all honesty I dont trust them at all especially if you are trying to contain a dog like a hound who will follow their nose through pretty much anything!!! Its easy for them to ignore the shock when they are on the trail of something, but then when they are coming back with meager thoughts of home, having to go through that shock again is anything less than pleasant! Plus so many things can go wrong with them so easily I just wouldnt have any peace of mind.

The only way I would turn to them is if I have an already existing fence and a dog who can scale it or jump over it. Even then, I prefer a hot wire to an e-fence as less things can go wrong.

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

If you're going to spend that much on an invisible fence, why not use chain link fencing and do a smaller portion of the yard? I just couldn't ever trust an invisible fence, especially with the worry of other dogs coming in.

[ewarp]

We dropped about $600 on an electric fence system for Saboo years and years ago. We fenced in about 5 acres. I spent hours and hours training her to the fence.

For nothing. There was a rabbit. She was chasing it.... chase chase chase zap OW! chase chase.

From that point on, she simply ran through it full speed and screeched when she got zapped.


Also, the wire is buried only a few inches below the surface. It will be plowed up with the use of typical farm equipment. Installation sucks. Even if you own (or rent) a trencher, it is a HUGE pain in the butt. It took me and my brother two weekends working from 7 am til 5 pm to get it all done.

[SpringerLover]

I have three relatives that have (or do) use it. All three have had different systems and different results. (I refuse to use or recommend one to ANYONE.)

#1: Female Akita, about 2-3 acres fenced in... dog "respects" boundaries when people are around and the system is on. In all actuality she's too lazy to care really. She leaves if there's deer, or the power goes out. They still use it and even went to the "super collar" that has four prongs... no difference. They have the "Invisble Fence" brand where the people did the first walk through with the dog and the fence.

#2: dog is a male BC/springer mix, already stayed in his yard due to early training, but they put it in as an additional safety device. He was never left out in it when they were gone. He was either in the house or his outdoor kennel/run. They did EXTENSIVE training with him, and it was just really a back up. Don't think he ever went near the boundary, they did an awesome job with him. They did their whole property (6 or so acres). They didn't put it in when they moved, don't need anything due to his advanced age and he is very well behaved. I think they had the PetSafe brand but not positive...

#3 is a male bearded collie, petsafe brand. Fenced in about 2 acres of their property. It worked "for the most part" but he definitely knows what no collar means. He's not real responsive anyways, but it worked well enough. They've used it in three living situations now, and she says that it's cheap and does it's job well enough. I'm never satisfied with it. She definitely preferred it when they had a chain link fence (between IF times).

It's got too many unknowns in it and I would HATE my dogs to fear a flag or boundary tape as they're used at agility trials, etc. That'd be terrible.

I was "offered" an IF and we could do a lot of our propterty with it. I said no and waited until we could fence in a portion with REAL fencing. I got a 50'x50' section to start with then we added on another 50' a few years later. It was WELL worth the wait.

And yes, it would be plowed up and destroyed if it was put in a field where there would be plowing.

[Ritz459]

Originally Posted by TinyAlbinoDancer

If you're going to spend that much on an invisible fence, why not use chain link fencing and do a smaller portion of the yard? I just couldn't ever trust an invisible fence, especially with the worry of other dogs coming in.

Our dogs are allready allowed to run loose when we our outside, so it would just be an extra feature that would keep them more securely on our property. I can't get chainlink for two reasons 1.) my parents don't want an "ugly" fence in our yard, and 2.) the reason I want to get a fence in the first place is so that our dogs can have whole access to our yard while we are outside. If I just wanted them to have a portion, I'd go out and by another fifty foot chain.

The dogs wouldn't be outside in it without people being outside as well...just like they are now. My dogs are already pretty good at a recall when I want them to come back from wandering, but this would help stop them from wandering in the first place. I wouldn't even put the collar on them unless I wanted them to stay in our yard (ie, we are having a bonfire, or we are out swimming, or we are out working in the garden or out playing basketball...)

And while yes, with some breeds, I wouldn't trust them at all, but I think it would work with my dogs. Right now my dogs are loose in our yard and no one is outside with them, and they are just laying on the back porch. But it would make me feel a whole lot better if I knew there was some kind of obstacle to hamper them leaving the yard if a neighbor's dog decided to come wandering out of their yard.

I have two neighbors who have an invisable fence (one is for a Corgi, and the other for a Beagle and a Boxer/Border Collie mix thing) and they have had good results with it.

Thank you for all of the info! I'll have to look into it a bit more before I decide anything. I g2g, so I'll be back later.

[Kris]

I posted about the pros & cons of invisible fencing up in the training forum, I won't repost. From what you've posted the only problem would lie in the field where you want to install it. The wire is not buried deeply enough (and can't be) to be used in a place where work is done.

On cost, I went with Dog Guard. The system was much more than you think, especially as you would need multiple collars.

Installation is pretty simple if you have the right equipment (I can't recall the name but it lays the wire as it digs). I've replaced the transmitter myself and it took all of 15 minutes. The part that takes the most time is flagging because you will need to walk the perimeter with the collar and be sure your placement is correct.

The fence itself has no limits as to how big an area it can cover (at least none that I'm aware of. I have 2 acres enclosed).

Training will take you awhile as every day (at LEAST twice) each dog will have to be seperately walked around the perimeter for about a month, or that's what I recommend anyway (see earlier post).

It is cheaper on large areas than traditional fencing, but not $400-$500. IIRC the collar alone, with shunting (to reduce shock strength) was $150.00 9 years ago. So, with 3 dogs that's already at $450.

[Sayuri]

Originally Posted by ewarp

We dropped about $600 on an electric fence system for Saboo years and years ago. We fenced in about 5 acres. I spent hours and hours training her to the fence.

For nothing. There was a rabbit. She was chasing it.... chase chase chase zap OW! chase chase.

From that point on, she simply ran through it full speed and screeched when she got zapped.

Exactly why I wouldn't entertain the idea of one either. Might work well on some breeds, but any breed with high prey drive, high pain tolerance, a high degree of independence, and/or a combination of these traits will do exactly what Saboo did. My experience is with breeds that do posess those traits.

[mom2cocoa]

I don't like invisible fences at all. And I think the safety of the dogs is more important than not wanting an ugly chain link fence. Or how about those pretty vinyl fences, the ornamental ones?

[Ritz459]

Any type of "fencing" fencing is too expensive for us. With three acres to fence, instead of dropping a little under a thousand, we'd be dropping multiple thousands.

We still haven't really decided on anything and if I get the dog that I want, I'm not going to have the money to fence in our yard right away...but it may happen in a year or so. I'm hoping it will.

[trainingrixie]

fencing is expensive! That's why my new apt has to have an already fenced in yard, because I don't have the cashola to put up a fence...saving every penny for the move! I'm getting excited cant you tell!! (although I did fork out $100 at the groomers this weekend...but it was worth it!)