Electric dog fence initial problem...
Discussion
Last week I had an electrified dog fence installed to keep my Cocker away from the busy road near our house. We have a decently sized garden with a fenced/hedged perimeter of about 400m. I'd like to be able to leave him to play/explore without worrying that he'll occasionally find and sneak through any holes in the fence. The system comprises a cable that has been laid around the perimeter of my garden, underground where there is lawn and attached to the wire fence behind hedges. The location of the cable is currently marked with small flags in the ground. The dog has a collar with a battery operated module that provides first a clear beep and then the "correction" (as they call it, I don't think dogs need euphemisms...) when he approaches / crosses the cable.
The installer conducted a training session with the dog and I, and advised me to repeat the session several times daily for a week or so to fully accustom the dog to the system. The training involves walking the dog around the garden on his lead occasionally approaching the flags marking the perimeter and then saying "careful" with a warning tone when the beeper sounds. If the "correction" is triggered I am to use the lead to help him understand which way he needs to move. The training will help him learn that the perimeter is dangerous.
This worked reasonably well for a session or two. The dog quickly learned that the flags marked danger, and would apply full braking when led towards them. However, he's now decided that the best way to avoid trouble is to stay inside. He won't go in the garden. I tried gently coaxing him around very patiently this afternoon, but he is just tail down, sitting down not wanting to be there. It is apparent that his fear of the "correction" is so great that he just wants to avoid it at all costs.
So now I have a dog that doesn't want to go into the garden at all.
I'll speak with the manufacturer/installer tomorrow, but wonder if there are any PH'ers who have had similar experiences and are able to offer thoughts / guidance? Thank you all in advance,
The installer conducted a training session with the dog and I, and advised me to repeat the session several times daily for a week or so to fully accustom the dog to the system. The training involves walking the dog around the garden on his lead occasionally approaching the flags marking the perimeter and then saying "careful" with a warning tone when the beeper sounds. If the "correction" is triggered I am to use the lead to help him understand which way he needs to move. The training will help him learn that the perimeter is dangerous.
This worked reasonably well for a session or two. The dog quickly learned that the flags marked danger, and would apply full braking when led towards them. However, he's now decided that the best way to avoid trouble is to stay inside. He won't go in the garden. I tried gently coaxing him around very patiently this afternoon, but he is just tail down, sitting down not wanting to be there. It is apparent that his fear of the "correction" is so great that he just wants to avoid it at all costs.
So now I have a dog that doesn't want to go into the garden at all.
I'll speak with the manufacturer/installer tomorrow, but wonder if there are any PH'ers who have had similar experiences and are able to offer thoughts / guidance? Thank you all in advance,
It seems like a whole load of complicated shenanigans to keep a dog in the garden. And obviously isn’t working well.
I seriously don’t think most dogs are clever enough to remember the instructions on how not to get shocked, and it sounds like he is just scared s
tless now.
How about just using normal fencing? I did it around our back yard when we adopted two dogs last year.
I seriously don’t think most dogs are clever enough to remember the instructions on how not to get shocked, and it sounds like he is just scared s
tless now. How about just using normal fencing? I did it around our back yard when we adopted two dogs last year.
I have mixed feelings about it. With 400m of perimeter, some of which is difficult to access due to the position of hedges etc it has proved impossible in practice to ensure that there are no gaps. Believed me we have tried, and replaced large areas of fencing in the process. His last escape point was eventually tracked to where a fox had dug/scraped away earth to gain access. We also have automated gates that open to the road. If someone arrives whilst he’s out there is an obvious risk of exit there as well.
My dog is not a serial escaper / roamer but twice in the last year we’ve received calls from passing motorists who have apprehended him on the road. I have reluctantly concluded that a quality electrical fence system is better than taking the risk that he is hit by a passing car. The shock administered by the system is like the static whack you get from a car left in the sun on a hot day, or from touching a door handle when you visit your friend who has cheap carpet in his house... It’s unpleasant, but not ultimately harmful. I know, because I insisted on trying it on my arm before fitting the collar to my dog.
My dog is not a serial escaper / roamer but twice in the last year we’ve received calls from passing motorists who have apprehended him on the road. I have reluctantly concluded that a quality electrical fence system is better than taking the risk that he is hit by a passing car. The shock administered by the system is like the static whack you get from a car left in the sun on a hot day, or from touching a door handle when you visit your friend who has cheap carpet in his house... It’s unpleasant, but not ultimately harmful. I know, because I insisted on trying it on my arm before fitting the collar to my dog.
227bhp said:
So basically cows and horses are more intelligent than dogs?
I would imagine if you put a collar on a cow or horse it will have the same affect as on the dog, if a cow or horse rub against an electric fence it is little more than an irritation to them which they learn to keep away from much like a thorny hedge, with the collar making the pain point in the same place no matter what part of the body hits the boundry sensor it will just do as been done and make the dog scared to venture outside.King Herald said:
How about fencing a smaller portion of the garden off, like a dog run. Would be easier, make sure it is a good solid fence?
Maybe some sort of decorative ‘picket fence’ or similar? Maybe around the back of the house, kills several birds with one stone.
This would have my vote too. We live in 10 acres and own dogs who are not 100% reliable offlead - the fields around us also have livestock in occasionally. It would be impractical to fence the whole perimeter(or even most of it) to the required 6 foot, so we opted to have a large area to the rear of the house fenced with a mixture of chain link and wooden fencing. It is plenty big enough for the dogs to have a good run in and we know that they are safe.Maybe some sort of decorative ‘picket fence’ or similar? Maybe around the back of the house, kills several birds with one stone.
In terms of what you'll need to do to rehabilitate your dog - you'll need to make the garden a nice place for him again, rather than somewhere he receives a punishment/'correction'. I would start by dumping the electric fence/shock collar. Then you can work on rewarding him when he goes outside. Is there an activity/type of training he particularly enjoys?
Edited by moorx on Monday 29th January 17:17
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