All Things Animals (and Pets) Thread

Dog desperately needs a fenced yard, but our HOA won't allow us to build one because out lot faces a golf course (so bleeping what?).

Anyone had any success (or abject failures) with something like Invisible Fence? Neighbor up the street seems to have something like it --- dogs will be in the yard barking like crazy at a passerby, but NEVER step outside their yard. I'm not convinced it would be 100% effective, and if it's not, then it's no good to us.

 

A high-drive dog might charge right through an invisible fence. It really depends upon what the dog is like. My in-laws have one that works fine, but the dog is a living sausage.

Some breeds like to roam, and for them the fence could do a good job of reining them in. Dogs with a high prey drive might see a squirrel or an errant golf ball and throw caution to the winds.

You might try a more interactive approach. An electronic shock collar is does basically the same thing as an invisible fence. The difference is that you set the limits and adjust the shock level. There's a tone/vibration level for "maintenance." In my experience, after a couple nicks the shock level usually isn't necessary.

I'd take this approach with the collar: let the dog run free in a safe area, and once it's out doing it's thing, call it in. If it doesn't respond, hit the vibrate level, and that isn't enough, set a mild shock. It's usually not a matter of disobedience, you just need to divert the dog's attention back to you. When he answers the call, a food or toy reward is in order.

Once you have the dog understanding what the collar is about, take it into the yard and use it to set your boundaries, using the lowest level possible. Again, reinforce good behavior with rewards.

Some trainers frown on shock collars as "positive punishment," and inappropriate for really timid dogs. The argument is that a timid dog might develop a fear aggression response. Hunters use them in the field all the time, but a good hunting dog has a strong drive and is often working in wide-open, unfamiliar surroundings.

 

Thanks. This dog is really sweet and shows no aggression. But he's a beagle mix who just loves to turn on the jets from time to time and run. He has escaped a handful of times (twice when we dropped the leash, once when he wrangled free from it after getting tangled in shrubs, and once when we carelessly left a door open. Each time we hop in the car and catch him far down the street. We've only had him 8 weeks, and he's just now starting to feel like we're his family.

Yesterday evening he was in a really playful mood at the end of a walk. We so much wanted to unhook the leash so we could really play with him ... but were just afraid he would take off like a rocket --- again.

 

I know people who have used invisible fences with great success. I want to keep critters out as well as keep my dogs in, so have never tried one myself.

I have nothing against the use of shock collars, I use one with the Dope for barking. However, before going to shock collar training, I suggest doing basic recall training. Start in a room in your house. Have either two toys or a bunch of treats, depending on what’s high value to your dog. Throw a toy or treat away from you. As soon as dog runs and gets it, call the dog back to you showing the toy or treat you have in your hand, then reward the return to you, verbal praise and the toy or treat. Do a shit ton of times, throwing away from you in different directions. Then try it in another room to start generalizing the behavior. Then take it outside with the dog on a long line, doing the same exercise but with the dog under some kind of control with the line. I have four long lines and only need two of them, so if you need one, send a DM with an address, I’ll send you one. My extras are at least 20 feet, maybe longer.

My dogs are high prey drive sighthounds so they are never off leash in an unfenced area, except for coursing where they won’t come off the lure until dragged off.

 

Yeah, sounds like the dog is just settling into the new home. Maybe a few weeks getting acquainted is in order, laying some basic ground rules in the house before venturing into serious outdoor training. Outdoor training is always harder because of all the distractions -- sights, sounds, SMELLS. All the moreso for a beagle.

I belong to a dog-training club that offers manners classes to the general public for a very reasonable fee. If you can find a program like that it could be very helpful. Classes in my club tend to have maybe a dozen dogs, which offers a great opportunity to manage distractions and solidify dog/handler bonds. Our club is nonprofit with volunteer instructors, keeping costs down. Maybe you can find a similar club in your area. It's a nice social outlet for people, too.

 

My aunt and uncle have a beagle. Their house backs up to some trees with a cemetery on the other side. The deer like to roam around there. The beagle does fine with an invisible fence.

 

DAMN DAMN DAMN. We had to put our little dog down today. My daughter came over last night for a final goodbye with Molly. She went home and saw this on SportsCenter and cried her eyes out. She told us about it tonight. Now that I've seen it I know the exact feelings. We had Molly since she was 7 weeks old. She nearly made 15 years.

 

So sorry.

 

CL, I’m sorry. Always awful.

BTE, when I go down the street to walk my mother’s chug, there is a pretty large and aggressive dog hemmed in by an invisible fence … not sure the breed, but it easily 3-4 times the size of the less-than-15-pound chug. That dog hasn’t broken out … yet. Like your little one, if it did, it will require something more than a pair of fast feet. Maybe that helps … maybe not. Might not be any better alternatives. HOAs suck. Glad this neighborhood can police itself without one.

 

I'm sorry. They never lve long enough.