Newcastle\";p=\"7754 said:
You can also do the training, training, training without actually buying the fence or shocking the dog.
I agree absolutely. However, not all dogs are the same.
I never had any problems with training Buster to stay in the yard.
However, I have done training, training, and MORE training and Maddie still jumped my hedge to get at a passing dog or duck walking by. I hired a trainer come to my house and help me with her training. The wireless fence was my LAST option, being that I am not permitted to have any kind of fencing per my homeowners association. Like I said, if you do not use the proper training with these systems, you can forget it, it will not work, and damage can be done.
nano\";p=\"7766 said:
I have heard many horror stories on electric fences. In fact a friend of mine that is a canine behaviorist and master trainer has two rescue dogs currently in sessions with her due to electric fences.
Nano
That is exactly what I meant by "ruining" a dog. People can't just put the collar on their dog, set the shock to the highest setting to keep the dog contained and go about their business. You HAVE to train the dog to know where the boundaries are.
nano\";p=\"7766 said:
In my opinion my dogs do not need to be out in the yard unless I am supervising them anyway. Too many risks in the world and unknowns out there.
Nano
I agree. Maddie is NEVER out in the yard without supervision.
AbbyandBrady\";p=\"7769 said:
As for shocking, I believe that many systems provide a "warning buzz" so that the dog avoids being shocked...it's not just that they get to a spot and all of a sudden get shocked.
That is correct. Once the dog knows the boundaries, you can set the collar to a "beep only" mode that will beep if the dog gets close to the boundary. On my system there are 4 levels of shock. I have never set it higher than the lowest shock level on Maddie. It will always beep first, and then will only shock if she goes outside of the boundary.
Newcastle\";p=\"7770 said:
If you don't feel training is adequate, then the invisible fence probably won't be either, unless you're using the shock at a setting that causes intense pain, rather than "just" mild pain.
That's very true. I just used the collar to train. She doesn't wear it anymore, and now actually listens to me. :winkle:
As far as the shock causing pain....I've tried it and I wouldn't exactly call it a pain. It's more of a "what the hell was that" kind of feeling. It will grab your attention. It's hard to describe, but I had to try it before putting it on my dog. Now level three was enough for me. You could call level three pain.
Like I've said, she has only been shocked one time. And, that was on the lowest shock level.
I know some people will always be against these devices, but in my situation it was truly a miracle training device. Maddie doesn't even need or wear the collar anymore.
I still think that these devices can be abused if used in the wrong hands. I'll never forget one day I was outside with Maddie and a woman came walking by with her Border Collie, no leash on the dog. I thought, wow, well trained dog. Well, the dog stopped to look at Maddie, who was just sitting looking at them. The woman told her dog, "don't even think about it", I said "It's okay if he wants to say hi, Maddie is friendly." Well, the dog started to walk and the next thing I knew the dog went 5 feet straight in the air, and let out this bone chilling howl. The woman had a shock collar on this dog and a hand held remote and shocked this dog with probably the highest level of shock. This dog did NOTHING wrong. Needless to say I went off on this woman. Can't type what I said. I was horrified. So, no it isn't for everyone. I had some of the same negative thoughts on these devices that have been stated, but for me it has been a very positive training device. :wink: