What is an invisible fence besides a cheap way of confining
your dog being pushed as safe and humane? Basically invisible fencing is a wire
buried in the ground that interacts with a collar worn by a dog. When the
dog approaches the perimeter of the “enclosed” area, the dog receives a
shock. Some collars give a warning tone before the dog gets shocked while
others do not. Some fences allow you to adjust the intensity of the shock
while others may not. In theory, after a bit of training from the human,
the dog will learn not to leave the yard or else he will get a shock.
Electric fences are growing in popularity. The
reasons people using these or considering these fences have given me are varied
with the most popular being: invisible fences are inexpensive; invisible
fences are easy to install; there is no visible fence line; these fences
supposedly safely and humanely confine the dog to your property. But are
invisible fences all they are touted to be? How many people considering or
actively using this type of fence are aware of the drawbacks? I am only
highlighting the major ones that I have experienced with various clients and
consults.
My first concern is the safety of the dog being confined.
Is there any protection using an invisible fence? No. The invisible fence
only acts on the dog wearing the special shock collar. Loose dogs, wild animals
and humans will have full access to your yard and your pet. There is
nothing physical to deter them from entering your property. If your
property line is not clearly defined, pedestrians (especially in regions without
sidewalks) may inadvertently walk into the dog’s territory. If your dog
charges the perimeter at a pedestrian, it may be assumed your dog is loose and
the pedestrian react one way or another. There is nothing to deter the
theft of your dog. Dog thefts are a reality of life and owners must make
it less attractive for someone to walk off with their pet. Not to mention
the danger of illness such as rabies or injury from fight with wild or stray
animals having easy access to the yard. Invisible fences offer no physical
security for your dog.
How well do invisible fences confine your dog? Is it
as securely as people are led to believe? Invisible fences may not confine your
dog at all after time. I am amazed at how many dogs learn to ignore the
shock. I love going to a house and being told “Bongo never crosses the
fence line” as the dog dashes into the street to greet me, crossing the fence
line and ignoring the shock collar. Many owners remove the collar once
they feel the dog is trained so there is no more shock. But many dogs
learn that once collar is off, nothing is holding them back.
