Using Electronic Fences to House Train Your Dog - Pros and Cons


by Moses Wright

Training your dog using electric fences is a decision to be taken only after serious consideration. Your dog will need to be equipped with a special collar that receives special signals from the electronic fence, or the 'E-fence'. The E-fence has special transmitters which are buried underground. If your dog travels too close to the electric fence, the transmitters will send a sign to the special collar on the dog. The collar will emit a beep, an unpleasant odor or a jolt to the dog, to discourage him form going too near the confines of the fence.

Due to certain rules and specifications by the Home Association rules in certain precincts, standard fences may not be allowed and the e-fence could be an alternative. For those with no back and front yard fences, an e-fence offers a solution if you want a dog, but are unable to establish a regular fence.

There are negatives that need to be considered though.

For the e-fence to be effective, dogs need to be trained well and the e-fence should not be a stand-in for behavioral training. Dogs need to be taught to associate the deterrent with boundary limits. However, if this is not seen to, the e-fence would be ineffectual.

Bear in mind that as with all electrical equipment, it is not guaranteed to work all the time. They can be shorted by an electrical surge or lightning strikes, though not common and digging around the perimeter can also cause problems. When an e-fence is first installed, flags are used to mark the boundary, but are usually removed once the dog is trained. If they are left in place, they can be knocked or dragged away by lawnmowers and children, amongst other things. There is a chance that they could cut or wound when they are extracted.

Should your dog persist despite the discouragement received from the collar, it will learn that there is no actual boundary and will be less willing to stay within the specified periphery.

Many people also believe that as a deterrent, electric shocks are cruel, and are a counteractive way of eliciting the wanted behavior from your pet.

Your decision regarding an e-fence needs to be evaluated according to your situation. If kept entirely indoors except for when leashed, a dogs' need to run is denied, resulting in an unhappy and maladjusted pet. This situation can be resolved with access to a dog park, however, not may are lucky enough to have a dog pak in their vicinity, so it could remain an issue.

A standard height fence might seem to be the solution, but large dogs are often able to leap over these, and this can cause punctures and scrapes from chain link and wooden fence tops. Though the wound may be minor, a dogs' tendency to bite or scratch at them can make the injury worse, meaning a trip to the vet is required. Depending on the circumstances, an e-fence may be the safer option.

Every circumstance and situation is different, based on living conditions, type and character of dog and training techniques, so there is no overall effective method that can be implemented by every dog owner. Instead, the requirements of each situation need to be considered and enough information gathered so that you can make an informed choice.

If you decide an e-fence is the best solution for your situation, you need to be ready to disable the fence if it turns out that instead of benefiting your dog, it is doing more damage.

About the Author

Moses Wright is a pet lover and loves to help new pet owners deal with their dog problems at home. You can find more dog problems and solutions for free here: http://www.petquery.com/dog.htm

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