I’m often asked by new puppy owners what I think of “invisible” fences. The short answer is: I’m not a fan. However, there are clearly pros and cons to installing an electronic containment system (ECS). Note that Invisible Fence® is a brand of ECS.

Pros:

• First and foremost, fences save dogs from being hit by cars. Both real and invisible fences can accomplish this goal.
• ECS is significantly cheaper than installing real fence around the same acreage.
• Some homeowners’ associations prohibit real fences but allow ECS.
• ECS doesn’t block your view and allows people to freely come and go.

Cons:

• Electric fences work because they are very painful. Don’t kid yourself about this. Yes, it is the same kind of sensation as a static shock from carpet, but multiplied many times over.
• Your dog may become afraid to be in your yard at all. Many dogs trained on ECS only feel safe within a couple of feet of the house or on the deck. Obviously, this can lead to housetraining problems, problems exercising your dog, and of course this defeats the purpose of having a fenced yard.
• Your dog may become fearful or aggressive towards people or animals on the other side of the fence because he associates them with the beep or shock.
• ECS won’t contain all dogs. Some dogs with very high pain thresholds or a strong desire to run and chase will chose to “take the shock”.
• ECS does not keep people out. If you have a cute, friendly dog, you risk having him stolen. If your dog is afraid of children, you risk having him bite a neighbor’s child who chases him.
• Many breeds of dogs have been bred at least in part to guard property. This behavior usually doesn’t show up until 1 ½-3 years, so your puppy may be fine with people when you put him on ECS, but a year later he bites an intruder. Putting a guard breed in a yard alone and expecting him to know the difference between friend and foe is unrealistic and dangerous. This doesn’t just apply to my breed (Rottweilers), but also Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Chows, and many other breeds with guarding tendencies.
• ECS also doesn’t keep your dog safe from passing dogs. One of my clients complains that a couple of her neighbors let their dogs off leash to play with her dog when it is out on ECS and that she has never met them or approved this. Yikes!
• Dogs whose boundaries are close to the road often get in the habit of chasing cars/bikes/kids etc. Once they have developed these habits behind an ECS, they will exhibit same behavior then when you are walking them or if they get loose.
• ECS can fail. Batteries die, shaved patches on longhaired dogs grow back so that the contacts don’t work, and some systems can be affected by rain or by interference from other electronic devices.

Alternatives:

Let’s face it; real fencing is expensive. However, you really don’t need to fence your whole yard. How about fencing a 10 x 30 stretch of the side yard that you never use anyway? This gives you the option in bad weather of letting the dog out to potty without having to stay out there and gives you enough room to play fetch. Provided there is shade, you now also have somewhere safe to leave your dog while repairmen are working or allergic relatives visit. Another nice benefit is that now the poop is confined to one area and you can safely walk in your own back yard.

Another option is a dog trolley or runner. This is a cable run between two trees with a leash attached that allows your dog to run but keeps him from getting tangled.

Finally, you can simply keep your dog with you outside, either by training a solid recall or by using a long line so that your dog can safely run and play.

And if you do decide to install ECS:

Please wait until your dog is at least six months old and housetrained.

Consider installing a figure 8 pattern, so that your dog has access to the front yard only if let out the front door. Most dogs don’t need constant access to the front yard and they are likely to get in more trouble there.

Don’t leave your dog outside unsupervised.

When your dog gets shocked, don’t baby him and don’t let him go back in the house for 30 minutes. Continue to walk the perimeter so that he understands that it is just crossing the boundary is unsafe, not the whole yard.

Personally, I wouldn’t ever install an electronic containment system, but they do work out well for many people and dogs. Please just think about it seriously and consider your dog and your neighborhood and whether it is appropriate and necessary.