I have a 10 week old golden retriever and I am interested in using Invisible Fencing. Does anyone know how old a puppy should be to begin training to the invisible fence?
Also, how do you deter a puppy from biting your hands?
Thanks for all help.
~E~
2006-09-23 05:50:11 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
I don't think that any type of shock collar should be used on a puppy under one year old for any reason. An invisible fence requires a lot of training time on your part - if you don't do it right, the dog will learn to run right through the shock and keep going. Then he can't come home again. The dog IS getting an electric shock, no matter what those companies say.
A real fence is better for several reasons. There is nothing to prevent a stray dog from coming on to your property and attacking your dog. Also, in many states there is an "attractive nuisance" law - suppose your dog is loose in your yard and being good. But some little kid sees him and comes into your yard to pet him. If he knocks the child down and injures him or bites him - YOU could be liable.
My dogs (even the TERRIERS!) are all property trained without a fence - invisible or otherwise. From the time they are little, we walk the property line and I NEVER let them cross it. But I don't leave them outside unsupervised either. Too many bad things can happen. Your dog can be stolen and used for pit bull bait or laboratory experiments. He can be mauled by stray dogs. Get a real fence or keep him safe inside.
These are the books that I recommend to my students; you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/
2006-09-23 07:50:47 · answer #1 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The petsafe invisible fence reccomends 12-16 week old dogs. You will have to use alot of the provided flags for smaller dogs to learn their boundries, and probably have to do more work with the dog since it is younger. Also to keep the pup from biting your hands, you just have to give the dog a correction. With that said, using a collar and leash when the pup bites at you, you will pull the leash back and in a firm voice say "NO", then you may offer a chew toy to the dog, if the dog takes the toy then praise. You really need to cure the hand biting early, once the mature teeth come in, the dog will really be able to make some serious puncture wounds in someones hand.
2006-09-23 06:23:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some dogs do fine with invisible fencing and some do not.
Mine have learned and will sty in it most of the time but if they see something on the other side they want to chase they will run through it every time. It is not very effective with head strong dogs. My hunters just ignore it and run through it.
They make small flags to stake out inside the fence line to tell thedog how far it can go. You should take the pup and walk the area with him/her and every time the pup goes beyond the falgs tell him/her no and bring him back. Work on that for a few days and then turn on the fence. Adjust it for a light shock.
As for the play biting. I frimly but gentley grab their nose and tell them no bite and let go. It takes time but once they learn that the biting is not making you happy and you are telling them not to do it. Most will grow out of it in time and once they learn you do not like it. Just keep trying and telling him/her no bite.
Good luck with your new puppy.
2006-09-23 06:34:03 · answer #3 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Double check with the type of invisable fencing for the minimal weight suggested. You don't want the shock to be harmful for your little tyke. It should be alright, esp. if they learn their boundry young, they are less likley to challenge it later on. The invisible fence you choose has some great training tips to make it most effective and less traumatic for your pup. I have both my dogs in a wireless invisble fense and they do great with it, got zapped one time and not since. Now they run around freely and play with in their safe zone, and have a blast.
To help deter your pup from bitting your hands its to have him focus his bitting attention on to his bitting toys. Remind him with a firm NO when he attempts to bite your hands and offer him an acceptable bitting toy instead. I found this to be the most effective method with my dogs. It helps them understand your hands are not the toys.
Good luck.
2006-09-23 06:09:42 · answer #4 · answered by Krazee about my pets! 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't use the fence until the dog is closer to 1 yr. It should have basic training understood by then. The fence is kind of complex and you don't want to confuse or scare the crap out of the poor little thing. As far as hand biting goes you could do a few different things. When he bites push your hand further into his mouth. pretty soon he will be trying to get your hand out of his mouth because he is uncomfortable (Dont try to choke him to death). Second you could startle him by yelling OUCH! When he is distracted he will usually stop and you can say NO! (No biting or whatever) Third you can spray your hands with bitter apple before you start to play. When he bites you chances are he wont like the way you taste and think twice before biting again. Good luck.
2006-09-23 06:01:52 · answer #5 · answered by nimopiba 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm not a huge fan of invisible fences. Certain breeds of dog are pain tolerant and will ignore the shock. Then you have dogs who run out of the fence and are afraid to come back in.
Also, even if the fence keeps your dog in your yard, it does not stop other animals from coming in and potentially hurting your dog.
2006-09-23 05:59:20 · answer #6 · answered by lickitysplit 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is my experience that a Golden will quickly figure out that if they hit the fence at full speed it will not go off, and then it becomes worthless because they will spend most of their time on the other side of the wire (for no other reason than they can)
2006-09-23 06:03:16 · answer #7 · answered by tom l 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1) the fence...the sooner the better.
Dogs can grow to be so stubborn that they will keep moving even though they are being shocked.
I had an old dog that use to bark alot..so we put a shock collar on it...it would bark even more because it didnt' like the shock. He was a stubborn mule.
2) dog bitting. I had one of those as well. Simple. Any time he bits..make a fist and push your hand into his mouth. After a certain point, he can't bit down. They hate that. Its one of those.. If you don't like it either ...don't do it to me. I also did this with my cat and he never bits anyone or anything anymore.
2006-09-23 06:00:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I think the younger you start training the pup the better! As far as the biting your hands. When I first got my Shih-Tzu he bit my face. So I bit him back really hard! Then I told him "NO" he is almost 3 yrs old now and hasn't bit me since! When we play he will nibble sometimes but he is very care full not to bite!
2006-09-23 05:59:37 · answer #9 · answered by Jo 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
my dog is 4 monthes and the trainer said that a dog must be 10 months or older or it could really get hert
2006-09-23 05:56:10 · answer #10 · answered by jbean 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋