Do the shock collars/underground wires systems work well?

Question

Can people who use them give me their opinion. Do the shock collars work well as a deterent for dogs who dig out from under their fences? Or is there a better system of keeping them in the yard?

My dog is a boxer and twice he's dug out from under the fence while I was at work. Both times it was over a week before I found him. He was skinny and hungry and covered in fleas. I'm afraid the next time, I may not find him at all. - I've got to do something to keep him in the yard.

Answer 1

If your talking about he invisible fence system then yes it has worked for me here for the past 4 years. I don't have diggers but I do have 2- 90 pound Golden's.
The key to the entire fence system is in the training for your dog. Let the professionals do it, with you right there to learn also. Then you can understand exactly what's going on and how you can reinforce the training. My Golden's caught on in a week and I have no problems with the system.
P.S. I find the comments of PapaMoto very funny! Yes if the dog is determined to escape then it's going to find a way. The main thing about this system is to correctly place the collars on and to make sure the traiing is complete. Sounds like Papa's neighbor needs to have that Golden retrained. Still chuckling here!

Answer 2

For those that condom collars:
"there is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance --- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
Herbert Spencer

If you are going to condom something, you owe it to yourself to become informed first.

I personally don't care for the fence version of the collar. It has been my experience that many dogs will quickly learn how to defeat them. Simply put a cement or wood curb along the fence to solve the problem. The trick is to place it 6-8 inches out from the fence so that you maximize the distance a dog would have to dig. The dog will quickly learn that digging is futile.

Answer 3

It really depends on the breed and the temperment of the dog.

The electric fences are great on a large parcel of land. Alot of farmers use them around my home. This is to ensure that the dogs don't run on roads are onto other fields.

I have heard more bad than good for use in subdivision houses. Often the dog will run so fast, that it will run thru the electric barrier, then be 'stuck' on the other side unable to re-enter.

So you really can't just install one, then let the dog out. You have to combine it with training... Teach the dogs the perimeters. They will recognize the first 'feel' of the perimeter, without the pain of crossing it.

I have a personal aversion to the shock collar. It creates a skittish dog. Alot of people who have it are pretty lazy, and it is better for them to sit 20 ft away and push a button, then actually interact and train the dog.

It's up you though. But try to go 50/50 on training and electric fencing.

I know what a pain it is for your dog to be constantly taking off on you...had a husky for 14 years...I know!

Answer 4

As others have mentioned it does not work for every dog, it also does not prevent other animals from coming into your yard and attacking your dog.

I am a single person with 4 dogs in no way would I leave my dogs outside while I am not home, as it could lead to them becoming nuisance barkers and upsetting neighbours, and an angry neighbour or some idiot could throw something poisonous into the yard which a dog could ingest.

Instead they stay in the house and go outside when I am home to supervise them, 3 have free roam of the house and one needs to be crated since he still likes to get into too much mischief. It allows me to keep peace with my neighbours, not all are animal lovers and ensure my dogs stay safe.

Answer 5

My parents' dog had a bad habit of chasing cars, so in order to keep him in the yard, my dad got a shock collar, one of those with a remote control....A picture I will keep in my mind for the rest of my life for anytime I need a laugh: car drives past the house, dog takes off in pursuit, Dad on the front walk, remote in hand...dog pursues car to the end of the road, performing a weird little spasm every few steps when my father hit the button. I don't think that dog ever caught on.

Answer 6

After much research on this I found lots of cases where shock collars/invisible fences have actually killed dogs and there are major lawsuits pending. They just aren't safe, in my opinion. Besides the danger of serious injury/death to them, these types of fences don't keep other animals from getting IN to start trouble.

Answer 7

Yes, they work pretty well. Once the dog learns the boundaries that are laid out for it. Be sure that if you set it up that you put the orange flags up for a while so that the dog can learn the boundaries. And make sure that the wires meet. If you leave a gap the dog will find it, they are curious that way.

Good luck.

Answer 8

i personally do not have it, but one of my neighbors has it and his dog hasnt been in my yard since he installed it.. they seem to learn pretty quickly where they can go and where they cant

although i do know of a golden retriever down the street that has learned that if he runs as fast as he can he can get out.. i think he still gets shocked, but i think his apparently unrelenting desire to pee on all our mailboxes is more powerful than the little jolt he has to get in order to gain that freedom

but i think every person that gets this should give themselves the same shock they give their dog.. im not saying you should put it around your neck and walk through, but you should at least hold it and walk through.. i think thats only fair

Answer 9

Shock collar are cruel, don't believe me see the links bellow, do you want to do that to your dog?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BIVYI_urKDw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W0ffIyxiLxc

if your dogs like digging why not give them a small spot in the yard just for them to dig? then when you catch them digging outside that spot say no and take them to the spot where they can dig, it takes a little while, but it worked with my dog who was a siberian husky and one of the brattiest dogs ever.

Answer 10

i love it! it works great for both of my dogs. havent even tried to dig in the yard since i got it