Consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of electric fences before purchasing one. You should note that electric fences, or E-fences as they are commonly called, are wired with transmitters that are earthed and running through the ground. These wires will emit a noise, shock or an unpleasant smell. The odors are triggered via a special collar on your dog, to discourage the dog from going too near to the fences. Signals are transmitted to the collar should the dog venture too close and the deterrents are activated.
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. An e-fence provides a solution for owners who have no front yards or backyards and cannot erect a standard fence, yet desire to own a dog.
There are disadvantages that require one to think through.
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.
As they are an electrical device, they are not fool proof. They can be shorted by an electrical surge or lightning strikes, though not common and digging around the perimeter can also cause problems. Flags are first used to visually denote and designate the periphery when the e-fence is first erected, however, once the dog has been taught, the flags are taken down. If they are left in place, they can be knocked or dragged away by lawnmowers and children, amongst other things. Once pulled out, there is a possibility of a puncture by their sharp tips.
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. If you can make use of a dog park, this problem can be addressed, but many areas do not have close access, so the problem remains.
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.
As dogs come from different living arrangements, have unique character traits and training methods used on them, different situations call for different approaches, and there is no standard procedure that can be used across the board by dog owners. Rather, do consider carefully the needs of different circumstances after acquiring adequate knowledge in order to make the best decision possible.
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.
