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Scared of the invisible fence.

This is a place to gain some understanding of dog behavior and to assist people in training their dogs and dealing with common behavior problems, regardless of the method(s) used. This can cover the spectrum from non-aversive to traditional methods of dog training. There are many ways to train a dog. Please avoid aggressive responses, and counter ideas and opinions with which you don't agree with friendly and helpful advice. Please refrain from submitting posts that promote off-topic discussions. Keep in mind that you may be receiving advice from other dog owners and lovers... not professionals. If you have a major problem, always seek the advice of a trainer or behaviorist!

  


Member Since
07/30/2012		 
 
Barked: Fri Aug 10, '12 12:05pm PST 
I have a pit bull. We thought it would be a good idea to get her an electric fence that way she could roam free and not be tied up.

We trained the dog as the fence asked, she learned that the flags mean to come back. We used a tone and vibration only to achieve this. We went to the next stage which is distraction with corrections, it asked to see if the dog really knows the boundaries, toss a ball, throw a threat, and see if the dog goes for it after it understands the flags.

Well, in the end, my dog was zapped twice and is now petrified to go outside. I have never ever seen my dog like this and I feel like a complete bag of crap.

Within 30 minutes of this, I ripped the dog fence out of the ground and brought it back. I was so upset with my self that I built this kind of association with my pet.

I can't describe the feeling that I feel, I feel horrible. But I also know that this feeling is not going to help my dog get better. There is no need to dwell, and only move forward together.

I could use some help on getting my dog to trust going outside again. I know its going to be baby steps and I know that fear with dogs has to be taken VERY SLOW, or no progress will be made.

So far we have had her gone out twice in the last few hours since, its taken food and LOTS of time and patients to coax her out, but she is still completely fearful of outside.

I feel horrible and could use some advice. I followed the instruction to a T on how to train the dog to the fence. I feel like an awful parent that my actions lead to this behavior in my dog. Iv never wanted anything but the best for this rescue, id give it my life.

Please don't judge me about my choices,
I feel bad enough.
Any help would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks for your time.
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Kashmir- ♥ CGC

Boxer Beach Bum		 
 
Barked: Fri Aug 10, '12 12:21pm PST 
Make a party whenever she is outside. Good things happen when outside lots of treats and praise. Favorite toys and playing fun games. Start associating outside with good things again. It will be a slow process but baby steps is good. My parents installed an electric fence around the new landscaping from keeping the dogs out. Simple boundry training would have done that. They dont wear the collars outside when i am home because I dont like it.
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Lucille

I am the Sock- Bandit!!!		 
 
Barked: Fri Aug 10, '12 12:38pm PST 
I'm not judging, but I do want to mention for other readers that electric fences are often not a good solution for containment. That's because they absolutely do not prevent a dog from running out of your yard after a squirrel. Especially a pit (I dearly love the breed) who tends to be an active, drivey type of dog. Even training with distractions. I know folks who've had people tease their pit to try to get them to go through the invisible barrier, that's another reason why many pit rescues don't recommend these fences. Sighthound rescues don't recommend them either, those dogs need a visual barrier.

Please don't beat yourself up about it, sounds like you did everything by the book. It's just that not every management tool works well for every dog. Your dog will likely recover pretty quickly if you can build up some good associations with going outside.

Is there any yummy treat that your dog loves? Something that smells really good? Bacon, hotdogs, peanut butter...maybe try luring your dog outside with a treat and then reward the second they cross the threshold. Keep feeding as long as the pup is outside, get a treat bag and pack it full of small pieces of your dog's fave. If your dog likes to lick, maybe peanut butter on a long wooden spoon. I'd try leashing the dog up like you're going for a fun walk and just keep on feeding for any successful movement outside. If there's a toy that your dog prefers, take it with you and try to get the dog to play past their 'danger zone'. I wouldn't dwell in your yard, especially anywhere near where the dog was when it got zapped. I'd try to move on quickly and go for a nice long walk. When the dog is nice and tired, try to see if they're willing to stay in your yard for a bit. Don't force anything, as you know take small steps. If they're not comfy hanging out there yet, go inside and try again later.

Thanks for rescuing a pit, don't worry they're very forgiving dogs of human mistakes (and we all make them). I've got a family full of pit and pit mix rescues, all sweet dogs.

cloud 9
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Sonny

the world's- first blond,- agility Beagle		 
 
Barked: Sat Aug 11, '12 7:39pm PST 
I'm so sad you had this horrible experience.

The only suggestion I have to let your dog feel safe outside again is to put the leash back on. The training does focus on the dog being safe with you and leashed. It will take a while for him to understand the yard is a safe place with or without you.

I have had invisible fencing for 16 years and have never had a problem. (Invisible Fence brand, professionally installed). I have trained several dogs (hang on while I do a mental count). Woofie (adult, rescued pit mix), Jordan (Fostered Corgi), Candy (Lab puppy), Snickers (timid, 2 year old rescue), Pepper (rescued puppy), Pamela (foster Lab, fearful), Sonny (foster failure, Beagle mix). That makes 7.

I have about 2 of my 3.5 acres fenced for the dogs.
Sonny, as a scent hound, should be impossible to contain with the fence. Wrong. He is the most reliable dog I ever had. I only pay for 2 battery plans ( I have 3 dogs now) so most of the time he doesn't wear a collar.

I live in critter turf. Bear, Deer, Turkeys, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Coyotes, Fox, Skunk (gulp). My dogs chase them all out of the yard, but stop at the boundary.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Snickers and Sonny were hot on the heels of a Deer that was in the side yard. Chased it all the way to the back boundary, then stopped as it escaped.

I do take credit for the training I gave them.

I am not entirely happy with the training as suggested by the companies that market these fences. For the most part it is sound instructions, but the unknown variable is always the dog. I had a system installed and the collar for Snickers (was Woofie's collar) set on a lower setting. I spent a lot more time on basic boundary than suggested. When we did work up to testing the fence, it was a 2 person job aimed at avoiding the fence. My major gripe with the suggested training is it seems like you are supposed to trick the dog into getting shocked. Not a good way to build trust!

I started all the dogs with just boundary training with the flags, using rewards for moving away from the flags. When they got close to the flags I acted as if it was urgent they stay away from the flags. They do understand you are letting them know they are dangerous.

Other than training we spend a lot of time in the yard. With all of the space I have, the dogs really feel safe and only have to concern themselves with the limits if the get up to them. In time they know the boundary without need for flags or beeping as a cue.

I hope you find a solution you can all live with.
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Member Since
09/03/2012		 
 
Barked: Mon Sep 3, '12 6:17am PST 
I too have a pit. She is 7 months old and we jsut installed an invisible fence. We have about 5 acres of fencing. We did the flag and beep training and then tried the lowest static correction and she yelps, jumps, and get very upset. Now when we try and put her on a leash to just walk around the yard or try more training she lays down and stubbornly holds herself in place and won't move. She didn't pay too much attention with the beep training. She did stop and listen at the boundary, but then sometimes tried to cross it. We do need to keep her in our large yard as we are located on a very busy road. Any suggestions with further training?
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Belle

Will Take you- On!		 
 
Barked: Mon Sep 3, '12 3:58pm PST 
Unfortunately this is just a side effect of invisible fences. It doesn't matter if you follow the company training to a T - but of course they won't tell you that. They work because if your dog tries to cross the boundry, they get an electric shock to the neck. While most dogs will "get" the program and the fence will work (or the product wouldn't exist), some pain-tolerant dogs won't even notice it, and some sensitive dogs will react as yours has. There's no way to know where on the spectrum your dog will fall until she's been shocked.

You are on the right track with counter-conditioning. I would feed all her meals outside too - make it really fun place. Reserve favorite toys and chews for outside time - although she may have a hard time playing fetch if she was shocked while chasing a toy over the boundry. That will be a separate issue to work though. Start making her comfortable with a smaller outdoor space, and gradually increase the boundries. Going on leash around the yard is a good idea too. It will take a long time, but it can be done.
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Missy

Miss- Pig!
 
 
Barked: Mon Sep 3, '12 4:04pm PST 
Can you not fence part of your 5 acres off, Guest? I assume fencing it all with 5/6ft paneling would be to much money, but surely it's an option for a smaller area?

Edited by author Mon Sep 3, '12 4:05pm PST

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