I'd like to start out by saying I am new to this and have ordered some of Ed's videos in anticipation of getting a GSD this spring time. We have the "Puppy" and "Obedience" videos. We are more interested in obedience training than protection training but I still want the dog to bark to let us know when someone is here and to keep strangers away when we are gone.
I am sure I will have many questions but in the planning stage, this one comes to mind...

We live on 5 acres and the main section near our house is about 1 acre. I was thinking of using the "invisible fence" for while we are at work. That way the dog could be outside with room to roam and still have his dog house.
But I wonder about delivery persons. Our propane is delivered and the UPS and Fex Ex guys come around.
I want the dog to "protect" the house but not run them off.
Is this feasible or should I start thinking kennel?
Or schedule propane and pick up my own packages?

Thanks for any input. I feel this site and Ed's videos are really going to give me the boost I need to train our future dog.

I don't recommend E fences, and I believe on the box it even says it won't work with some high drive dogs. E fences don't keep other dogs/cats/skunks out and God forbid your pupper accidently ends up on the other side of the wire, they won't cross back over. Efences give no indication that there is a dog in the yard to warn letter carriers, Package Delivery, utility people etc and even with signs posted, your average four year old is not going to be able to read it. Along with that the dog in the yard barking at people with nothing between them except your ability to follow the directions on the box EXACTLY may be a bit much. A nice fence should increase your property value, it doesn't have to be that ugly ass chain link there are some nice slat and wire ones that look really nice

Well put Dennis. I totally agree with your opinions on the e fence...yup, high drive (even medium drive dogs) can barrel right through one of those things.

A "real" fence is the only way to go when you have a dog (dogs) IMHO.

I would never use an inv. fence to contain a large high caliber dog. Or any for that matter as they are a liabilaty and people look for ways of making a cheap buck evan in the country. Definately a fence is the way to go. I envy you as we had ten acres in the woods but just moved back into the city. Dallas. We hate it. Me and the dogs.

Invisible Fencing, like ALL fencing, has it's good and bad points. Good point - Cost, bad point - it does not keep other animals off your property (and those animals include humans!). But unlike the last two posters I do not agree that e-fencing is useless as I've had it for over 7 years (and have found that almost everyone that has something negative to say about it doesn't actually use it!).

One thing I will say is that I NEVER leave my dogs outside if I am not home. If my dogs bark I go to the window to see what's going on. If I have to have a shower they are brought inside and they cannot go where I cannot see them. We are just about to buy another property (with 25 acres) and they will have about 1/2 to 1 acre of invisible fencing that can be seen from the house.

I.F. must be, just like physical fencing, maintained (batteries checked regularly, collars fitted properly etc..) and the dogs must be properly trained to come back from the beep and not try to go forward. I have 3 GSDs - one big hard headed male, one very driven female and a 10 week old puppy. My male will NOT go over the line for his favourite toy, a dog being walked by the house or a horse. My female won't go anywhere near the line and when the two of them get a shock (which happens about twice a year) they yelp so loud you can hear them in the house.

Something Ed has recommended, if you have a digger, climber or jumper, is to install the e-fence along the top of the physical fence. Keeps other animals out and keeps your dog from jumping or climbing over, or digging under the fence.

"I don't recommend E fences, and I believe on the box it even says it won't work with some high drive dogs."

So then a high drive dog can never be reliable off leash if trained with an e-collar? Wow, I`m surprised that police do demo`s with their high drive dogs off leash.

 Quote:

"I don't recommend E fences, and I believe on the box it even says it won't work with some high drive dogs."






So then a high drive dog can never be reliable off leash if trained with an e-collar? Wow, I’m surprised that police do demo`s with their high drive dogs off leash.

That’s not what I said nor implied, the product is targeted at Joe Average and let’s face it, Joe and Jane average don't spend nearly the time we do with our dogs in training. I don't know a great deal about E collar training except it works when done by a knowledgeable trainer and there is a big damn difference between a stim and a level ten correction. Most of the fences work with a warning tone then a FULL correction when on top of the wire. Not for me, does not fill my requirements and I would not use it with any dog that I just spent big bucks on.

Chris, I have both a physical fence in the backyard (with an e-fence wired so that it's there but cancelled out until I decide I might want it) and the e-fence in the front yard.

I love both fences. My GSD has never run thru it and will go to the approximate location of the wire. He doesn't stay 50' back but he doesn't exactly test it either. He knows it's there and that's that. It works.

I completely agree w/Lee (I think it was him) that I NEVER leave my dog outside by himself for more than 5 minutes at a time. I constantly check him. But I wouldn't never, every leave him out there and then leave the property. He's a very well trained dog and has never left the property but you just never know. Not to mention the liability if some kid came up to ring the bell to sell Girl Scout cookies or who knows what! Just last week I had my front door wide open (it was gorgeous out) and Gunnar was laying right inside the doorway. What I didn't know was the Fed Ex guy was coming up the walk. Our walkway is curved and if you are the dog standing right in the doorway, you cannot see someone walking up until he or she is right at the door. Yikes. That's what happened. Gunnar chased him into the bushes so by the time I came out, the Fed Ex guy was backed up into a tree w/only the package between him and my dog. Imagine if that happened and I wasn't home!!!

I should explain my first paragraph: the e-fence was installed in the backyard but never used. If I change my mind and find I need it, it's there. I don't want anyone to think I use it one week and turn it off the next. Nothing like that at all. My dog thinks there's nothing back there but a physical fence. Didn't want anyone thinking I'm freaking out my dog <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> !

Thanks for the input, I hadn't thought about other animals coming on the property but we do get deer.

For those that don't leave their dogs outside:
Not even in a kennel with protection from the elements? It seems they would be happier there than in a crate.
Thanks again for the input.