We have a fairly good sized backyard with a 4 - 5' split rail fence backed by chicken wire. Other than finding ways to dig under it, to date this has been a pretty good containment system. On any given day I usually let Suzzie out in the backyard unsupervised for maybe a total of an hour. This is usually broken up into 10 minute chunks throughout the day. From time to time she'll also go in the back yard with the kids. This isn't quite "unsupervised", but it's not really supervised either.

Just as I was letting her out the other day, she spied a squirrel walking along the fence. As I opened the door, she took off running at top speed, caught up with the squirrel and chased it along the fence. The squirrel jumped to a tree just outside our yard and Suzzie made a last minute jump... and went over the fence. She didn't clear it, she basically jumped on top of it and then jumped down.

Everty since, she's been fixated on that tree. Every time she goes outside she goes first to that tree to see if that squirrel is there (it never is). If I'm not right there with her, she'll jump the fence. At night, when I'm trying to get her to go potty and then come back in; she doesn't. She's on that tree.

I'm really bummed that I can't let her into the backyard unsupervised. As I'm typing this it's time for our walk, but I'm waiting to finish my cup of coffee (and post this message). She knows it's walk time and wakes up with lots of energy ready to go. She's getting fairly stir crazy. Usually, I'd just put her in the backyard so I could putter around for a few more minutes before we leave without worrying about her.

I suspect what I need at this point is either a remote electronic collar to teach avoidance or a wireless fence collar to get her to keep her distance from the entire fence. I don't know which is the better route or if there's a better option. I priced the Dogtra 280NCP, longer prongs, one of those cinch-it collars, and Ed's training DVD at close to $270. That's a lot of money for "just a dog collar" (as my wife says).

Are there any collars that work both with a wireless fence and a remote collar? Why is the Dogtra so expensive and why is it better than something I could get for < $100? I know there are lots of good things about having a remote dog collar and I've often thought I'd eventually get one. It seems that just getting a remote dog collar may not entirely solve the problem of her jumping the fence the same way an electric fence line would. That would teach avoidance of the entire fence line. I really don't know what to do. (BTW, Suzzie is just a few days shy of 7 months now).

This option won't help at all with the dog collar part (as in having another training tool separate from the fence issue), but you can find a pretty inexpensive electric fence kit at lowes/home depot which you could set up along the top of the fence, as well as a line at the bottom to discourage digging if you so choose. It can be arranged so that you only turn it on when you go outside and then flip it off when you come inside, but even IF a child touched it, they would not be HARMED (they won't be happy, but neither will they be HURT).

We have used this around out chicken coop/yard and it took Falcon hitting that wire only two times to convince him there were NO chickens he wanted to bother.

There is a new product on the market that allows you to pinpoint areas that you want avoided via collar for pet containment systems. Basically it is an electronic disk that you place near any location to keep the dog away ie: garbage cans, kitchen counters..and in your case, the squirrel tree.

I happen to be in Petsmart looking for a waterproof collar to replace my ecollar that was chewed when I saw this item. It can be found in the electronic collar section of the store. This might help you with your problem as you dont have to supervise the dog to give it a correction.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755424

Howard

 Quote: Howard Knauf

There is a new product on the market that allows you to pinpoint areas that you want avoided via collar for pet containment systems. Basically it is an electronic disk that you place near any location to keep the dog away ie: garbage cans, kitchen counters..and in your case, the squirrel tree.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755424

Howard

This is a great idea... had not heard of this yet.

bump :-) Looking for more info on the relative value of ecollars and the possibility of a combined ecollar/efence.

Check your local laws.

In my city, electric fences are only permitted in agriculture zones for livestock. You cannot use them within city limits or for any purpose other than livestock.

Underground wireless fences are fine, since they only shock your dog, and not just any Joe walking by (or cats, wildlife, etc).

Personally, I would use electricity as a last result. I had the same problem as you with my dog fixating on cats after he saw one sitting on my fence one day. I used a long line, praise and corrections (mainly voice) and he is now much better (unless he actually sees a cat; but at least that is not all he thinks about now).

I also have two escape artists and simple fence modifications keep them at home.

I really find hot wires are very useful to keeping the dogs away from fences. I have Shih Tzus and while they'd never JUMP a fence they dig -- so I keep a wire along the fence about 8" up. Problem solved. I have hit the fence by mistake and so has my son. While it's not something you'd CHOOSE to do again - it had no lasting effects--LOL!

You can buy a complete setup from Tractor Supply or feed stores. I find they're cheaper than Petsmart. I have had one at several different houses.