Chris,
Again,thank you. There's much to consider. =)

A good e-fence if properly done is just a boundary trained dog and instead of the handler holding the control and issuing a correction the fence issues a perfectly timed correction.

"3. A dog with a little bit of drive will “take the zap” to get to whatever is motivating it on the other side."

So then a high drive police dog couldn`t be called off or respond to an e-collar? You obviously haven`t owned a quality e-fence.

I have a question on these invisible fences. What happens if some bad kids come in the yard, tease the dog & get bit? I think maybe the liability risk is something to think about. Of course, this probably differs by state.

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I have a question on these invisible fences. What happens if some bad kids come in the yard, tease the dog & get bit? I think maybe the liability risk is something to think about. Of course, this probably differs by state.

Lots of critters can get in, human, dog, or otherwise and wreck serious havoc on one's life and one's dog. I would never put one in. Even if I thought I'd always be outside with the dog, there is always that one time...no thanks. Passive training devices have a really bad habit of becoming the primary ones.

I really, really dislike the notion of free access in to my yard but restricted access out.

If you're going to be outside with the dog at all times, as you say, I question the value of an e-fence. Get a good ecollar and try training the dog with it...

Cathy and Chris,

I have an electric fence. I love it. Had a break in it but that was due to landscapers planting bushes, not animals.

I understand your points Chris but, if it makes a difference, I taught my dog that when I say, "It's OK Gunnar", he knows he can walk thru the field without getting zapped. On or off leash, he understands that it's safe and he trots on thru. He never tries to go thru without my reassurance that it's ok. He really knows the difference and the e-fence is a real blessing to have. I never leave him outside alone for more than 2 or 3 minutes. I live in a great neighborhood with no neighborhood dogs that get out of their own yard or anything, crime rate is zero and neighborhood kids are just nice! But you just never know so I don't leave him outside alone for much longer than to grab something and come back.

The fence is just a great second precaution to have. I consider my dog very well trained but love having that added security <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.

As a whole, electric fencing doesn't work all that well with higher drive dogs, they tend to 'take the burn' & run thru it when the outside temptation is high enough & then you have a dog 'at large' because there is zero incentive to come back thru it to return to the yard. I have know of many field labs, rots etc that will run thru the fencing at will even with2 heavy duty fence collars on. JMO
I have a 6 foot stockade fence around my sides & back yard to contain my dogs & keep undesirable 4 & 2 legged critters OUT ! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I also keep an eye on my dogs since both have scaled 5 ft fences in the past & could without alot of effort jump out of a 6' enclosure if the desire were great enough.

Dear One and All,
I can't begin to tell you how much I've appreciated this dialogue! All of you have good points and have given me a number of them to test and consider. Currently, he has not broken his boundaries that I've taught him with his E-Collar. I must test him further on this one. So far he has not continued his pursuit of chasing rabbits and squirrels into our neighbors yards. He will end his chase and come when called--however, that has not been tested with another dog or a 2 legged intruder. Friends of course are not an issue. As a note too, if I call him and he's outside of his yard, I do think he'll come to me. I've tried testing his recall by throwing his loved Frisbee across property lines. When he broke the line, I gave him a pretty good zip. Not enough for a yelp, but certainly got his attention. Then, I told him to come, which he did without hesitation. If any of you would like to suggest how I can be doing better with the E-collar, please feel free to do so.

Roger,

I have not owned an e-fence at all. I don’t believe it would serve a purpose in my dogs’ lives and mine.

I do believe, and have seen, high drive dogs being called off. I just don’t believe, that minus all other stimuli, that the correction from a passive gizmo planted in the ground is a good idea for my dogs. Or, at least they are not the best idea. It is my (me personally) philosophy that good constant and consistent training will always be better than some passive gizmo.

I do understand that some people swear by in-ground fences. And, if they work for them great. I have chosen to not use one. I would not, and do not, say that e-fences are not worth anything. I am just saying they do not work for me.