Hi, I have an 11 month old Male GSD that's pretty high strung and determined, although he's pretty well behaved when it's just me and him. My problem is that I have to put him in the house when I leave or he will chase my car. I've gotten Ed's DVD on ecollar training and have gotten an Innotek Field Pro Scout. So far I've just been getting my dog used to the collar. My other problem is that my dog also terrorizes my neighbor's friends and chases any car in or out of the drive way. (my drive way is about 1/4 mile long.) On further thought, I'm beginning to think the "contain and train system" might be the best solution. I could let my dog stay outside when I have to go places and I could keep him closer to my house so he wouldn't terrorize my neighbor! I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with Innoteks contain and train system, and if it would be effective on an strong willed GSD. I'd sure appreciate any input and/or advice, Thanks!

You're talking about an underground fence, right?

The problem with those is that a dog, intent on going after something, can blow through them, taking the "shock", so to speak, and then is stuck outside the boundary.

A second problem that my family experienced was if the fence went out (which did happen on occasion) our dog, who did test the fence, wandered out.

I don't think a dog is ever safe left alone with only an e fence to keep them in.

Thanks for your input. It is an underground fence and I was kind of afraid that my dog would charge right through. If I could get the dog to not chase me and let me get out of sight, he would hang out close to the house. I've had my neighbor come let him out after I'd gone and the dog just hung out on the porch until I got back. Maybe the ecollar will work enough to let me get out of the drive way! Or maybe I need to work more diligently on training! Anyway, thanks!

Tim,

My GSD is 14 months old, and we still crate him when no one will be home. I work out of a home office, my wife works part time, and we have two kids still living at home, so he is never crated all day.

Do you have to leave him home for long periods of time? You mentioned that your neighbor lets him out at times. Could you arrange for some one to come into your home, let him out of the crate and walk him, then crate him again?

Rich

Rich,
I'm single and retired so I'm home most all the time. I used to leave Wolfie in his crate when I'd go run errands, but for the last month or so I've been able to leave him loose in the house without coming home to any damage! (and I don't worry about whether I forgot to lock the front door behind me when he's inside!) I just hate to leave him inside when when I'm gone for an hour or two, especially with summer coming.
My neighbor/friend only let Wolfie out once for me as an "experiment"! My problem is that Wolfie chases my neighbors friends cars too and his friends are scared to get out of their car until I come get Wolfie. My ideal situation would be if I could keep Wolfie confined to two acre area around my house that wouldn't include my driveway!
I'm thinking that maybe if Wolfie does go through the fence he would still be on my property and he's probably determined enough to charge back through to get to the house. I'm thinking over a period of time he might get tired of going through the fence and decide it's not worth the effort! I would just hate to spend the money, effort and time to install the underground fence if it's not going to effective.
Thanks,
Tim