V dog family I need your help

[blue04]

Update: What do you all think about electric invisible fence ?

Works very well, but two things to consider:
(1) You have to keep a close eye on the batteries in the collar. If the battery dies, the collar stops working and most dogs will figure that out. Also, most models have a "warning beep" that sounds when the dog gets within a few feet of the boundary. Some dogs are smart enough to figure out that if they lie down near the boundary the collar will beep (but not shock) continuously until the battery dies. Then once the battery dies, they can roam.

(2) If you can't keep the collar on the dog, the e-fence is worthless. I stopped using the e-fence because I had a dog that constantly got his collar off.

[Rudy Baga]

My dog can leap a 4 foot high chain link fence and climb an eight foot. I went with an eight foot deer fence with wooden posts on 15 foot centers at $5 per foot plus gates. That has held him but the neighbor had 25 cats and they crawl under the fence. He now has 21 left.

[ryanr]

Update: What do you all think about electric invisible fence ?

Personally I think it works extremely well overall, especially so if you already have a well-trained, mostly obedient dog. I think the dogs quickly learn their boundary and actually become more relaxed. We had 3 Labradors on it successfully at once for years, only 1 of which was exceptionally obedient. Don't jyst put the fence up and let them figure it out, do the prescribed boundary training and you will have much better success. You will still likely have to do some refresher training on occasion if you have an escape. We probably had about 4-5 escapes over about 10 years after the initial training and break-in period. To me that was acceptable, especially since usually it was the result of a dead battery.

Blue hit it with his 2 points (certainly with replacing the collar batteries periodically) although even with 3 labs on the system together we didnt experience the 2nd point he made, except on a rare occasion (as aresult of he dogs playing with each other.) I can't imagine a dog can actually figure out the constant warning beep will correlate to wearing out the battery. Sounds more Luke coincidence to me but I suppose anything is possible.

[Mike50]

If you go with the above ground I'd be glad to come give you a hand with it. I'll bring my 2 dogs with so they can sing in the choir too

[orhunter]

Wasn't it W.C Fields who said, "A man who hates kids and dogs isn't all bad." All humor aside, I think your neighbor is mentally ill.

If it's the barking he has a problem with, you probably need a fence that blocks your dog's view of what makes them bark. The standard fence in this neck of the woods is 6' cedar. Practical for a yard but not for three acres.

Maybe you could look at your neighbor as a form of recreation since he can't be dealt with in a friendly way. You could try getting a couple of pea fowl to drive him over the edge.

[Steven]

My neighbor just put up a 3 rail vinyl fence backed by Redbrand wire. It looks really good so I've been considering doing the same.

[ryanr]

Griff: this might be a stretch given the overreactive attitude of your neighbor but if your dogs are only barking at him from your property he really has no beef and certainly no right to pepper spray them (now he's given them a reason to dislike him) but perhaps approach him in your most reasonable manner possible and suggest that if he meets them they may begin to stop barking at him. A neighbor of mine had a couple dogs that would go nuts barking when I walked by, usually with my own dog. They eventually started to calm down because I would always talk to them in a calm, positive voice as I walked by. It didn't happen overnight but it did improve and these weren't well-trained dogs as I suspect your Griffins probably are. Ask him to talk calmly to them as he peddled by, as he would greet a neighbor as he rode by.

[Jay]

Update: What do you all think about electric invisible fence ?

I really like it. I have a double setup. I have my whole yard (approx 3 acres) with just the underground fence, I wouldn't rely on it 100% for an unsupervised dog, but I like it for when I'm out working in the yard or out with the kids. My other setup is off the back of the house and it has better containment potential as its a mix of 6' deer fence with a strand of invisible fence at the bottom and at the top.

[Kyle]

Would a bark collar solve the problem?
Kyle

[Griffsmom]

Griffman,

We have the underground fence and love it. We did follow the training recommended with the flags and I can tell you that the dog that was the trouble runner, has never to this day crossed the fence line. In fact we just watched two bunnies in our yard the other night and he chased to the boundary and stopped. We can adjust our boundary by increasing how close he can get to the fence. We are also in the country and its probably covering 4 acres total. Good luck.

[orhunter]

G Mom: Were they "bunnies" out of Hugh's stable. I'd have chased them for sure.

[Tom Healy]

Jamie: If you get one of those fancy underground units, don't forget to get an extra collar for the FIB, so he gets 'lit up' when he crosses into your property, pepper spray in hand.

[GRIFF MAN]

Jamie: If you get one of those fancy underground units, don't forget to get an extra collar for the FIB, so he gets 'lit up' when he crosses into your property, pepper spray in hand.

I like how you think Healy !!
Bottom line is the guy likes to cause problems and as a retired doctor has time to find it ! I have lived here for 20 + years and never had a problem with my neighbors and this guy moves in and learns to ride a bike and all of sudden .....issues !


I do want to take this moment and thank everyone for your help and advice. I have been overwelmed with PM's and emails with suggestions and ideas to solve this problem. I have had some of you even offer great deals on some invisible fence systems.

I know we can all get after each other on this web page from time to time but we truely all have a common interest and we truely are a "disfunctional" family !

Thanks again for all your support. If this doesnt work we will go with Stu's idea of a late night mission
GriffMan

[Griffsmom]

Jamie, we use Sportdog and have never had a problem with it. I also have a petsafe system that you can have. I have a friend that installed the whole thing and then gave the dog away, so it was never used. You can just go to TSC or or Farm and Barn and get a spool of wire for it.
Let me know if you are interested in it and its yours. Shelley