57 replies to this topic

[Javaluva]

How deep down must you dig to install an electronic fence? Looks like I am going to get one as this will be the only way to keep my mutts out of my yard. The landscaping got finished yesterday and the entire yard was blocked off except for a small opening so that I could squeeze through to move the sprinkler. I put a tall planter there so as to conceal the opening, but that didn't work. The devils found it and must of had a ball. There were paw imprints all over the freshly layed mulch, a nicely dug hole in the mulch and crap on the grass. And I paid to have a nice run made behind the garage. My kids are so ungrateful.

You only have to bury the wire a couple of inches at most.

Sorry to hear about your new yard!

[CAB]

Mandy - did you train your dogs? If so, is it easy? I'm thinking about going to PSP to purchase one and then ask the people who did my yard if they'd install it for me.

[Javaluva]

Mandy - did you train your dogs? If so, is it easy? I'm thinking about going to PSP to purchase one and then ask the people who did my yard if they'd install it for me.

The only one I have with a collar on for the fence is Mia and she's in an enclosed fence. The way I trained her was just a shortend version of how you'd train a dog who was learning the fence in a wide open area. Essentially, I just had to show Mia where she could go (anywhere inside the fence) and where she couldn't (right next to the fence). Because I had a barrier already in place to work with, I didn't really have to worry about her running through the underground fence. She caught on pretty fast that the warning tone meant stay back or you'll get zapped. I just had to reinforce to her that backing away from the fence was a good thing as soon as she heard the tone emitted by the collar.

I lead her around the perimeter on leash, giving her treats to show her that the yard was OK and then led her to the fence until the tone sounded and then backed her away from the fence. When she was comfortable with that, I let her wander around on her own, but the first time she got zapped, she was afraid and went and sat in the barn next to the water pump and wouldn't move. I had to lead her around again to show her the yard was safe, throwing sticks and tennis balls for her, etc. By the second time she got zapped, she figured out that the warning tone meant get back ASAP and because she alredy knew that she could wander around the dog yard safely, she'd retreat to the yard--no more digging under the fence!!

I have my field set to minimum (which is only about 12-18 inches of shock zone) in order to just keep her away from the above ground fence. Obviously without a barrier, the field should be set to something much wider to keep a dog from running through (at least 10'). At full speed, a dog could easily clear the 12-18" zap zone without even blinking (not a problem in my case as I have the above ground fence).

You really don't need someone to install if for you. I did a relatively small fenced area along with the perimeter of my barn so the dogs could have indoor access in about a half hour. It really is quite easy! The hardest part was figuring out how to get the collar charged and then going through the test phase to ensure the collar was working properly and the dog wasn't getting zapped by false signals from an alien source.

[CAB]

I have my field set to minimum (which is only about 12-18 inches of shock zone) in order to just keep her away from the above ground fence. Obviously without a barrier, the field should be set to something much wider to keep a dog from running through (at least 10'). At full speed, a dog could easily clear the 12-18" zap zone without even blinking (not a problem in my case as I have the above ground fence).

You really don't need someone to install if for you.

Oh yes I do! I'll get one of the guys who did my yard to do it. That way, if they screw something up, they will fix it.

I can just see my dogs running full force through the fence no problem. If I set the barrier wide, then there goes the area they have to play on the driveway. I'm hoping that I can get away with a small shock zone like the one you have set up.

[Javaluva]

Oh yes I do! I'll get one of the guys who did my yard to do it. That way, if they screw something up, they will fix it.

I can just see my dogs running full force through the fence no problem. If I set the barrier wide, then there goes the area they have to play on the driveway. I'm hoping that I can get away with a small shock zone like the one you have set up.

Just be sure you do tons of training so the dogs are 100% proofed before you let them off leash and I'm sure you'll be OK. Your system should come with a training video or DVD as well.

[CAB]

Just be sure you do tons of training so the dogs are 100% proofed before you let them off leash and I'm sure you'll be OK. Your system should come with a training video or DVD as well.

Ok, thanks! I'll have to watch the video at my mom's house. I only have a 13 inch TV and it's not VCR nor DVD compatible.

[duboisdobes]

You can rent a gas edger - in a normal subdivision lot it should be easy. You can actually lay it on top of the ground...I guess the grass will grow over it, but we chose to bury it just to be safe. The instructions say 1-3". It has worked wonders with girls.

[CAB]

You can rent a gas edger - in a normal subdivision lot it should be easy. You can actually lay it on top of the ground...I guess the grass will grow over it, but we chose to bury it just to be safe. The instructions say 1-3". It has worked wonders with girls.

The sod is new and can be easily lifted so it can be buried.

[CAB]

I'm wondering if the fence can be installed when the grass meets the driveway? I don't want them having access to the grass at all.

Edited by CAB, 22 May 2007 - 12:40 PM.

[Karen A]

Cheryl,
Don't worry. You'll be enjoying your newly landscaped yard for years to come I've lived where I couldn't bury the entire wire due to tree roots and lots of trees, so I just ran it along the bottom of the trees. But, it sounds like your new sod will work perfect for burying. Dubois is right, just rent an electric edger and run it were you want the wire to go. In an average size suburban lot, this should take no time at all. Then just tuck your wire in. I hate to see you pay someone to do this when it's so easy. I know! Invite Frank and I over for dinner and we'll do it for you Great idea!
I'll call you in a bit

[CAB]

I'm having the invisible fence installed tomorrow. The guys who did the yard are going to put it in. I know everyone says that they are easy to install, but I'd rather let them do it. I plan on buying the one that Karen has. I hope my kids catch on quick. I have a temporary fence up right now to keep them out of the yard. Would you recommend that I keep this up while they are in training?

[CAB]

karen,

Which one do you have?

Cheryl

Basic Contain & Train
Deluxe Contain & Train
UltraSmart Contain & Train
Advanced Trainer 300 yd
UltraSmart Trainer 300 yd
UltraSmart In-Ground Fence

[CAB]

I had to make a run to K9 for food, so I ended up buying an in-ground fence (PetSafe) from there. The temporary fencing is still up and won't be coming down until around the 31st, but I can work on the first few steps of training until then. I'm pretty confident that this will work after having tested it out on myself yesterday.

[bumpster]

So if you keep the collar on will you stay off the grass?

Edited by bumpster, 29 May 2007 - 08:29 PM.

[CAB]

We practiced boundary flag awareness today. All I did was lead them over to the temporary fence and give a correction on the leash. We walked away and they got praised. The booklet says to perform 3 training sessions per day (for 2 days), each lasting 10-15 minutes. We only practiced once today for about 5 minutes. That's all the time that Cocoa needed to catch on. Val took a little longer, but eventually he caught on to. I think I scared Cocoa. I didn't mean to geez. She went over to my brother and wanted up on his lap.

Edited by CAB, 28 May 2007 - 07:14 PM.

[CAB]

Looks like the invisible fence is a success! The dogs don't go anywhere near where they aren't suppose to be. A took a portion of the temporary fence down earlier this week and neither one has crossed over. The entire fence is coming down this weekend. Whoooooo Hooooo!

[Karen A]

Yahoo! Now everyone will be happy

[CAB]

I won't mention any names, but someone wanted to play with the hose tonight so I took her electronic collar off, ran quick to turn off the hose so that I could switch the nozels and by the time I ran back over to the hose, she is peeing on my new lawn! Oh the little outsmarted me!