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Consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of electric fences before purchasing one. You should note that electric fences, or E-fences as they are commonly called, are wired with transmitters that are earthed and running through the ground. These wires will emit a noise, shock or an unpleasant smell. The odors are triggered via a special collar on your dog, to discourage the dog from going too near to the fences. Signals are transmitted to the collar should the dog venture too close and the deterrents are activated. As some Home Owners Association rules and city ordinances do not allow for regular fences, an e-fence, though expensive, may be an option. For those with no back and front yard fences, an e-fence offers a solution if you want a dog, but are unable to establish a regular fence. There are disadvantages that require one to think through. Dogs require thorough training in order for the e-fence to be successful, and it should not be used as a substitute for behavioral training. Dogs need to be taught to associate the deterrent with boundary limits. However, if this is not seen to, the e-fence would be ineffectual. Bear in mind that as with all electrical equipment, it is not guaranteed to work all the time. They can be shorted by an electrical surge or lightning strikes, though not common and digging around the perimeter can also cause problems. Flags are first used to visually denote and designate the periphery when the e-fence is first erected, however, once the dog has been taught, the flags are taken down. If they are left as they are, they can be shifted or moved by children or by machinery such as lawnmowers as well as a multitude of other factors. Once pulled out, there is a possibility of a puncture by their sharp tips. If a dog ignores the deterrent and moves past the fence, it is less likely to return inside the boundary voluntarily, and may realize that technically there is no ‘real' boundary. Many people also believe that as a deterrent, electric shocks are cruel, and are a counteractive way of eliciting the wanted behavior from your pet. Your decision regarding an e-fence needs to be evaluated according to your situation. If kept entirely indoors except for when leashed, a dogs' need to run is denied, resulting in an unhappy and maladjusted pet. This situation can be resolved with access to a dog park, however, not may are lucky enough to have a dog pak in their vicinity, so it could remain an issue. A standard height fence might seem to be the solution, but large dogs are often able to leap over these, and this can cause punctures and scrapes from chain link and wooden fence tops. Though the wound may be minor, a dogs' tendency to bite or scratch at them can make the injury worse, meaning a trip to the vet is required. An e-fence could be a more prudent choice, depending on the situation. As dogs come from different living arrangements, have unique character traits and training methods used on them, different situations call for different approaches, and there is no standard procedure that can be used across the board by dog owners. Rather, do consider carefully the needs of different circumstances after acquiring adequate knowledge in order to make the best decision possible. However, if you still decide that an e-fence is the best bet for your specific circumstances, you should note that you must be prepared to deactivate the e-fence if it does more harm than good for your dog.
Article Source: http://www.worldofarticles.net
Moses Wright owns 3 beautiful well-trained dogs. He created a pet dog problems and solutions site to help fellow dog owners stop their dog behavior problems. You can find more pet dog training tips on his site.
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