[ianamke]

I have 6 fenced acres that are dog/deer proof--even for my Australian Shepherds. The vehicle gate is the problem. One of my dogs will run full speed to the gate when ever she hears it open and will get out before it's closes--it's a battery operated gate with a timer. She will follow a car out as well. I've had a couple of training sessions with a vibrating Garmin collar but so far I'm not confident that she is 'getting' it. The frequent presence of Deer and Turkeys near the gate make it difficult. I hate to do it but I'm considering some kind of invincible fence option with a shock collar. I'd love some suggestions to help solve this.
Thanks in advance,
Ian

 

[Lillith]

I would start with the same method I would use to teach them not to door dash. You're just upsizing with the gate. Here's a video from Zak George breaking it down. There's a lot of fluff at the beginning of the video, but keep watching, it eventually gets to the substance. It's even got a bunch of random cats as the distraction.

Small steps are the key. You're not going to overload the dog with too much stimulation all at once.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

It sounds like the gate opens if you are not present? Then the dog dashes out? (And also when you are present?)

When you are present you can train it. Impulse control is what training you seek.

When you are not present you may have to resort to an invisible fence option. You can't train what you are not there to change!

 

[T Lledsmar]

I have a very similar situation, there are a couple cattle gates that I don't want the dogs crossing, even if they are open. I was "on the fence" 😆 so to speak. Invisible fence was the solution. I don't have "door dashers" but if you open a gate long enough to get a tractor through , by the time you walk back to close it a curious dog will go through. Now the doggies thing the fence shoots lightning and they know it's "range". It's not as gentle as I'd like to be, I really am one foot in on any type of Ecollar, but a lightning bolt to the neck is a lot nicer than letting fido pick his boundaries and having him get run over or shot by a trespassing hunter.

Oh, most importantly. This method works with no treats. I will not do treat work. AND this method requires no commands. A dog cannot hear "sit" , "stay", or any verbal command while a tractor is thundering through. My dogs learned quickly that the only time they go through the gate is when a leash is on, and a sit,stay,and break are issued.

 

[ianamke]

I have a very similar situation, there are a couple cattle gates that I don't want the dogs crossing, even if they are open. I was "on the fence" 😆 so to speak. Invisible fence was the solution. I don't have "door dashers" but if you open a gate long enough to get a tractor through , by the time you walk back to close it a curious dog will go through. Now the doggies thing the fence shoots lightning and they know it's "range". It's not as gentle as I'd like to be, I really am one foot in on any type of Ecollar, but a lightning bolt to the neck is a lot nicer than letting fido pick his boundaries and having him get run over or shot by a trespassing hunter.

Oh, most importantly. This method works with no treats. I will not do treat work. AND this method requires no commands. A dog cannot hear "sit" , "stay", or any verbal command while a tractor is thundering through. My dogs learned quickly that the only time they go through the gate is when a leash is on, and a sit,stay,and break are issued.

This is exactly my problem and I think I'll have to go with an Ecollar. Do you have any suggestions on a brand, type, etc.?

 

[ianamke]

Thanks, everyone. Great suggestions! I'm now feeling confident that I can solve this.

 

[T Lledsmar]

This is exactly my problem and I think I'll have to go with an Ecollar. Do you have any suggestions on a brand, type, etc.?

The only one I've used is "extreme dog fence by perimeter technologies" on amazon. I like it, it has variable power levels and apparently you can change the range from the wire but I haven't tried to do that .

It's not necessary to bury it all the way around, they send you a quality wire that can sit in the sun. I just stapled it up to my fence posts and only buried it at the gates.

One thing to note, if you want off limits areas within the fence, they send you the twisted wire and splices, but double your wire because that can only be done with a double perimeter wire, according to the directions.

 

[ianamke]

The only one I've used is "extreme dog fence by perimeter technologies" on amazon. I like it, it has variable power levels and apparently you can change the range from the wire but I haven't tried to do that .

It's not necessary to bury it all the way around, they send you a quality wire that can sit in the sun. I just stapled it up to my fence posts and only buried it at the gates.

One thing to note, if you want off limits areas within the fence, they send you the twisted wire and splices, but double your wire because that can only be done with a double perimeter wire, according to the directions.

Thanks. I'll have a look at it.

 

[T Lledsmar]

Thanks. I'll have a look at it.

There's 2 different ones, and I'm told the only difference is that the stronger one has a different collar than what I got and is capable of delivering a higher level shock. I haven't found a need to turn it up very high, nowhere near max.

 

[Poppy14]

Keep in mind that the effectiveness of an invisible fence will depend on why the dog is going through the gate.

A curious dog ambling through? That will work.

A prey driven dog that is chasing deer, turkeys, or cars? Very high chance dog will run through anyway, even with the shock. Many dogs have ended up on the other side of an invisible fence this way and been unable to get back through, because once the chase is over they are very aware of the shock.

 

[T Lledsmar]

Keep in mind that the effectiveness of an invisible fence will depend on why the dog is going through the gate.

A curious dog ambling through? That will work.

A prey driven dog that is chasing deer, turkeys, or cars? Very high chance dog will run through anyway, even with the shock. Many dogs have ended up on the other side of an invisible fence this way and been unable to get back through, because once the chase is over they are very aware of the shock.

Good point. I'd recommend trash breaking if they are running game. I suppose the chances of a wild animal or other distraction being present during OP having the gate open are pretty slim. I also find that my dogs are hyper focused on whatever I'm bringing through the gate most times.