HELP! I have a Houdini dog

I think there are collars that you can use for dogs. My brother-in-law has one for their dog. I don't know if both dogs use them or not.

Straygirl said:

Any recommendations for a good brand of invisible fence that we can install ourselves?

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Sure. Here's a cheap easy install.

Make sure collar on dog does not come off. Take a strong leash and clip to dog. Secure dog to something really heavy when outside. Now depending on what size leash you want will depend on your wallet.

Total cost should be under $25.00

As you see it is a simple and cheap self install.

Make sure collar on dog does not come off. Take a strong leash and clip to dog. Secure dog to something really heavy when outside. Now depending on what size leash you want will depend on your wallet.

Click to expand...

If I were going that route, I'd get a harness rather than a collar, and a trolley run (50 or 100 feet if you have an active dog) so that the dog isn't tied to one spot in the yard and can run around and get some real exercise.

I just posted on the Invisible Fence brand (which I love now -- it's definitely not cheap though), but if you get one of those cheapie solutions from a pet store, please be sure it gives warning beeps and be sure to do proper training... otherwise it is cruel IMO because the dog may not know what it's supposed to do and will cower down into a state of learned helplessness.

http://www.k9electronics.com/product/PC10-PIF300/PIF300WirelessContainmentSystem.aspx


I like that product better than regular invisible fencing, because they can't just run through it. It is also portable. Like other invisible fencing though, you must train them to "use" it/respect it. You can't just put it up and assume they'll figure it out.

Lolas_Dad said:

Sure. Here's a cheap easy install.

Make sure collar on dog does not come off. Take a strong leash and clip to dog. Secure dog to something really heavy when outside. Now depending on what size leash you want will depend on your wallet.

Total cost should be under $25.00

As you see it is a simple and cheap self install.

Click to expand...

Yep, and then he chews through the leash, just like he did last time.

MrsJohnnyG said:

If I were going that route, I'd get a harness rather than a collar, and a trolley run (50 or 100 feet if you have an active dog) so that the dog isn't tied to one spot in the yard and can run around and get some real exercise.

I just posted on the Invisible Fence brand (which I love now -- it's definitely not cheap though), but if you get one of those cheapie solutions from a pet store, please be sure it gives warning beeps and be sure to do proper training... otherwise it is cruel IMO because the dog may not know what it's supposed to do and will cower down into a state of learned helplessness.

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I looked at the wireless ones but I don't think they would work for my property. My property is shaped like a large rectanle and the house sits right in the corner, so the transmitter would need to be pretty much in the middle of the side yard.

I looked at the wireless ones but I don't think they would work for my property. My property is shaped like a large rectanle and the house sits right in the corner, so the transmitter would need to be pretty much in the middle of the side yard.

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You're describing the cheap off-the-shelf kinds... the Invisible Fence brand (unfortunately, not cheap) can handle any size or shape property because it's a wire that is buried along your property line. We have a crazy-shaped property with our house sort of along one side but it follows exactly where we want it perfectly.

Get a tie out not made of leash material...

Pepper said:

Get a tie out not made of leash material...

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Agreed, there are nice thin chains.

They make cable ties with heavy duty snaps... we have to keep our rottie on one when we aren't home and he's outside... he jumps the fence. He'll chew through nylon or cotten and just snaps a regular chain so he gets a cable one made especially for dogs his weight. My little dog who likes to dig out or chew hers off also is on a cable when we aren't home and she's outside. They were staying inside while we were gone but they've decided they enjoy trashing the house and it got irritating so now they're stuck outside. They do have shade/shelter though so it's not a big deal.

The ones shown here are like what we have... they make them for specific dog weights so be sure to get one strong enough to hold your dog if he pulls. http://www.nextag.com/dog-tie-out-cable/shop-html

So I take it that no one can recommend a good brand of invisible (buried, not wireless) fence that we can install ourselves?

Straygirl said:

So I take it that no one can recommend a good brand of invisible (buried, not wireless) fence that we can install ourselves?

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I just did a Google search for "wired self-install invisible fence" and a lot of results came up. I don't want to post any of them here because I can't vouch for anything I haven't used, but one of them was being sold at $499. That may sound expensive but I just paid nearly $1500 for mine and I can already tell you it's worth every penny -- my stress level has gone down incredibly knowing that my puppies are safe and I don't have to keep all of them on leash every second they're outside.

I don't mind paying around $500 for one, I just want to make sure it is a good one. I don't want to spend that much money for something that isn't going to work or isn't safe for Phoenix.

Well you have to train the dog along with the fence, the fence doesn't do everything.

and remember an in ground fence dosn't keep stray dogs from comming into your yard when your not watching and attacking your dogs

Straygirl - I was just on Overstock.com (not even looking for dog-related stuff at all) and this popped up:

http://www.overstock.com/Gifts-Flowers/In-ground-Radio-Fence/3679928/product.html

For $159, I doubt you can find anything cheaper that is an in-ground wire solution. They also have a "deluxe" version (not sure what the difference is; maybe it comes with more wire?).

I would just urge you if you do this yourself, be sure to put in plenty of training time... that is key IMO for making this a humane solution that your dog actually loves rather than dreads.