Bark

I agree with Justwannabeme and the others. Our dog (of 14 years) was too smart and curious for his own good. He always came back when called but that wasn’t good enough. Electric fence was the only way we could get him to stay when we were not watching him. Never had to turn it on again after the second time. In this day and age, if you have a dog bigger than a Maltese the liability issues are enormous. Even if the dog didn’t nip somebody when its loose, if somebody says it did you can have some real problems. Just my opinion but now days, I would rather be cruel, with a little shock, than take chances of losing the dog and getting sued.

Patrick Campbell

If you want,try reading "Smarter than you think" by Paul Loeb.

We do not have a fence and we don't use a leash with our dog.

wannadiesel

I second that recommendation. Saved my dog.

chipmonk

caesar millan has several dvd's out, and he understands how dogs think and how to change their behavior better than anyone i've ever seen- he is the dog whisperer, after all!

Mr. Big Ram

DING DING DING!!!! We have a winner!!!

Jfaulkner

X2. I have a friend that is a dealer for PetSafe products and that "super shock" collar or as they call it stubborn dog collar will wake them up. He had a small dog that was smart also. He used a regular collar for years and the dog figured out that if he laid close to the fence and let the collar beep the battery would die easily. However those stubborn dog collars use 9v batteries unlike the watch battery the standard collar uses so it lasts forever. Even with the large collar the dog would still try his luck until he cranked the fence up, which just widens the distance between the wire and the shock. All the way up the dog has to deal with the shock for almost 20ft, even stupid dogs won't do that more than once.

GIT-R-DONE

He trains the owners, not really the dogs. .

The owner/dog needs properly trained. Setting up more obstacles for him to figure out will only cause you more frustration in the end. Try the reading listed above. If that dosent work, call Ceasar.

GIT-R-DONE

Sorry, but we had something similar to that, and once he figured out if he put up with the pain, freedom wasnt that far away, it never worked after that, as he would run through it. Problem he had was coming back.... as he didnt want to go through the pain to come home, just to leave.

1-2-3

"caesar millan has several dvd's out, and he understands how dogs think"

I'd be willing to bet that for every sucess they guy has on tv, there's two or three failures that don't get shown.

Patrick Campbell

wanna, did you read the newer book "Heart of the matter" I did not yet. I didn't know anyone really read either of these books.

My dog is not perfect, but she is like 90% perfect. But I know her faults. The biggest problem lies when other owners have their uncontrolled dogs off leash. If a dog comes running along and starts jumping on my dog before I have a chance to tell her to stay with me then they might go running off chasing each other. NO GOOD.

Otherwise we can walk off leash within a foot of a barking dog behind an electrical fence and she will stay with me. Or walk right past another dog on a leash and she is fine.

I am going to take her to the beach (which she is scared of!) for the first time since reading the book so that should be interesting.


We would still like a fence because our neighbors dog (who isn't trained!!!) comes onto our property and bites me and my dog. Last time it broke skin and I was bleeding. Pretty upset about that!

Anyway to the original poster, try picking up this book "Smarter than you think" or "Heart of the Matter" by Paul Loeb at the library and give it a try. It is at least worth a try.

brainfade

Thanks everybody. The books sounds like just what we need. He's a good dog, I just have to figure out how to talk his language.

stinkindiesel

I've got your dog's sister. "Invisible fence" shock collar didn't work; she'd howl and yip as she climbed over our 6-ft chain link fence.
Final solution? I bought some 18" tip-ins at homey depot. They fasten to the top of each post and have 3grooves for wire or what not. I put them up and fastened on some rabbit fence. She went for it a couple of times- she'd climb up, nudge the bottom of the mesh, then jump back down. Problem solved.

ssandlin

Electric wire worked for me. Had a Springer spaniel and a Brittany spaniel that could squirm through my field fence. I put up the wire and it only took one shock and they never tried again.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Dieseldude4x4

The invisible fence works for my four, even the 140 pound Rottie. The 110 pound Rottie hasn't had her collar on for over a year now. She knows exactly where the line is. Best investment I've made pet wise in a lot of years.

wannadiesel

No, I haven't read another dog training book since because I haven't felt the need. I'm pretty happy with my dog. She was a found dog (abused and totally untrained basket case), so she still has some "issues" related to that and I guess she always will. I was about ready to give up on her as a lost cause before I found "Smarter Than You Think."