In order to keep your dog from running away, and perhaps to protect strangers from your dog as well, you’ll need to have some sort of fencing in place. In some parts of the country, standard fencing is also common. For whatever reason, some people would prefer not to put up a wooden or chain-link fence, perhaps because of the cost or the aesthetic qualities.
In these cases, an electronic dog fence seemed a good idea to keep your dog inside the yard. However, there are some real disadvantages to this kind of device, so please take them into account before making a decision.
First of all, the equipment is supposed to provide a shock on your dog’s collar when he gets too close to leaving the yard. Some dogs, however, are willing to put up with a little bit of a shock in order to escape the yard and go running after a tempting or some other curiosity. On the way back in, on the other hand, your dog may stay away in order to avoid getting shocked again.
Another real possibility is that a stranger who wishes to do harm to enter your yard at any time and steal your dog or injure him in some way. This is especially a concern with one of the more loving and gentle breeds (like the retrievers) who may give in to a clever stranger.
This is one way for you to lose your precious puppy, especially if he happens to be of a particularly valuable or rare breed. Anyone could simply come onto your yard when you’re not around and take your puppy away.
Your dog is not the only one in danger if you have an electronic fence. Imagine what can happen if an innocent child were to walk on your yard and your aggressive dog decided that the boy or girl was a threat. I’m sure you can think of what would happen next, and it has happened before.
The young child could end up getting bitten and be left with physical (and perhaps more long-lasting emotional) wounds. The dog too would suffer, as he would probably have to be put down in this kind of situation. This is why we believe that having a standard fence is a far better option for most families.
