HELP! My dog found out the radio fence isn't really a fence.

[Changenow]

This dog has to be outside, his instinct is to run and dig. The radio fens was perfect for a variety of reasons and worked well for four years, until this week. The fence and collar are working fine but the dog just leaves the yard anyway. Today he got out and was chacing cars in the road when we found him.

How did he find out there wasn't a fence there? How do we convince him to believe it again?

[Bronco69]

1. Too late now, he knows!

:-)

[MuseRider]

2. I don't know

how large your yard is but my neighbors at the farm had the same problem. They ended up stringing a temporary fence, low enough for the dogs not to get over but not high enough to be really ugly and they stung it with electric fence. When they were home they would turn it on and off so the dogs never knew (I don't know why, my horses can always tell if it is off) but they dogs never challenge the fence anymore. They are Golden Retievers, I am not sure why they have not tried to dig under it but it has worked. It certainly is not as nice as an invisible fence but it is much cheaper and not as ugly as a regular fence would be. Good luck.

[Technowitch]

3. There are ways, but they depend on how much time and effort...

...you are willing to put into it.

First of all, don't let anyone tell you that an 'old dog' can't learn new things. They can and do -- just as yours did.

Your problem is that you've depended solely on that 'radio fence' to enforce the boundaries. As soon as he learned there was no lasting correction upon transgressing the line, he'll hop right over it and run along.

I've trained a number of dogs over the years, and actually you don't need those radio fences -- if you train the dog right. Yes, you read correctly: I've trained dogs to stay inside a yard, with NO fence whatsoever.

Here's what you have to do: First, on-leash, walk your dog along those borders. Do several loops, every day. Let him mark trees and such, if he wants, but the idea is to teach him that this boundary means something. Furthermore, this can also help get him to heel and follow better. After some weeks have gone by, do the same thing, only without the leash. If he crosses the line, correct him. A swat on the nose or on the behind, along with a loud "NO!" is typically all that's needed.

Finally, you will have to get used to having to be out there with him, whenever he's out there, for at least the next 6-8 weeks. He needs to be monitored, and if he transgresses the boundaries, correction and discipline must be swift and consistent. After that, you -might- let him out alone...but I would be careful. Dogs are smart, and he might take the solo situation as permission to roam again. He has to believe that he's been watched and cannot get away with stuff.

If all this is too much bother, you have only three other options. (1) Never let him outside without supervision. (2) Build a real fence. (3) Get a radio collar that delivers more painful correction.

Personally, I recommend the training.

[Changenow]

5. That is quite a program.

If you give me your solemn word that it will work I'll give it a try.

One problem is that we'll be gone for a week during that time, is it worthwhile to start it and later continue or should we start when we know we can do it continuously.

Thank you very, very much.

[Technowitch]

6. It will work

A key word when dealing with dogs: Consistency. Few things'll screw up a dog more than inconsistency.

I don't see a problem with starting now -- provided you can be reasonably certain nobody's going to let the dog roam free during the week you'll be gone. Again, that word, 'consistency.' If he gets out of the yard even once and doesn't associate a swift measure of discipline with the violation, he won't understand.

See, dogs have a concept of time that consists of "Always" and "Never." They're not so good at "Sometimes." As in, "Sometimes I'm allowed to wander and other times I'm not. This is confusing!"

As soon as you get back though, resume the training immediately. I recommend at least 2-3 times a day. And again, do NOT let him outside alone, for the time being. It will take you a while to get to that level of trust again.

I would add one thing further to my 'boundary walking' training treatise above. The notion of Reward. Here's a scenario: You're walking with the dog along the boundary. And let's say you've graduated to doing it without the leash. And then the neighbor's cat goes sauntering by -- beyond the yard's edge. Let's say your dog runs right up to the edge, but stops. Praise him, immediately! Don't be afraid to be effusive. Give him a treat, if you have some with you.

Alternatively, he might take a few steps beyond the edge, but then realize what he's done. That's when you give him another chance to "do right" -- so call him to you. Then praise him, although I'd not be quite so effusive about it.

If, finally, he won't come and you have to drag him back, be sure to let him know you're displeased. And put him back on that leash again for a few days.

The main thing is, I'm sorry to say, you won't be able to depend on that electronic fence for a while. Your smart dog there has deduced that there is in fact no particular punishment associated with wandering away. So, what this whole process does is re-establish those boundaries and teach him that there -is- discipline awaiting if he doesn't obey.

Take heart in this though: If he's smart enough to learn that the radio collar doesn't imply a 'real' discipline, he's also smart enough to re-learn the boundaries, and that his Alpha (you) wants him to respect them. At that point, the radio collar might do the job again, serving its real purpose -- which is to be a reminder, and not an actual discipline tool in and of itself.

In case you were wondering, I trained three different dogs using this method, over the last twenty years. They were a Brittany Spaniel, a Golden Retriever, and a Newfoundland. My parents even trained their Black Lab to obey the yard boundaries -- and he was, in fact, one of the stupidest dogs I ever met.

cheers,
-Technowitch

[China_cat]

4. That's the biggest problem with those

invisible fences. If the dog once goes through it and learns that the 'hit' isn't that bad compared to what he wants to do, you might as well have nothing there at all. And it may even keep him from coming back.