by Richard McLaughlin
“Invisible Fence® Brand has been keeping dogs and cats safe at home by providing pet owners with trusted technology, proven training procedures – and total peace of mind.”
- according to Invisible Fence that is
Personally, I think that this is a wonderful tool because it does exactly what it intends to do, exactly as described. On the other hand, I have tested this material myself and find it a bit cruel. 
I visited my family in Ohio who has had an invisible fence installed for about 15 years. While there, my parent’s dog was chasing a neighbor’s cat across the yard, as dogs will do, and he ran through the invisible line that marked his boundaries.
According to the literature of the invisible fence site, a running dog would have to be running in excess of 200 miles per hour to move through the signal field and escape without being shocked. I am pretty sure that the dog was not doing 200 miles an hour.
The dog yelped and had one of those looks in its face where you want to give some human quality to your dog; fear, sadness or confusion I suppose.
To get him back on the right side of the fence I had to go over, take his collar off and carry him (120 pounds of him) back to the right side of the fence. He would not walk through that invisible line, nor could I drag him.
So, my brother-in-law Jamie and I were talking to Dad about how effective the fence was, to the point of making the poor dog afraid to come back. I went into a rant about how I both love the fence and hate the fence. Love it because it really does what it was designed to do, and hate it because I am opposed to hurting any animal. Dad was pretty sure that the fence did not hurt “that much” so I put on the dog collar and walked through the line. It did hurt “that much”. Then I backed up to gain some speed and ran through the magic line, simulating what the dog felt when he did it, and it did hurt “that much”.
Jamie couldn’t be outdone by me, so he put on the collar and the pain was bad enough that he could not get to the middle of the line. Then he tried running through the line, but Jamie is rather overweight and not really a sprinter. He could not make it all the way through the line, the shock made him stop. Then he could not get back, because the zapping left him confuse. I had to grab his arm and pull him to the right side of the line. From my point of view – not wearing the collar – it was rather funny.
As I said, my Dad was watching. He decided that couldn’t be outdone by me, so he put on the collar and started walking towards the line. The collar started beeping, and he hesitated. Then continued and go the first light zap, which made him back off and not continue through. Like I said, the product does what it intends. On the same idea, a hand gun does what it is intended to do, get bullets moving really fast. A lot of people like, and a lot of people dislike, handguns. Like guns or not, you have to admit that they do what they were designed to do quite well.
So, in the end I suppose that I am not strongly for or against the invisible fence, I just feel that people should give it a test on themselves before they attach one to their pet.
About The Author
*Richard McLaughlin is a Project Manager, Productivity Coach, Former US Marine & Cat Herder. He can be seen on www.linkedin.com/in/richmcl and twitter.com/_McLaughlin. His blog is richardmclaughlin.biz/
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t think I would like the fence at all
I personally don’t believe there’s anything wrong with the fence. You’re only inflicting pain on the animal, not any physical harm. I’ve tried wearing my colar on the highest setting and it really isn’t that bad. I had it at 10 but I only keep it at 5 for my dogs.
I’ve had the fence since my dog was a pup. As you say, it does exactly what it is intended to do. I haven’t put the collar back on him in over a year, still no problems with him going past the line. Do the ends justify the means… hmm…
i know a dog who gets out of an electric fence all the time. she has to be supervised or on a chain or she will get out and get in traffic. the shock doesn’t stop her somehow. and my mom’s dog went right thrua skunk’s smell and killed it dead.
After once or twice, when the dog learns where the fence lines are, there won’t be any more issues with inflicting pain on the dog. It won’t go near the line anymore, and will, therefore, not be subject to the pain the fence inflicts.
Its not like the dog is going to get zapped on a daily basis. Is not your dog getting zapped once or twice worth the price of it never running out into the road and getting ran over?
I have had 4 dogs with IF. 2 died of old age and two are still with me. After a few shocks they know. They don’t speak English so I could not warn them. Just like my children who do not understand English. Wish they had a collar for them. I want them safe too!
I know just what you mean about being ambivalent about the fence, but as you say, it works as promised. Some years ago my Sheltie and Visla took it upon themselves to eat and tear the wood gate. They apparently did this during a storm, while I was at work, even though they could get into the house through a doggie door. They both escaped. The Sheltie was killed on the highway and I never found my Visla even though she was chipped.
I knew I could not allow this horror to happen again. I would never leave my dogs *unprotected* again. But the invisible fence is not really meant to be the *only* fence. It’s the insurance fence. I still have a wood privacy fence around the yard but I also have the invisible fence, which gives me peace of mind…and keeps my beloved dogs safe from escape.
To the author:
Did you ever consider that animals have a different perception or threshold of pain than humans?… thus the reason your father could not go near the line yet the dog could blast through it no problem. It sounds like if your father went through the line like that he would collapse to the ground.
Humans and animals are different (for example chocolate kills dogs but not humans).
Lastly, if it is that painful, your dog won’t go near it… so I don’t know if I would exactly call that “cruel”. Given the option of being tied up to a chain in my yard, or wearing a collar that allows me to roam freely in the yard, I think I would take the collar.
Cruel would be randomly zapping your dog for no reason.
Tip for getting your dog over the line (either away from home or back home): put them in the car. Dogs love car rides!
I have nothing but praise for the Invisible Fence. My Great Dane was a “runner” – taking off and getting into all kinds of trouble. I reluctantly tried the wireless fence – he was shocked ONE TIME on a low setting and that was it. He has never had to be shocked a second time. He is now a happier and friendlier dog who plays in the yard and lounges on the front porch. He no longer spends his time looking for the opportunity to run off and chase the other dogs in the neighborhood who are not responsibly contained.
There is one drawback – the invisible fence contains my dog, but obviously does not keep out other people’s dogs.
I would love to see you put a collar on and run through a fence, now that would be hillarious!!!
Good points here but I think temperment plays a large part in the electronic fence. We used to have an akita at well over 100 pounds and the transmitter would not stop the dog at all. She always had to be chained up when she went outside on a dog run or the dog would run away every time. I also believe that how well you train the dog plays the largest role in how well your dog adjusts to the fence.
Really interested when i read this hope to visit again