Alternatives to chaining my new dog....

[Wolf-Kim]

I have a friend who keeps Pyrenese and other guardian breeds with her goats. She keeps harnesses on her dogs and not collars. Every now in then she has a couple of dogs that figure out how to climb out of the fence, wither over or through. She has had these dogs for years.

Her favorite method of keeping them in the yard without having to completely re-do her fence or having to tie the dog, is the anchor method mentioned earlier. She simply takes some small chains(like choke chains) and some snaps and attaches the red bricks to the dogs harness. This method works really well for her. The weight isn't a crazy amount. She starts them out with half a red brick and if that doesn't stop them she attaches a whole red brick. She has never had to go higher than a whole red brick.

It sounds like it may be cruel, but I've seen her dogs and animals. The real cruelty would be her having to chain the dogs to a tree or stake where they couldn't be with their beloved goats or each other.

Just make sure that when using this method that the chain is long enough that the brick lays on the ground even while the dog is standing or sitting. You do not want the constant weight on the dog. The idea is the dog has to drag the brick, not carry it.

Her dogs usually wear the brick for a few weeks and then she takes it off. Then some of the dogs are good permanently and then some get back to their old ways in a few months. If and when they go back to their old ways she just goes back to the brick method. She has never had any trouble with Animal Control.

* * * *
We tried the invisible fence with our White Shepherd. It didn't work, she just hit the fence running and was up and over before it "got" her. By that time, she would be out the fence and unable to get back in. So we didn't have a great experience with invisible fence. We wasted $$$ and several hours on the invisible fence, only to go back later and set-up the strand of hot-wire.

Hot-wire was the absolute best for us. It was even cheaper than the invisible too. Sure wish we had tried the hot-wire before we wasted our $$$(yes, triple digits. LOL).

-Kim

 

[Beekissed]

The wireless invisible fencing has a feature that does not shock the dog when it reenters the boundary....I've not yet had to see if that feature works! When I had the inground (wired) invisible fencing, the dogs did cross a time or two. I also found the wireless one has a much more powerful correction as my strong headed dog has yet to try and "run right through it"! With the wireless fence, the only work required is mounting the box, turning it on and adjusting the dial.....fence complete and ready!

 

[augiedranch]

shock collar

 

[joebryant]

I would NEVER chain up a dog. I'd get rid of the dog before I'd ever do that. We have two Welsh corgis that ran off every chance they got. We finally got a double shock collar setup, i.e., the control panel controlled both collars. The next time they took off (laughing, while I yelled my fool head off), I set the controls for both collars at the highest number, 15. They were running through the field at full speed, the second I hit the button after calling their names, they each actually did a flip in the air, let out a yelp, and came running back to me. I did that three time over a two day period, and that was the end of their disappearing acts. I know that it hurt them, and I don't care the least bit; they weren't run over, killed, or dognapped.
Get a shock collar and be merciless; don't even pretend to have any more patience.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

We had wonderful success with our remote shock collar. I trained my dogs to come to one. He would high tail it any chance he'd get and ignore any attempts to coax him back. We bought a shock collar and with one training session he was good to go. He definately comes when called now. I never even got to the highest setting with him.

I have taught multiple dogs to stay near home with the aid of a shock collar. We had a dog that would dissapear into the woods and not be seen for 3 days. We spent 6 straight hours walking through the woods looking for that dog. Put a shock collar on her and she learned to stay in the yard and come when called within a few lessons.

The great thing about a remote controlled shock collar is it has multiple uses. You can use it to train the animals to come when called, as well as a few other sources. I used one to train my German Shepherd(AKA the great duck chaser) to not chase the chickens and ducks.

The bad thing about the remote controlled shock collars is that you HAVE to catch the dog in the act.

-Kim

 

[hensdeliverthegoods]

I'm a person who prefers house dogs that go outside under supervision, however I realize I'm in the minority here. Dogs are pack animals that hate to be alone.

If you can't afford an invisible fence, try attaching large, strong eyebolts to a tree or something on either side of your yard at a height of about 4 feet. Then run some heavy duty aircraft cable between them. Attach a free-moving smaller piece of cable to a harness for your dog. That way, he can move about the yard fairly freely and not get tangled up, and he can't chew through that tough cable.

 

[DawnSuiter]

I broke down & bought the WIRELESS fence at Lowe's today for $299

I will try it on him for 2 weeks and if it works, get collars for the rest of the pack.

If it does NOT work, I will return it & resort to the shock collar. I'll need one in a few months anyway because for my obnoxious dog chihuaha/basenji mix a shock collar will be the only thing to keep my free ranging chickens safe.

I wanted to thank everyone for their input. It's amazing how differently people handle the same things, and I'm glad there are options.

and Indiana (joebryant), I agree with the merciless comment, and I will be steadfast about it if I go that way, because you are right. Children often learn what NOT to do when something hurts them, burns them etc... dogs should NOT be getting any special treatment, and leaving the property lines SHOULD hurt, because one of these days it likely WILL hurt for real.

But here's to hoping the peaceful wireless fence works on him, fortunately so far he seems like a mild personality.

although the shock collar would certainly be cheaper & multipurpose.