invisible fence
 

Does anyone use an invisible fence for their yorkie? I am considering getting one, but my dog loves to chase after birds, squirrels, etc...

They are not good for small dogs like yorkies. The amount of shock they get is painful to them

Invisible fences use a shock method to control dogs.
I don't think it's safe for any dog to get intentionally shocked let alone one as small as a Yorkie.

My brother used to use a shock collar for his dog, until the day I made him wear it so he knew what it felt like. I would never, ever, recommend an invisible fence.

Invisible fences scare me. 1 for the shocking and 2 for the fact if you let your dog out a lone and someone could just walk and take your pooch :(

There is no reason I can imagine to attempt using an invisible fence for a Yorkie. An invisible fence does not offer the protection a small dog like a Yorkie needs. Small dogs are predator targets from land (humans, other dogs, wild animals, etc.), sky (hawks, eagles, owls, etc.), and water (gators, snakes, velvet ants, etc.) depending on where you live. Just my opinion, of course...:p

An invisible fence is not an option for any dog, in my opinion. The invisible fence will not keep out predators or other animals that can come onto your property and hurt your dog.

I'd never want to have any sort of shock like that to my little guy. That would be a no go on that one for me too.

ditto could not agree more when it comes to small breeds. However I do think they serve a purpose with larger dogs. There are lots of places in our country that will not allow people to have fences. Many of my friends use them successfuly without having to hardly use a shock, most eventually have it dialed way down and it beeps several feet before they go over the line. I feel if used properly it is much better than having a dog stuck on a tie out or couped on in the house or having the dog get run over.

I have to agree, the shock treatment in those just isn't safe, especially on such little dogs.

I am not sure if we tested this on ourselves if we would feel the same level of pain that they did. It's just my opinion, but after watching mine play for over 20 years I think they have a pretty high tolerance for pain. I have watched my dogs wack or bump themselves so hard that I am reduced to tears just seeing it, yet they jump back up and resume playing like they did not feel a thing. Of course when brushing their hair mine have always winced and yelped even when I was hardly touching them, so I guess their hair must hurt easily:D Just so you know I did not say this to suggest shock collars on the small breedes, feeling the pain or not, to me it would still not be a good idea, but I have always wondered why dogs could wack themselves so hard and not seem to feel it, anyone else notice that

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Totally agree with this, I haven't read enough about them to have an opinion on larger dogs, but I know for this reason they would not be suitable for Yorkies. Also, these are a training aid, there are not meant to be used without lots of training.

Dogs are genetically programed to hide pain; any display of pain makes them a target to predators. Also, when playing, adrenaline is pumping through their veins and this enables them to have a higher tolerance to pain. Haven’t you noticed kids can play a game and fall down and skin a knee, but it doesn’t hurting until they are starting to walk home? :D

I think shocking a dog is terrible plus it does not keep things out and if the dog really wants something they will take the shock.

Honestly, I would be afraid of the preditors that could easily get to my pup without a fence.

I do want to share that my next door neighbors have Brittanys and they had to put up an invisible fence, even though they have a very solid fence. Isn't that funny? Unfortunately, they have a digger and their girl was getting loose very quickly by digging under their fence. (When it comes to something like that, I certainly understand.)

It does makes sense how it could work for bigger dogs though. Especially if it makes a noise first, the dog would learn real quick what that noise is and turn around when he/she heard it. lol

They can and do serve a purpose when used correctly. I have a wireless invisible fence, acquired because DH agreed to keep a rescued Shep/Lab 'a couple weeks' while the rescuer finished their fence. The dog was used to run of the very safe neighborhood, but we live on a pretty busy road with the house a good deal from it and lots of trees. At first, we tied him out but he was never alone for more than a few hours. When it became clear he was not going to his rescuer's home because they were never ready to take him, we were faced with a huge immediate expense of fencing a large yard, or a quick wireless fence...which I had over-nighted. The dog was not lead or obedience trained, but very smart, sweet, and desiring to please, so I put out the flags, snapped on a regular collar, and an hour later he knew basic commands, walked reasonably well on a lead, and was well on his way with the white flags. We continued daily training and he respected the white flags. One day he followed me through the 'fence' and 'knew' he had to get back inside the flags. We had left the end of the house where the meters are...and consequently a little corner inside the house...outside the fence for the safety of the meter readers, and Ziggy bolted around that corner instead of turning around and going back the way he came. He knew where the white flags used to be! DH called him through the fence once...not with my agreement :eek::confused::(:mad:...and the only way Ziggy was ever taken out of the yard by us was in the back of the truck (capped) or the cab's back seat...we would switch collars both ways. :p Ziggy was never zapped again, but DH had tested the zap collar on himself before the dog ever wore it. Ziggy would stop at least 10' before the positions where the white flags were for the rest of his life and he was with us for 12 years...and he was at least 2 when we got him. He never really needed the collar again, but I couldn't promise other dogs would be like my 120+lb Ziggy baby.

I absolutely abhor any cruelty to innocents...especially by knowing humans. Ziggy just needed protection from a busy road where he wouldn't get tangled up on a wooded lot on a tie-out because he was used to walking on streets only 1 or 2 cars drove on per day prior to living with us.

Small dogs need human wisdom and protection...IMHO...and a wireless fence does not provide either.

The only fence I would ever consider for mine is a real fence and then I still go out with her, because there are too many predators to leave a yorkie alone and unprotected. There is nothing to keep predators, including other dogs and coyotes from snatching your yorkie and killing it or severely injuring it. It's happened many times with invisible fences. Invisible fences do not stop them from chasing birds, squirrels, rabbits, or other dogs and children, either. An invisible fence is just a false sense of security.

Most invisible fences have warnings on them that they are not for animals under a certain weight. may i suggest that you save up for a regular fence OR do what we do...... i have 4 Xpens that I hook together off the back of our patio..... it works perfectly!!!! (we also have 2 xpens that we take with us when we camp)..... the dogs have plenty of room to run, and yet I can keep an good eye on them. It would be difficult to keep track of them with the whole yard fenced in anyway! :)

I have thought about this.. I always thought you could control the amount shock the dogs get. But I guess I will just spend the 3k to put my fence up..

These fences are just for people to lazy to watch their dog...just remember not to come crying when the dog is killed or stolen...and they deliver a very painful shock.

Gotta love when some joins and there first post is a controversial question and they never come back. Not sure I get how that's fun but guess people are always gonna do that.

I agree with everyone else. Plus yes you can keep you b aby in your yard but you can't keep other animals or people out. Now if they could invent something that would shock unwanted animals or people from entering your lawn that I would be interested in.

Me, too!:D

What are you blabbing about?:eek:

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Exactly what I said, just a post by someone that was controversial and they never come back sounds like pot stirring to me.

Try looking at another way and not being "sarcastic".... Does it really matter if she didn't respond back there could be many reasons for that. What ever the reason, all of these replies will help some one else who stumbles on to this post.

Yea......:thumbup:

I was not being sarcastic one bit I was being very honest about how I felt about it