I will take my lumps as they come, so here goes, here is my opinion.
I live in a small town where a lot of people just let their dogs run loose which I feel is totally irresponsible. I don't like stray dogs, or the neighbor dogs in my yard at all and I don't allow mine in the neighbors yard. I firmly believe if you own pets that you should be responsible enough to take care of them and that means keeping them in your yard. I have a small yorkie and a toy poodle and both of them wear a collar for the invisible fence. The yorkie, Jasmine, is a year old and Prissy, the poodle, is 7 years old. The collars are for their size. Our yard is an acre and our house sets quiet aways off the road. Our yard is fenced with chain link too. We thought having a fence was enough, however both our girls got out of the fence one time so now we have both as an added precaution. Our girls do not stay outside long only long enough to do their business, but accidents do happen, as we are all away of. I was so afraid that day when they got out of the yard, they could have gotten run over by a car so quick. Yes, they might go through the invisible fence one day, but I feel I have done all I can do to protect them at this time. Also, I take their invisible fence collars off when they come inside and massage their necks.

Didn't read thru the posts.

WHY do people forget that a electronic fence may keep your dog in, but not other dogs out?????????????

And if your dog does go out will s/he risk the shock to come back in??

nobody has forgotten that - but i see you haven't read through the posts.

it would be nice if i could control what everyone else does with their own pets, but since i can't, i want to be responsible for the one i do have.

if everyone focused on how to keep their pets IN then nobody would have to worry about keeping other pets OUT.

it's kind of like with kids - i might have the best security system known to man and really good windows - but if someone wants to get IN to get to my children - they will. that doesn't mean i'm going to build barb wired fences as seen in prisons - i can only do what i'm capable of doing and hope that others will take responsibility for themselves.

You *saw* right! I stated that I did not read thru the posts.

You should know that in this world not everyone will take responsibility for themselves: let alone the animals that they have.

Yes, when I had kids living at home, I locked all doors when we went to bed, etc. But I did not let them sleep out on the sidewalk so someone could take them with out a fight. They had to go thru the motions. If I have a electric fence, then people/animals have no "motions" IE: barriers to go thru to get the dog. Do fence to dig under, no gate to open.

As everyone will do, do what you want.

If OP didn't want opinions, shouldn't have asked. :D

If you tell the kids there is a consequence and why not to let her out - they should not. I have raised two kids and they understood and no problems. They have to know though that you do follow through and no is no.
Also - why don't you put a lock on the pen. Simple. A simple bycycle one will work great. Problem solved.

I can totally see both sides of the coin here. I have invisible fence myself, as I have always had big dogs. (2 labs) Now I have 1 lab and a Yorkie. We have just started training the Yorkie on the system.

I have no intention of leaving him out there unattended. It will be very nice for him to run and play outside with us, and our other dog in the nice weather.

I completely agree that the fence does not keep other animals out, however, neither does a leash. Another animal could just as easily grab my dog on his leash. Yes he would not be carried away, but he could still be shaken, hurt badly, or killed.

Personally i wouldnt go for the invisible fence. I have a 5 foot wooden fence and check it everyday to make sure it is still secure. Having said that, i do not have a huge garden, it might be different if i did. :confused:

I would say again the invisible fence is a great thing to have, It is better to be educated on things before you decide so go to the website and see what they have to offer you might be very surprised (the collars really aren't large). I love my invisible fence! My dogs do not tangle in leashes, they have the freedom of my whole yard (they love to run and play) The neighbors know that I have the fence and the neighborhood kids respect it. I do not leave them unattended. If the dog is properly trained (they send a dog trainer to your home to assist you as much as needed) before you even allow the "shock" to work just the warning beeps so they don't really need and for the most part don't get the "shock" it's just an extra precaution, so they really don't become acclimated to the shock if trained properly.

A lot depends on where you live. Where we are, backed up to a Forest Preserve of 6000 acres, we have Coyotes, Hawls, Owls, possum, racoons, you name it. We even have Peacocks, but not to worry about them. Regardless of the fence, a Coyote can jump an 8 foot fence. We can keep the little dog in, but can't keep other things out. We always have to go out when the little dog is out there. Not so with the big dog, but we always make him go out with her, as additional protection.

To me a Invisible fence does nothing, then again, either does a 5 foot aluminum fense. To each there own! Good luck.

I agree. The best thing is not to run off to take a shower, or what ever and leave your small dog alone out there. Small dogs like terriers tend to approach or go after other animals that go into their area. You are in the country. There are also rabied animals that roam out in the country (like racoons). My local vet office just put up a sign that there have been a couple already for this year. Best not to take chances for a quick run in the house. Be out there with the dog/children. And when you need to come in - bring them in.
We just had a coyote yesterday morning around 6:20 AM and got something from my back porch. We were so worried about the cat, but he later showed up unharm. I am not sure what the coyote got, but it was a coyote. My son saw it take off with something.

There was a little toy poodle in our neighborhood that the owners used to chain up near their front steps with about 15 feet of lead. I used to call it "Coyote Bait", and mentioned it to the person. She told me to not worry about it and mind my own business. A month later, I no longer seen the dog. The Coyote got it, and ripped it right out of it's colllar. All that was left was a blood trail. The lady no longer looks at me and goes in if she is out when I am walking the dogs.

It was crazy yesterday morning. My son ran upstairs and told us what he saw. He said it was fast - it just ran into our back patio and made some quick noise, very loud as it banged into the AC unit and other pots tipping them over and dashed through the barbed wire pastured fense with something in its mouth and before he knew it, it was gone into the back woods. My son is a young adult (still living at home), so him and my hubby went looking to see what they could see. Maybe to help the creature that it grabed or to see what it might have grabed. My hubby said they do not kill first, they just grab and kill it later. I know they can bring down a calf too - that is pretty big compared to its size. And this was in the early morning hours. They are getting a bit gutsey.

We can on some nights hear them playing with one another and barking. This happen some nights when we took a late swim in our pool. You just have to be careful now.

In some areas it is against one to tether a dog. Just so you know - you might want to check your ordience in your area.

No, here you can tie them up on your property.(Which only a total idiot would do) We only see one or 2 Coyotes a time. When we had a home in AZ, you say packs of them. They are tough and very smart. They are in and out in the blink of an eye. Guess as long as I have a Yorkie, which will be until the day I did, we will go out with them.