Dog Fence - Your Experience?

[Vixxy]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience good bad or ugly of Dogfence?

We own a 66 acre farm and have a Dalmatian (5 mths) and Border Collie (6 yrs). Both dogs have a habit of running up the front paddock and driveway to greet passers by. We have received complaints from villagers about the dogs roaming free and whilst they don't often do it, it is a concern.

I have read about Dogfence being different from other invisible fences and better, also more humane. Traditional fencing is not an option due to the size of the area to fence in and walking the horse to and from paddocks (the farm would become a maze of fences and gates).

The dogs are not use to being tied up and with having such a large horse farm it would be such a pity to have to tie them up.

Please let me know your experiences, I am loathed to spend hundreds of pounds on a system that does not do the job ;-)

Thanks in advance!

 

[mattilda]

I don't know about Dogfence but I have a freedom fence which I assume is similar. It is brilliant, keeps the dogs where they should be and, once they have learned the boundaries, they usually don't even need the collars on anymore!!

 

[Booboos]

I bought one of these systems a couple of years ago, but I am not sure which one. We couldn't really use it as you had to complete a full circle for it to work and the farm was an awkward shape for that (we would have had to cut off parts of the farm to complete the circle and that completely defeated the purpose). Not sure how this one works, but you might want to ask them about this.

 

[Vixxy]

Mattilda - Did you train your dogs yourself with the system or use the service of training provided if professionally installed? As we live in Norway obviously we would have to install a system ourselves and I wondered if the training period is simple?

Booboos - I think although not ideal a circle would not be a problem, but I will ask the various companies if a circle is a must.

I think we will go ahead with a system but I am so worried the crazy Border might just run through it anyway, I did notice Freedom Fence offer a full 3 month refund (less wiring) which is a comfort if the system is ineffective for the Border.

Thanks, have a lovely Christmas

 

[mattilda]

Yep we did the training ourselves. It really is quite easy and is based on a beeping noise that warns them when they are too close to the boundary. If they ignore the signal and keep going then they receive a shock. You then have to work out how to let them know when they can cross the boundary. We put leads on and they know then they can cross.