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Invisible fences have been rising in popularity in recent years. These electronic systems promise to keep dogs contained in the yard without the hassle or expense of a full fencing system. This makes electric fences, also called “e-fences,” a tempting option for renters, people who travel frequently with their dogs, or anyone else who can’t or doesn’t want to enclose their property. However, because e-fences rely on static shocks, we wanted to know: are electric fences safe for dogs?
Read on to learn what we discovered about e-fences—and why our expert doesn’t recommend them.
How Does an Electric Fence for Dogs Work?
Keeping your dog contained in your yard is important for a lot of reasons: it keeps them out of the path of vehicles, limits potentially dangerous interaction with other dogs and people, and generally stops them from becoming an annoyance to the neighborhood.
An electric fence works by delivering an electric shock when a dog (or other animal) attempts to cross an established barrier. The shock is intended to correct the behavior and encourage the dog to return to the safety of the yard. Many e-fences also employ a “warning” before the barrier is crossed as well, either with a high-pitched sound or with a lighter shock.
There are two main types of electric fences in regular use:
Traditional electric fences are often used on cattle farms, but some pet parents use them for their dogs and other animals as well. These e-fences resemble more traditional fences, but instead of pickets or mesh, they feature electrified wires stretched between wooden posts around the edge of the property. An electric current is run through the wires so when an animal touches them, they get zapped with a burst of electricity.
Invisible fences are more popular with dog parents. Instead of physical fencing, they rely on a transmitter or specialized wire to create a boundary for your dog. With a transmitter, you’ll have an electronic radius extending out from the transmitter as your dog’s available area. The wires, which are typically buried but can simply be laid on the grass as well, offer a more precise perimeter.
With invisible fences, the dog is outfitted with an electronic receiver collar that emits a sound, a static shock, or both when your dog approaches and crosses the barrier. The strength of the shock can typically be customized, depending on the size of your pet.
Anna Orsulakova via iStock
How much does an invisible dog fence cost?
The cost to install a traditional electric fence can easily run into the thousands, particularly when enclosing a large expanse of land. Invisible fences are often cheaper, with total expenses for the transmitters, receivers, and wires starting around $100. Complex invisible fence systems, however, can set pet parents back more than $1,000.
Non-electric fencing, as a comparison, can run upwards of $200 per 6- to 8-foot panel. It’s no wonder that some dog parents, particularly renters, see e-fences as a viable and cost-effective option. It should be noted, however, that some small fencing systems, especially temporary setups, can be purchased for around the same price as an inexpensive invisible fence system.
Why Experts Don’t Recommend E-Fences
To learn more about electric fences, we consulted Kait Hembree, a certified trainer who currently serves as Head of Training at GoodPup. We asked her if electric fences are safe for dogs, and what pet parents should know before they buy.
Are e-fences safe for dogs?
While it’s easy to understand how an electric fence works in theory, Hembree helped to break down how the system of warnings and shocks works with a dog’s brain. Hembree explained that e-fences use punishment as correction for the unwanted behavior of leaving the yard.
“The effectiveness of an e-fence is based on a threat,” she says. “If they go too far from their home, they will feel pain.”
This pain, delivered via an uncomfortable sound or an electric shock, may be effective for some pups. But is it safe? That’s a harder question to answer, even for our expert. As Hembree explained above, e-fences rely on pain for boundary enforcement. However, proponents of electric fences say that the pain is momentary and causes no long-term physical harm to dogs.
Even so, Hembree wonders whether it’s the best way to create boundaries with our pups. She asks, “Is a dog’s concern or worry about the constant threat of pain the way we want to keep them safe?”
Dids via Pexels
Do e-fences hurt your dog?
It’s difficult for humans to gauge the full impact using an e-fence with a dog, simply because we’re not the ones experiencing it. As Hembree says, “Unfortunately, whether or not something is ‘truly’ aversive can only be determined by the user experiencing the sensation.”
Because e-collars are calibrated to affect dogs specifically, humans can’t even compare how the collar feels on them to how it feels on their dog. Hembree suggests that the shock of the collar is similar to the experience of a TENS unit, a medical device used for physical therapy. Most humans don’t find these devices to be an enjoyable experiences, regardless of their benefits, she says.
Similarly, not all dogs will experience e-fences the same way. Size and temperament can affect sensitivity. Dogs who react negatively to smoke detectors, for example, might be extremely averse to the sounds emitted from the collar, while less sound-sensitive pups might not be bothered.
The key, however, is that in many dogs, the painful shock of e-fences can cultivate a persistent sense of fear or worry, which Hembree says can also be detrimental to a dog’s overall wellbeing.
Are electric fences effective for dogs?
A primary reasons to utilize fencing, electronic or otherwise, is to keep your dogs safe by keeping them in your yard. However, Hembree says that invisible fences simply aren’t always effective at performing this critical task. “Some dogs will venture outside their electric fence regardless of the shock or pain,” she explains, “While other dogs when overly excited or aroused may temporarily forget and burst through the fence.”
To make matters worse, once the dog has crossed the line, returning to the yard results in the same shocking experience. While a dog may be able to ignore the pain when focused on chasing a squirrel, for example, they may be more aware of the shock without the distraction of the chase. This, in turn, could discourage them from crossing back into the safety of your yard.
At the same time, the only goal of electric fences is to keep your dog in the yard. E-fences don’t prevent other animals from entering your dog’s space, which may put them at risk for encounters with everything from rabbits to other pets to larger predators.
Zbynek Pospisil via iStock
Expert verdict: opt for alternatives over an electric fence
The psychological risks of an electric fence and concerns over their overall effectiveness are enough to cast doubt on the use of e-fences, Hembree says.
“Without dogs being able to directly tell us what is truly aversive to them, and knowing that there are other more humane options for fences, it seems the best option would be not to invest in one.”
Alternatives to E-Fences
The most obvious alternative to an e-fence is a standard, non-electric fence made of wood, metal, or other materials. Physical fencing options can be permanent or temporary, such as the BestPet Heavy Duty Pet Playpen, enclosing a small area or the full yard to keep your dog safe.
However, regular fencing is sometimes not an option. Issues related to ownership, local regulations, or even just a home’s aesthetics can prevent fence installation. In those cases, Hembree recommends boundary training for dogs. This training method relies on positive reinforcement rather than negative correction, with the same intended outcomes.
“Boundary training for dogs involves teaching them where they can go and where they can’t go, whether it’s certain sections inside the home or leaving the yard,” explains Hembree. “The best part is that it uses positive reinforcement to reward dogs for making the choice to stay within the designated perimeter or area, removing the stress that is often created due to an e-fence.”
For wider-roaming pups, a GPS collar can offer additional comfort for pet parents, such as the Whistle Go Explore. GPS collars track a dog’s location, but, unlike an e-fence, do not reward or punish the pup for their whereabouts.