Wandering dog...How to contain...long

[MeggieMoe]

Our lab passed away for reason unknown awhile ago. Since we have a small child and one on the way, we thought it would be better to adopt an older suitable dog instead of going the puppy route. Well...long story short, we found a 1-2 yr old golden retriever that had been abandoned in a neighboring state. Ended up getting her last fall and she is perfect for our family. So far, so good, right...

This spring, she has started to wander. We live in the country...our closest neighbor is about a mile away but we are 1/4 mile off a major highway. When she first started to wander off I put her on a chain thinking maybe she just needed some more time to adjust and let her off when we were home. (She was found fending for herself.) She would always go north to the neighbors house and they have fed her and played with her in the house before we would find her. Soon, she was taking off when we were not giving her direct attention, though we would be outside with her, again to the neighbors. Then the neighbor's dog wandered to our house and she was very protective with my daughter, and ended up fighting with the other dog. Now, it has escalated to her taking off as soon as we let her loose but she is heading south to the highway.

We have spent nights driving the gravel looking for her as she will not come back on her own. This last time my husband noticed right away when she took off and called for her...she looked at him and then kept going. However, when he got the truck started (diesel), she promptly headed back for our house and right inside her dog house.

I hate to keep her on a chain all of the time but I can't have her running wild. Has anyone had to deal with something similar? I would be interested in hearing what you did or how you corrected it.

I am looking at a wireless dog fence that would go 2.5 acres and is wi-fi. Has anyone had any luck with these?

[Ghazzu]

A fenced enclosure comes to mind.

I can sympathize, though.

I have a rescue Irish setter who cannot be allowed off leash without very close supervision (i.e., if I get "distracted" by doing stalls, she's gone.)

[Milocalwinnings]

You could try the electric fence (we looked into them but I don't think it would work for our dogs so we just put up a regular fence). However, be aware that they require training. I'm sure you know this already, but you can't just put the dog out and expect them to learn right away that there are now barriers. I know some come with videos on how to properly train the dog to the fence, but I'm sure you could find a guide online or something if it doesn't.


I sympathise with you. We have 4 dogs (own 3 and foster 1). The only one of ours who can be trusted off leash (when supervised) is the basset hound. Our foster dog, a walker hound, is ok with me off leash, however, he will not come for anyone else so I don't trust him. The other two take off any chance they get. Occasionally one will dig out of the fence, or someone will leave the gate or the door open and out they go. We have the W&OD trail right behind our yard so more often than not they go there and it's tough to find them since it's all wooded. They do come back after they realize we aren't chasing them though.

[MeggieMoe]

I do realize there is training involved and more then willing to work with her. I was thinking of the wireless fence for a couple of reasons...

1) She is a smart dog that takes praise well and understands when she has done wrong. She really does try to please for the most part.

2) We are looking to purchase a new house when (and if ever... :no:) we can find one so we could take it with us.

3) We farm at a couple of different locations so I was thinking that if this behavior ended up being all of the time instead of just at the house, we could take the concept/ or it with us. ie..maybe train her with tile flags and be able to just put out the flags in the new location...if that wasn't enough we could turn the unit on??

I think she was a house dog and ended up maybe getting too big/ bigger then they thought. She is excellent in my house but I don't want a house dog at this time, plus the people that owned the house before we did put in white carpet!! On a working farm!! LOL I will never understand....

[ThirdCharm]

Our Border Collie was one who would take off the minute your back was turned, if you saw her heading out and called her she would turn, look at you, then boogie.

I got a long-range shock collar, for training hunting dogs, and worked with her in the house on the "come" command.

Next time she did the "stop, look, then run" when I called her outside, I turned the transmitter on high and dropped her like a bad habit. She ran home as fast as her legs could carry her and has not left the property since (about four years).

I have friends with electronic fence and it works great. The best is the barn that has electronic fence across the entrance to the barn aisle so the dogs don't get underfoot while I am shoeing their horses.... I have also heard those centrally located transmitters work well (when the dog goes beyond a certain distance from the transmitter, the collar zaps them) but that is for small areas....

Jennifer

[Guin]

Put up a fence. A REAL fence. Those electronic ones won't do diddly to keep the NEIGHBOR dog out of YOUR yard.

If you don't contain your dog, the next post on here is going to be from one of your neighbors about "My neighbor's dog is always coming over here and chasing the chickens and bothering my kids." Or even worse, YOUR next post is going to be "My dog ran into the road and was killed by a FedEx truck."

[Casey09]

I've known a lot of people that have been really happy with electric fences. I think that a lot depends on the dog's temperament (as well as the training that you do). I have a dog right now that I know would "take the shock" if chasing something. Not all dogs do that, though.

There are risks to be aware of, though. Other dogs can come in and attack your dog or fight with your dog. I knew someone years ago who had a sheltie and an electric fence. One of their neighbors was walking his dog, and his dog and the sheltie got into a fight. He reached in, and not surprisingly, he got bit. Guess who got sued. There's also the risk that someday, for some reason, the dog is going to run out of the fence. Then, the dog won't be able to reenter the yard because of the collar.

I think that a real fence is always safer. However, an electric fence is better than nothing. Personally, if I had a dog that I thought could be trusted in an electric fence, I would still use it just for the times that I was actually outdoors.

Also, be careful about just putting an electric training collar on the dog. A shock collar can be very helpful in establishing a reliable recall. However, establishing a good "come" doesn't, for most dogs, translate to not leaving the yard. Electric fences are based on the principle that the dog learns that every time he passes this specific spot, he gets shocked. If he sometimes gets shocked in one spot, and other times in another, he's going to keep testing the boundaries to see where they are today.

[maybedog]

We have had invisible fence for several years. The main issue is proper training to the fence. If the dogs aren't trained properly you have wasted your money. It takes a good 2 weeks. You train them to the flags first then the fence. We have had a beagle, 2 lab/beagles and a lab/boxer and have never had them break barrier. I even put flags up around my parents property for a few days 2 years ago and the dogs still won't leave the yard. When we moved I just took the transmitter and collars and had the same company come to run the wire.

[vacation1]

I'm not crazy about 'fenceless' barriers because a) they are not as reliable as a real fence and b) they do nothing to prevent other dogs/people from entering the dog's 'territory' and either attacking the dog or becoming victims of the dog's guard instincts. But I do see how they're the most cost-effective way to give a dog in a rural area a large area to run around.

Given what the OP said about the dog not being a house dog, I'm not sure this is going to suit her, but I would set up 2 areas for the dog; one large area fenced with the barrier system, and one sturdy kennel run (these are usually portable, so can be taken with when OP moves.) The big space would be for when I was around to supervise directly, the kennel run for when I wasn't. At least for the first few weeks, until you're sure the dog is close to 100% trained to the wireless enclosure, I would use this kennel whenever I wasn't around to watch the dog closely. Make a good start to a good habit.

One consolation, since the dog is 1-2 years old: in my experience, if you can create a habit of being in the yard for a few years, most young dogs will mature and lose the desire to roam. My yard is fenced, but not particularly well; the last two dogs were on a tie-out initially because they were well able to get over, under or around the fence. One quickly learned to stay home and got off the tie (and never roamed again), the other wasn't quite as quick about it, but has gotten there.

[jetsmom]

Put up a fence. A REAL fence. Those electronic ones won't do diddly to keep the NEIGHBOR dog out of YOUR yard.

If you don't contain your dog, the next post on here is going to be from one of your neighbors about "My neighbor's dog is always coming over here and chasing the chickens and bothering my kids." Or even worse, YOUR next post is going to be "My dog ran into the road and was killed by a FedEx truck."

Ditto.

[busterwells]

I have had an electric fence in 3 of our different homes and have trained 5 dogs in them. I have had excellent experience with the fence. I think it does depend on the time spent training the dogs. I always go through the whole 2 week training process step by step each time and it works great.

Some one posted that once the dog gets out of the electric fence they cant get back in because of the shock. I have found the opposite effect. If my dogs have accidentally crossed the line (example- when the neighbor cats are teasing them), the dog gets scared when out of the area because it does now not know its boundaries and mine will quickly take the shock and return back to the "safe area". (This has rarely happened).

I have had no issues except that you have to make sure that your dogs collar battery is always working, some dogs will figure out that theirs is dead and then run the fence.

My mom also has a hand transmitter that she takes while walking the dog or taking to the park. If the dog wanders too far, it gets a warning beep and then if it does not come back, it will get a shock. She says it works great.

[RiverBendPol]

I have a new Invisible Fence and it has changed our lives. It was installed in May and I cannot TELL you how wonderful it is. We have 4 dogs. 2 would never dream of going any where. 1 is a young Lab, one is a rescued Beagle. The Beagle goes (and goes and goes) any time she wants. We have 200 acres and she covers every inch several times a day. If not CAREFULLY patroled, she would take the Lab along and they'd disappear. (see missing dog thread from last January-they were gone for 3 days in a blinding snow storm) We had the fence installed, did the requisite training with just the young Lab and now we can leave doors open, dogs out, they can all go out together, they play in the barn yard while I'm doing farm chores, it is incredible. I do NOT know why I didn't do this years ago for all my other wanderers! It is really like magic. :)

[LLDM]

Another fan of electric fencing. We had Dog-Guard installed for our wandering foxhound (with training help too). Best money we ever spent - as no traditional fence would ever have held her. She had to be tied out or kept in a chainlink kennel with chainlink top and bottom. She is the type who really needs to run to be happy - but if she gets on a scent she's gone before she lifts her head. The new fence has made everyone so much happier! She can't dig out under it and can climb out over it. It really works well.

We enclosed about 4 acres - it is run just inside the 4 board horse fencing and includes the house and barn. No fence keeps out the problem critters we have out here - but at least we can keep her close to home and safe from cars, drunk hunters (who collect up hounds first and sort them out later) and lawsuits.

Now that we are all used to it, we love it!

BTW - Where did you find a WiFi fence that covers 2.5 acres?!?!

SCFarm

[shakeytails]

If she's not already spayed, please do so. My Pyrenees was horrible about wandering until we had her spayed. Now she only wanders over to the neighbor's to play with their children. She still "patrols" both my farm and the neighbors, but she doesn't go far.

If you need a portable fence, you can get electric net fence that they use for sheep. I think Kencove carries it.

I've never tried it myself, but I visited a farm that raised and trained field trial dogs, and they had a field probably 2 acres fenced with regular electric fence for the dogs to play in safely.

Another option that's semi-portable is t-posts and lightweight mesh fence. It comes in various heights and isn't very expensive.

[avezan]

I'm about to take the plunge and install the electric fence on our farm. When I moved here, I had 2 older dogs that didn't wander much. They did when they were younger, though, and I had an invisible fence for them then. I brought it with me when I moved the first time, but by the second time, the fence and the dogs were both so old, that I didn't use it. Now I have 2 new dogs. One is a 1-2 year old rescue and the other is a 5 month old puppy. I have the same set up as the OP. Very rural. A good mile from the road, which is a small one. I have a small 10x10' kennel where the dogs stay now when we are not here, and then they have free roam when we are home. The free roam has extended to the edge of our pastures now, and I few times when I have been on the tractor mowing the pastures, the older dog has gone into the neighbor's pastures. Plus, I don't like the dogs in the pasture with the horses (the older one likes to roll in manure...ugh!)

I highly recommend buying the fence from a pro. Its expensive, but they work much better than the cheapie kind that you buy and install yourself. You can still install the better fences yourself and save some money, but the good systems are going to be in the $1k+ range. The original system I had 16 years ago was Invisible Fence. Now I am going with DogWatch (they have a local guy who does a lot of radio spots on dog training and wildlife and stuff). If you go with a national company, when you move, they can help you re-install it. You just buy more wire (cheap).

My question for those of you with the electric fence, is do you fence the barn in or out? I like my dogs to come to the barn with me, but I don't want them to have to wait outside if the weather is bad or something. There have been 2 comments so far, one said yes, one (farrier) said no. I am leaning towards yes, fence the barn IN. I also have a long narrow driveway with the fenceline on both sides. I am going to put that wire inside the fenceline, so that the dogs can go up to the fence, to get out of the driveway when cars come. They will go meet and greet and I would hate for them to then have to trot all the way up the driveway in front of the car if the dog can't get out of the way. Otherwise, I'll just put the wire along the fenceline up to the barn.

[Paddys Mom]

Ditto - Invisible Fence saved my dog relationship.
I started to HATE my dog for always trotting off while looking back at me and giving me the finger.
He never leaves the boundaries now, even when chasing a squirrel or when people or dogs are enticing him on the other side.

The training is key - I'd recommend having it done by the pros.

I don't worry about other dogs coming in because he is only outside when we are except for quick potty trips.

I also use a remote training collar for trips outside of the property. Again, training is key. I had to teach him on leash that a warning beep means get your butt over next to me! I haven't had to beep him in months because he knows.

Also, make sure you exercise them. I know life is busy (says the woman with 2 kids and lots of critters plus full time outside employment) but Cody has never been better behaved since I started taking him for quick runs next to the 4-wheeler 6-7 days a week.

Edited to add: I fenced Cody OUT of my barn. 1) I don't want him in there unsupervised. 2) It was easier to run the wire across the front of the barn. When I want him in the barn, I remove his fence collar and give him the special command that releases him from the boundary.

[SMF11]

I echo all the good results with the electric fence (including have it installed and trained by a pro). The only other thing I would add is to make sure the shock is quite strong. As my trainer said, you want the dog to think it is going to die if it gets a shock. You do not want a painful but tolerable shock -- that will allow the dog to decide, "hmm, is it worth it?" every time it is tempted to cross the line -- you want the dog to know it is NEVER worth it.

I would add that I think during the training invisible fences *are* cruel. The dog does get shocked, and it is painful. But in my case, since my dog started chasing cars (going 50 mph 100 feet from my house), I felt that one week of painful training was worth not getting squashed on the road.

[pj]

Put up a fence. A REAL fence. Those electronic ones won't do diddly to keep the NEIGHBOR dog out of YOUR yard.

If you don't contain your dog, the next post on here is going to be from one of your neighbors about "My neighbor's dog is always coming over here and chasing the chickens and bothering my kids." Or even worse, YOUR next post is going to be "My dog ran into the road and was killed by a FedEx truck."

DITTO from here, too.
If you don't do something YOU may be the subject of the next DOG ATTACK post.
See Dog attack..again posts.

I have no patience with anyone who allows their dogs to run free.

[BLBGP]

Is she spayed? I know you have white carpets, but there's no way she can stay inside the house when you're not around?

[KnKShowmom]

One of our labs is a runner, once she picks up a scent she feels obligated to follow it so we put up a real fence around the yard and tied it into the pasture fence so they can go out in the yard with us and down to the barn and are still contained.

If you don't want to go through the expense or time of a permanent fence, check into a base and collar set up. The dog wears a collar with a transmitter and you set up a base in your house. The if the dog stays around the general area, they are fine, if they wander off, they will get a shock at a certain distance, in any direction, from the base. If you move, the whole set up goes to the new house.

Friends of mine use this for their hard headed corgi and have been very pleased with it.

[mjrtango93]

My aunt and uncle have invisible fence for their house. They lived in a Wyoming tract so they each have 2-3 acres for each house. Because of the wildlife in the area they are not allowed to build a fence (uncle would have much preferred that route), but they don't want the dogs cooped up all the time either (they are primarily house dogs, but they go out when aunt and uncle are home). They have husky mixes so they are a wondering breed, after the initial training the fence worked like a charm (they paid a trainer that specializes in collar training to do it for them). The dogs never broke boundary after the initial learning period and they have a command to break boundary when my uncle walks them to get them to even leave. They just moved and have a much larger piece of land, but had the fence re-installed in the the immediate area around the house (not safe to have animals go to far with the moose and bear). The trainer came back out for 1 day to teach the dogs the new boundary and it was only broken once since (and when called he did return immediately through). Its not right for all circumstances and training really is the key. They did spring for the pricey installed version though as they wanted to make sure it was done right and the animals were safe, I think for the 7 acres they have now it was almost $2K with the trainer coming out as well.

[MeggieMoe]

To answer some of the questions...

The dog is spayed and was before I got her. Actually, she was spayed twice...spayed sometime before we got her then I took her to the vet for a check up, shots and spaying if it hadn't been done and the incision was so high (just under the rib cage) that they didn't see it. So they opened her up and then called saying that she was already done.

She spends her days right now on a chain that is about 40 feet long so she can move around, etc during the day while we are gone.

Annie (my dog) and the other dog that she got in a fight with have been out together several times before the fight with no problems. In fact, it was the first and last time I have seen that dog off her property. It was not until the other dog came over within 5 feet of my daughter that Annie really got on that other dog and a fight ensued. The neighbor is now keeping her dog penned up at her house also so I am not really worried about that. She told me to let her know if I do decide to go the wireless route to let her know how it works and she would consider getting one installed also.

It is just not practical to fence anymore at our place. With all of the tractor and semi traffic in our driveways and occasionally our yard, it would be impractical and I am sure the fence would get run or backed over. Even on her 40 feet of chain, Annie has to move out of the way for traffic. Hence, we are looking for a place with more room. Our house almost sits right on the gravel road...our neighbor has teased us that he slows down to 60 when going by our house (because the road is so straight and flat with no stop signs). So Annie getting run over is a real fear but THANK GOD! she does not show an interest at all for the traffic that goes by. She just uses the road to wander. I am assuming it is easier going then cutting across the cornfield....?

I found the wi-fi 2.5 acre wireless electric dog fence after checking with a few pet stores here in our area. I have also found it online so here is a link... http://www.k9electricdogfence.com/product/PTPWF-100

All of the horses and cattle are at another farm that we rent so I spend quite a bit of time there and would like to take her with me. I think she would really like to explore/ do whatever dogs do while I am riding and doing chores. I was thinking then that the fence would be protable and I could train her for that area also as it is right on a county blacktop that gets quite a bit of traffic.

Last night, I took her out and kept calling her to stay by my side after her initial run. I try to get her out to run atleast once a day if not more. She did really well and when she got like she was going to slip away I really yelled for her to come back and she did. I was really impressed with her last night...it was finally a good outing. We both needed one of those.

[LuvMyTB]

I don't live in the country, so maybe I just don't understand.

But WHY, if the dog runs away, do you continue letting her out off-leash?

I live in an unincorporated area of a suburb--big yard, quiet, lots of trees. We get a lot of rabbits etc. and my Lab thinks NOTHING of jumping the fence to go after them

She did that exactly twice before we put her on a chain/tether, and she is on that tether ever.single.time. she goes outside, AND she never goes out unsupervised. I will not take the risk that she will slip the collar/jump the fence/whatever, get loose, and get hit by a car. :no:

And--other people's wandering dogs really, really bother me. I have stopped walking my own dogs through my neighborhood because I really don't appreciate people's loose dogs running up to us and potentially causing me to have to break up a dog fight.

I think you need to be a little more proactive about solving this problem. Like someone else said--your next thread will be "OMG my dog ran away and was hit by a car!" :no:

[3chunkymonkies]

I have a houdini dog. He goes under or over fence and can get off a chain in under a minute- wearing a harness or a regular collar, properly tightened. My back yard is no climb horse fence- translates to easy climb dog fence. It borders the pasture. I have electric fence at the top and bottom. No big deal because I have it set up for the horses anyway. Gotta mow or spray regularly. I still keep him inside most of the time. Crazy dogs.

It took me awhile to decide that the dog was happy with ME. I toyed with the idea of rehoming him. I decided that I was his best shot. He's not quite the nightmare he used to be. He still runs off given the chance.

[Aimee Thanatogenus]

Since you have small children, a real fence is a good investment. Electric fences don't really work very well in the long run, mainly thanks to dogs and animals that aren't "trained" to the fenceline.
And please: a dog doesn't know wrong from right. A dog is a dog behaving like a dog looking out for what's best for the dog at that time. Some dogs wander, some stick around. I had a dog that wandered, her previous owner dumped her and she had an instinct to stroll through refuse and chicken houses. How she survived to get into my hands, I do not know, but she is fenced in a fence that is not some mystical double standard, but a real honest to goodness fence.

When your baby is playing around in the yard and a strange unfriendly stray wanders into the neighborhood, you will be glad.

Also: leash your dog, don't chain him up. It makes them semi-insane, it's about the worst "good" thing people do to their dogs. Try some clicker training or treat training. Motivate the dog to be around you.

[3chunkymonkies]

I tried using a chain supervised while weeding the beds before the fence was built. The dog was turned into an "inside dog" and my thought was some sunshine while I worked in the yard was a good thing. No go. It is definitely not a permanent solution. The fence worked nicely but my dog lives in the house with me. That is not an option for everyone. I am paranoid that neighbors will shoot my dog or it will get run over so inside is a must.

[BLBGP]

Why do you have so much tractor and semi traffic in your yard? Sounds dangerous for kids/pets without a fence....of course, I'm picturing the house from Pet Cemetary here. ;)

[Meredith Clark]

I got Bella when I was living on a farmette. She had 15 acres to roam around and enjoyed her freedom. Even there I noticed she liked to explore, she would often follow bicyclist down the road or visit my neighbors when they were outside. She was a rescue found on the streets so who knows what she had experienced previously.

Now that we live in town many aspects of her life have improved. She more social, I walk with her more (instead of just turning her out in the back yard), and she's exposed to more people and animals.

She hasn't quite learned to stay with me however. My parents have a nice sized backyard, but close neighbors and she will not stay in the back yard wit us. They have an invisible fence and I couldn't teach her to respect it. My aunt has a small yard that's fenced in and she climbed under the fence!

I've basically come to the conclusion that she's going to have to stay on a leash unless we're at a dog bark or somewhere she can't escape! It's not so bad, and it forces me to walk her more and longer...which is better for me too!

[SMF11]

To answer some of the questions...


Last night, I took her out and kept calling her to stay by my side after her initial run. I try to get her out to run atleast once a day if not more. She did really well and when she got like she was going to slip away I really yelled for her to come back and she did. I was really impressed with her last night...it was finally a good outing. We both needed one of those.

When I took my dog that used to roam out for a walk on our farm, he'd stick with me for the entire walk until we turned towards home and then he'd take off. What worked for me was to take a hot dog cut up into small pieces, and when we turned towards home, I'd throw out a piece for him every 50 feet or so. I had to make the reward for staying with me REALLY good . . . He definitely would not come when I called at that time (He'd look at me, and seem to say "Uh, . . . no" and take off towards the neighbors).

As for going off-leash, some dogs really need to. My roaming dog was a terrier/border collie mix that would run ten times the distance I walked -- there is no way a walk on a leash would have used up even a fraction of his energy! There is no one right way to do things, as usual -- some dogs do fine with just-leash walks, others not so much.

[cheval convert]

I have the wireless system made by Petsafe - it is wonderful! My aussie no longer gives me "the look" just before he takes off. He has the run of the yard and he knows it's boundaries. We also have a summer cottage and I take the wireless transmitter with me when we go there. I adjust the diameter of the signal to the smaller yard and I again have a dog that doesn't leave. It is one of the best investments we have made (and a lot less expensive than traditional fencing as well).

[Guin]

Why do you have so much tractor and semi traffic in your yard? Sounds dangerous for kids/pets without a fence....of course, I'm picturing the house from Pet Semetary here. ;)

Oh, boy. And we ALL know what happened with Gage and the lumber truck! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

[MeggieMoe]

Sorry for not getting back sooner....

We have so much tractor and semi traffic at our house is because we live on a real working farm...how to explain this?

We have a couple hundred acres in crops...row crops like corn, beans, some oats and alfalfa...mainly depending on the year. Well, those are harvested in the fall and have to be dried and stored in bins. We forward contract the sale of the crops (usually get a better price) and those usually come "due" in the spring/ summer/ very early fall months and at that time we have to deliver the crop to market...whether this is on the river, coop or a business. During this time, we have tractors running our hay crop and augers on the bins while semi's are picking up loads to deliver. Farming is not limited to spring planting and fall harvest; it is all year round. In fact, the only "downtime" we have is in February after calving...which is why we had to get married in February! :) When my daughter was born in the fall and my husband used to tease that he would meet me at the hospital in the floater ( vehicle used to spread fertilizer after harvest).

I grew up this way so it is difficult for me to imagine any other type of life....I imagine the same would be for those having grown up in the city or urban areas. Having said this, my children are growing up around farming and granted there are risks...farming is one of the most dangerous occupations...but they are also schooled constantly about the dangers. Our children are always watched VERY closely and are by our immediate side almost constantly...unless it is something very dangerous then in the house with Grandma!

I just don't feel that maybe everyone understands farming or the lifestyle so I hope this helps a little. I can stand outside my house on the front deck and for as far as I can see I can count 6 farms. Some of those are several miles away....I am not worried about someone walking their dog by my house. The people in my area work so hard they don't go walking for exercise and all farm dogs run loose on your own land (expected and is given). They also ride to town in the back of a truck and wait while you are shopping. Actually, farm dogs don't get run over on the road very often...most die of old age in my experience. They are a partner that usually is expected to work along side you...my last one took on a new cow/ calf pair when she unexpectedly turned on us. Same with our horses...they are working animals and have a job to do even though I might be able to haul to a show on the weekend occasionally.

I guess this is getting off topic... I am glad to hear that some have had luck with the wireless fence, I might try a shock collar also. I think her training will be a shorter term rather then a lifelong issue as she is so eager to please and quite possibly just needs a firm hand and unquestionable rules she needs to follow. She was on her own and other minor issues we have had with her have gone by the wayside in that manner.

Thanks for all of the thoughts and info!!

[trubandloki]

But WHY, if the dog runs away, do you continue letting her out off-leash?

This is a very good question really.

I vote a real fence.

In your OP you said that your last dog died for reasons unknown. Might this have something to do with them running loose?

[ManyDogs]

We have the wireless system and love it. I did the training that is recommended, put the flags up, held the collar in my hand, walked the dog out, etc. We've had it for a couple years.
The dogs respect it and once they hear the beep they know to back away. Some of our 3 that wear the collar will "freeze" on occasion but I just call to them. If they want to get in our car (e.g., when I return home from work), the collar will beep/shock if the window is not rolled down.
What's really funny is when they don't wear the collar. They will stop at the edge of the perimeter we have set. I don't know how far the system reaches, as ours is set to be closer to the house.
The dogs also know that the collar means they get to go out are eager to put it on. Our JRT wears hers all the time-she gets very upset if we take it off.

[MeggieMoe]

In your OP you said that your last dog died for reasons unknown. Might this have something to do with them running loose?

I mention reasons unknown because we didn't have him posted. He had not been not run over or had any signs of trauma/ poisoning/ etc. according to the vet. He seemed in good health and had a recent yearly check up. I came home one night and he was curled up in front of where I park my car in the garage where he used to nap and looked like he might have died in his sleep. He was given to us by a recently divorced man moving out of the area to a big city...he knew the dog would not be happy in a small yard (he was a 125lbs). I don't know how old he was when we received him but we had him for several years...maybe 6-8 yrs. I would say a good guess was that he died of age.

[tarynls]

Then the neighbor's dog wandered to our house and she was very protective with my daughter, and ended up fighting with the other dog.

That statement alone would make me very wary of an invisible fence system. Can you fence off an area just for her (so you don't have to fence your entire property)?