Dear Dog Talk Readers: Here are a couple of letters I received in response to a recent “Dog Talk” column from a whippet owner who asked about invisible fencing. I truly appreciate how much feedback I get from readers. Thank you. Dear Dog Talk: First, may I say that I read your column every week and I love it. I have owned dogs for 50 years, and I cannot survive without their invaluable companionship. I have always had a fenced-in yard until this last year when I installed my first electronic pet containment system around my townhouse in a retirement community. Traditional fencing is not allowed. My experience might be of interest to your readers and to the person who wrote concerning their whippet and Invisible Fence. I had two Brittanys. One of the dogs was very fast. Both dogs learned the boundaries very quickly with the help of an excellent trainer and my constant attention for about a week. However, one dog was often sitting near the fence, wanting very much to go out and trying to figure it out. I never saw her leave, but I did see her come back two separate times. Both times she went at excessive speed and did not seem to be experiencing any discomfort. The invisible fence system has been awarded by the Humane Society for its compassionate program because it first gives the dog an auditory warning, then there is a hesitation, and then the correction. The correction setting is very mild to start. Well, Meggie figured it out. She ran so fast that she only experienced the auditory warning and shot through the boundary during the hesitation. I had the collar adjusted to take out the hesitation and to raise the level of the correction. Nevertheless, she went out once more. She did not come back into the yard until I went out and rescued her. Meggie was also a jumper. I have always wondered if she would ever figure out to jump high enough to avoid the correction. I will never find out because I lost her three months ago to cancer. I am still mourning the loss of one of the brightest dogs I ever had. Dear Dog’s Best Friend: First, let me say how sorry I am that you lost your Brittany to cancer. Losing a beloved dog to old age is hard enough. When we lose a dog to cancer or any other deadly disease, it is truly heartbreaking. Based on the description in your letter, I think the pet containment system would have been more effective had you put more time into the training. I don’t think a week is long enough for any dog. The fact that she was sitting near the fence indicates to me that she was not apprehensive about approaching the boundary. She certainly was not conditioned to back up into the yard when she approached the boundary and to feel apprehensive. I believe that being conditioned, almost involuntarily, to back up into the yard whenever near the boundary is essential for the system to be effective with most dogs. I called my longtime associates at the Canine Fence Co. in Wilton, Conn., to ask about dogs jumping over the boundary. I was told that it is possible with a proficient jumper and a low height setting. The height could be set as low as 4 feet. However, the setting could also be adjusted as high as 9 feet. It would be unlikely any dog would make that kind of leap. Dear Dog Talk: I always look forward to your column every week in the Tribune-Review. Perhaps you should have mentioned the “con” to Invisible Fencing. Namely that it does not keep other animals/dogs out! The runaway whippet is small and nonaggressive. However, if he’s territorial and attacks another dog that enters his yard, he’s apt to get eaten alive. My yard is fully fenced with regular cyclone fencing. I like it that way. My dog is safe and I don’t have to clean up anybody else’s doggy-doo. Dear Fenced: Thank you for pointing out this fact. Electronic pet containment systems do not keep other animals (or people) out of the yard. People that I have queried about this factor have been basically split down the middle on how they feel about this. About half say, “The one thing I don’t like about the system is that other dogs can still come into my yard.” The other half say, “I love the fact that Sparky never leaves our yard, but Fleagle the Beagle next door can still come over and play with him whenever she wants to.” I guess it all depends on individual situations. However, it is a factor to think about when one considers an electronic pet containment system.

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