For people who own a dog that likes to roam, an electric dog fence may seem like the perfect answer.  No impact on the landscaping with an implied containment and a self monitoring system that “corrects” the dog if it attempts to leave the preset boundaries.  Unfortunately, there are some serious problems associated with these fences.

Collar Wise Behavior
Dogs are fairly smart when it comes to collars.  They learn fast that when a specific collar is on, they receive shocks and when it is off, they don’t.  It takes a great deal of effort to avoid this phenomenon, and even so, many dogs will figure out when they have a dummy collar on.  You can end up in a situation where your dog will bolt the second the collar is off, which kind of eliminates the point of the whole exercise.

Who is being protected?
Generally, the goal of getting an electric dog fence is to protect the dog from its own roaming.  Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work well.  If your dog is extremely excited by whatever distraction is about, it will dash across the fence line before it realizes what is happening.  The small shock collars won’t be enough to stop it when worked up.  Now you have a dog that is no longer agitated and is outside your property line and doesn’t want to come back because it will get shocked.

The other part of this equation is that you have a dog that may stay inside its fence, but that doesn’t prevent anyone else from entering the area.  Kids may come on your property to harass your dog, people may want to try and steal him, and other dogs have no problem entering the space.  The protection is very one sided.

A Correction System
As any good dog trainer will tell you, the invisible fence is a correction system.  If the dog responds to the warning beep, they don’t get shocked.  By complying with the initial correction, the dog avoids escalation.  In every correction system, the dog’s compliance is the key factor.  The dog chooses to comply with the correction.  At any time that the dog is too distracted or simply accepts the correction as the price of doing what he wants, it won’t work.

Not a Substitute
An electric pet fence is not a substitute for spending time with your pets and training them properly.  While it can be used to discourage roaming and other negative behaviors, it is the owner’s responsibility to provide stimulation, attention, and love.  Neglected dogs are much more likely to roam than well bonded animals.

Combinations can be effective
Using an electric fence can be very effective when combined with a solid fence.  The solid fence protects your dog from other dogs, animals, and people, while the electric fence discourages them from digging or testing the boundaries of the solid fence.  If you have a dog that really needs to burn off energy outside, a good, enclosed dog run may be the best answer if you don’t have the time to exercise them daily.

If you are considering getting and electric pet fence, there are some things to consider before completing a purchase.  Your dog’s temperament, your available time, mechanical skill, and the size of your yard are all variables that need to be addressed for the installation to be a success.  This is one of those situations where an appealing product can become a nightmare without the proper preparations, but a real gift if you know what you are getting into.

Consider your Dogs
An invisible fence isn’t going to work for all dogs.  If you have a nervous or excitable dog, it can be very difficult to train them to use an electric fence properly.  The fence depends upon animal compliance with a shock system administered by a special box on the collar.  Some animals can’t overcome being easily distracted or may get too frightened by the experience of being shocked for the training to remain effective.

Think about your goals with the fencing.  Do you want to be able to allow your dog outside without supervision?  This fence can work for that, but it won’t keep people from entering your yard or harassing your dog.  It also won’t put a barrier between a barking dog and the sidewalk.  On the other hand, this system does work very well at keeping your dog out of certain areas of your yard such as gardens and flower beds.

Got Time?
The installation process is easy and only takes a few hours at most.  The problems with time management begin after you have installed the fence as daily training of your dog may take up to several weeks.  On top of the original training, you will need to refresh the lessons periodically if your dog shows any signs of forgetting the drill.

You you also have to keep the collar charged at all times.  If you let it run down, you run the risk of your pet leaving the yard because the signal didn’t alert him to stop moving.  If you have more than one dog using the system, this issue is compounded.

Will this work in Your Yard?
While larger yards will take more time and money to install an invisible fence, it can be done.  Or, you may want to consider using the fence on only part of the yard instead.  It is important to remember that if you are fencing the dog in a highly visible area, this will not keep tormentors away from him and may make harassing your dog much easier.  Also, this fence will not keep your dog from barking at passers-by either.  Placement of the fence is key to its success.

Conclusions
If you have considered all the possible problems as well as the benefits and still believe that you can make an electric dog fence work well, I urge you to take some time looking at the options and pick the fence that will accommodate your needs best.

Orthopedic dog beds take many forms and range quite a bit in price based upon the technology they use.  The simplest form of an orthopedic bed involves a sandwich of egg crate-like material that is combined with a soft, easily washed cover, as well as internal cedar chips.  The bed is soft, comfortable. and stays fresh smelling. 

Gel beds use the same technology as is used in fancy hospital beds.  A honeycomb shaped gel-like structure inside the bed is designed to spread weight evenly and does a good job at it even with relatively heavy dogs.  These beds are covered with a high tech fabric that is antimicrobial and washes well.  The bed itself is also washable, making this a really good choice for incontinent dogs.

Spring coil beds are made just like human beds.  They are relatively tall once you add up the height of coils, padding, and foam, so they aren’t really ideal for mobility challenged dogs.  They generally have waterproof removable liners that are easily washed, but like many such beds with removable liners, it is challenging to get the covers back on.

Memory foam beds are made from the same stuff we see in the fancy, high-end human mattresses.  Swedish foam makes for a dense, form fitting bed, making the bed itself heavy, but very comfortable for injured, old, or arthritic animals.  Removable covers are pretty standard here as well.

Look for a dog bed that is large enough for your dog to fit comfortably, is easy to clean, and is low enough for your pet to get onto easily.  If you have special requirements, ask about options for a bed you like.  Getting a waterproof cover may be all you need to convert a close match to the perfect bed.

Dogs that eat from bowls laid on the floor inevitably swallow a lot of air with their food.  Elevated dog bowls bring the food up to their level, and reduce strain on joints and make the experience of eating more pleasant.  A dog should be eating from a bowl that is no more than six inches below mouth level when the dog is upright.  Unless you have a very small dog, there is no way that the floor is six inches away.

Good posture while eating isn’t just for people.  “Sit up straight and chew your food!” Sound familiar?  Well, the same goes for animals.  A dog’s natural posture is head up.  When forced to eat head down they adapt, but it really isn’t good for them.  Wrists and forearms take a lot of strain in this position and for an older or arthritic dog, it just plain hurts.  By bringing the food up off the floor you reduce the chance that it will attract unwanted attention.  Both babies and ants like dog food; why make things easy on them? 

You can get raised dog feeders to suit any need you have.  Whether you choose something custom made to match your interior decorating or a simple design with a single bowl, your dog will thank you.  If you have a dog door that allows your dog access to the yard at any time, consider putting an elevated bowl outside so your pet can drink whenever they want to, without messing up the kitchen.  Another great reason for elevated dog bowls, I don’t have to bend down quite so far to refill them.

Dog bowls have changed over the years. You can still find the basic metal or ceramic units of the past, but many more options exist. The typical bowl rests upon the ground, or perhaps on a mat, while elevated dog feeders bring the bowl up to your dog’s natural height. No matter what bowl you do choose you want it to reflect your personality and accommodate your dog’s needs. Here are some ideas, in no particular order.

Plastic bowls come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Inexpensive and practical, they can be thrown in the dishwasher when dirty. Unfortunately they can also be chewed up by your pet when they get bored. Scratches and nicks can harbor bacteria, but since they tend to be cheap, they are easily replaced as needed.

Ceramic dog bowls are available in a seemingly endless selection of shapes, colors, sizes and patterns. It is with ceramic dog bowls that you really get to display your style. From simple bowls inscribed with your pet’s name to incredibly intricate stylized varieties, ceramic lends itself to creativity. With a glazed surface the bowl is easy to stick in the dishwasher making cleaning a breeze, however, like any other ceramic product; dog bowls chip and crack when struck. Bacteria can hide in small cracks and pieces of a broken bowl are hazardous.

Metal bowls are generally made from stainless steel. Easily washable and very durable metal bowls may have a skid proof rubber base to keep them in place as your pet eats. With a wide base and tall sides these bowls are as basic as they come. Available in a large variety of sizes they are safe, long lasting and inexpensive.

Elevated bowls help adjust the height at which your dog eats. Dogs should eat with their heads no lower than 6 inches below their normal position. This prevents your dog from swallowing large quantities of air when eating. That air causes stomach bloat in some animals. Elevated systems come with one or more bowls and at varying heights to accommodate different animals.

Automatic bowls are connected to a container that keeps a constant supply of food or water on hand for your pet. As long as you don’t have an animal that will eat as long as there is food available, these bowls can be very useful if you have to be out of the house for a long period of time and you have a pet door that lets your dog go out to the yard when needed. They are not feasible for animals that eat constantly if the supply is constant.

In addition to the standard bowl used in feeding your pet at home, there are a number of specialty bowls. For those who travel a lot biodegradable, disposable bowls are available. You use them several times and then toss them when they start to look shabby. Other bowls are made of collapsible plastic or nylon and are waterproof. Some of the nylon models come in two sections allowing you to store food in one side and then pour water in the other side when needed. When your dog finishes you just wipe out the bowls and put them away.