HKS - I looked at that one, if you end up getting it, let me know how it works.

JonBoy - I think I'm going to try your idea first, see if they can learn that way, otherwise I'll obviously have to try some other things. I think this would work because the whole yard is fenced in, it's just when they are bored they try to get out and they may dig/smash into the fence for hours at a time trying to get out, so a shock would be a deterrent to that.

 

HKS, the problem with constant shocks is the dog may not understand he needs to come back for it to stop, esp. if he's getting zapped. Might wind up really injuring him or messing up his head.

 

My dog is dumb as a box of rocks and she ran away both times she got zapped. Since the wire is close to the fence, there's only really one direction to run and that's away from the electric wire.

If you put the wire 4" above the ground, they basically end up touching it with their paw or nose/face so it's very natural for them to leap backwards and away from the fence and zapping.

 

I tried this on my lab, the first time she got shocked she squealed loudly, so I put it on to see what it feels like. It is quite a shock, I put it around my leg and it shocked me pretty good, imagine what it feels like around your neck!!!! I immediately gave up on it. Those who have it should see how it feels!!! Train your dog to stay in the yard.

 

I tested the electric fence on myself before I allowed it to shock my dog. It didn't jolt but it was a quick, sharp pain. I didn't enjoy it but I didn't die or anything.

My dog has thick fur and it's tough for her to get a shock at all. As such, it's probably reduced over what I felt and, like I said, it only took her two times to learn to stay away.