gate opener or invisible fencing

[Ziptie]

Background:
We have a GP dog almost one year old. A fully fenced seven acres with woven wire and electric fencing. The only place the big bugger can get out is the main gate getting on and off the property. We have tried training him but if I am not outside or he thinks I am not looking(yes he checks to see that I am not around before he goes) he sneaks out.
Part of the problem is we have a walking trail right next to the property. People can park and bring their dogs(or horses) for a walk and it is just too much temptation for him not to go mark things (he is a intact male).

So my first choice is to get the invisible fence, but it seems really spendy for a 14 foot opening. Plus the drive is far away from any power source.

You say well duh just close the gate. I would but DH refuses to get out of the car to open and close as he is coming and going from work. I have also tried several positive feedback training sessions with him to no avail.

That leads me to my second choice is a gate opener. About as spendy as the dog color, but that means I will have to clear the snow in morning before he leaves for work (or the gate would not open). Also, it looks like a lot of them have problems.

Anyone have used either of these two items with success?

[Maura]

An electric collar may not work with your dog. Also, I think you can get one that is above ground. You would have a couple of posts. Look it up, it may work better in your situation where you only have a small area to fence off.

I have used neither.

[ihuntgsps]

we had a similar problem with our mastiff's so we installed an innotek invisible fence over about 5 acres.

One thing you will want to do right away is buy heavier gauge wire to use with the system or you will be fixing breaks often due to things in the ground moving with the freeze thaw cycle. The wire that comes with it is very thin and cannot be buried deep enough that cattle walking over the buried wire/etc. (especially in muddy conditions) won't damage the wire.

Once we put the heavy wire in about 6-8" deep it worked great except for the times the dogs would chew on each others collars and loose them. We went through about 4 collars in 2 years due to this.

I vote for a gate opener. If you build the driveway up in that are before installing it will at least help with the drifting snow and be easier to dig out.

[Ozarks Tom]

I'd recommend a shock collar. You'll probably have to cut the neck hair some to get contact. I have a friend who has to put his GP in the truck to get him through the gate now, he can't even leash him through it. I've convinced dogs that sheep are electric, and they don't forget.

[hoddedloki]

Having sold and used electric fences, I will say that finding contacts that are long enough to get through a beard is hard, and your husband may not want to shave.

Sounds like an electric fence will not work, because even if you can train your dog, it will not keep the strays out of his (the dog's) space. I think you need a gate, and there are a couple of automatic types that might work for you.

Swinging- you have already looked into, and seen the problems, but it is the least costly modification. run power out, screw on the assembly, and you are done.
Sliding- you would still need to clear a small path for the gate, but less than a swinging gate. This will require a bit of length to the side f the gateway.
Cantilever- if you have the fence length available on one side of your gateway, this could easily work, and be relatively problem free, with no shoveling needed. (I have installed this type for my mother)
Vertical lift gate- as long as it is tall enough to admit delivery trucks, this style needs no straight run to the side of the gate, and requires basically no shoveling or de-icing in the winter, but is probably the most expensive and most visible. (Also can have problems in power outages.)

Installing a gate opener can cost a pretty penny, but will be less than the cost of emergency vet bills if your GP gets out and gets hit, or the lawsuit if he bites something expensive on that walking trail.

Loki

[TnAndy]

I'd vote gate opener as well, since you've already done the rest of the fence.

OR, anybody know if a cattle guard would work ? The pipe type with a pit under it ?

[karenp]

I think the gate would be a good idea, with that many people coming and going it will help keep them from wandering in as well as keep the dog from wandering out.

[cfuhrer]

Originally Posted by Ziptie

I would but DH refuses to get out of the car to open and close as he is coming and going from work. I have also tried several positive feedback training sessions with him to no avail.

Men sometimes just don't take to positive feedback training, it really is a shame. Could you train the dog to open and close the gate for him?

All kidding aside I would go with an e-collar.
Some dogs - most often hounds - can figure out how to beat an e-fence and if you are going to have to shovel snow you may as well open and close the gate for the hubby, too.

The only real drawback to an e-collar is that he will not be able to go outside alone until he is trained. All it takes is one slip to lose all your traction.

[Wolf mom]

You also have to think about the dog that becomes so focused that he'll run through an electric fence or shock collar, then whine when he want's to get back home. This you don't know until you've bought the collar or fence. Don't ask me how I know.

Think solar gate openers.

Would you really have to get up & shovel the snow for him? How many times a year would you have to do this?

[jwal10]

Gate. It keeps yours in and bad dogs or other animals off your property. They make a lift gate, one end raises like a crossing gate at a railroad crossing, does not touch the ground. Deep snow that freezes would be one problem though....James

http://www.tymetal.com/industrial-co...al-pivot-gate/

[billinwv]

I say gate opener. Mine has a solar charger hooked to a marine battery. Works great. It is slow to open, but the control kept in the vehicle will start it about 100' feet away. Problem may be the dog learns to leave before it closes. My LGD'S are half marema and will only leave the fenced area if an animal they are guarding gets out or if they need to take care of business. Man can they sail over a 5' fence if need be.

[mekasmom]

Originally Posted by Ziptie

Background:
We have a GP dog almost one year old.

Just so you know..... an invisible fence will not keep a GP. Been there done that with many GP and akbash...... They ignore invisible fences. It wouldn't work. I have seen them stop whine a little, flip their ears up and down until the fence stops shocking, then run on with a wagging tail. And that is with the "stubborn dog" collars. They don't work for LGDs. Actually..... not much works for GPs when they want to roam. You need a strong fence that has a determent netting to stop them from digging out. The best thing we fould was 6ft chain link with rabbit wire laying on the ground inside the fence all around it to keep them from digging out.

[maddy]

I'd put the e-collar on hubby.

[cfuhrer]

Originally Posted by TnAndy

I'd vote gate opener as well, since you've already done the rest of the fence.

OR, anybody know if a cattle guard would work ? The pipe type with a pit under it ?

Like all manner of methods, it depends on the animal.

I've personnally seen dogs horses and cattle cross guards without breaking stride.

[stickinthemud]

By chance, DD showed me an interesting lift gate on Facebook this morning. Looks like it could (mebby) be modified to work in your situation. Unfortunately, I don't know how to "share" Facebook stuff. It was posted by Sergio Augusto Silverio dated January 9, 2013 and this is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...type=2&theater

this is the missing part of the URL. Why do URLs get chopped up so you can't see the entire thing?
php?v=247105328754294&set=vr.247105328754294&type= 2&theater
and there is no space between the = and the 2&theater even though it looks like there is

[Ziptie]

stickinthemud-cool gate. DH said he didn't think it would open during the winter. What do you think?

maddy-tempting

Wolf mom-Yah, I was worried about the dog just running through. I figured I would have to shave the dogs neck to get some good contact. That's why I have waited to buy one, cause it is so cold here.

Actually, I refuse to go and clear the road before he goes to work. I am along the lines just drive over the snow and flatten it out. We have been married long enough for me to know that he will just leave the gate open and I will have to listen to his moaning and complaining about having to open it.

billinwv-What brand of gate opener do you have?

Has anyone heard of a sliding gate opener using a livestock gate? All the side sliding open gates I have seen are the black bar ones and those gates are really expensive.


I am leaning toward a getting the gate opener. Thanks for all the input it is helpful.

[stickinthemud]

i agree snow/ice may be a problem. I'd be worried about ice clogging the treadle mechanism. DD says the poster is from Brazil so I suspect snow/ice is not a problem there.

[jwal10]

I know the vertical, end opening gate opener I showed will work with a Farm gate or chain link gates. The sliding gate opener will work with both, also, problem being there is usually a wheel mechanism that supports the gate on the far end, that will not roll well in hard snow/ice.

I have a pipe farm gate with 2"x4" heavy welded wire on the one I showed. I didn't have room for the sliding gate at my farm property as the right of way/driveway is only 20' wide, just enough room for the opening and sentry (2 posts and operating mechanism)....James

[Maura]

Dog will jump over the cattle guard. Sheep in Britain learned to roll over them.

[Jlynnp]

Having owned, bred and trained many dogs over the years I can say I would never use an underground fence as it does nothing to protect your dog from outsiders. An e-collar is workable as along as you know how to properly use it and use it consistently each and every time, they can also ruin a dog if used improperly. Without any doubt I would go with an automatic gate.