If you have a doggy door....

[ChristyMarie]

Do you let the dog use it when you are not there?

Here's the set up...we have an invisible fence. If we had a regular fence this wouldn't be so much of an issue. But we cannot have a real fence, just the invisible. So far our dog does really really well with it. We also live in a completely enclosed/gated community so even if he got out, he can't go far. In fact, he got out once when the battery died and a guard had him at our driveway waiting.

So we think we're going to do a doggy door because he likes to go in and out during the day. We'd close it at night. We're wondering if people let their dogs use it during the day if you are not there. It seems like that is kind of the purpose but at the same time we're not sure about him being in the yard completely alone.

Thoughts?

If it matters, Sam is a 6 month old english lab. A very PITA lab - he gets into stuff, he explores, etc.

[Ola_]

With an invisible fence - never. Honestly I wouldn't want my dogs to have access to our fenced backyard while we're not there, there is a lot of trouble they can get into!

[greenmagick]

I wouldnt do it. A problem with invisible fencing is even if your dog is 100% on not going through, anything or anyone else can get in.

[lilyka]

not a chance. I would never leave my dog unattended with an invisible fence. all they do is keep your dog from going out. anyone can come in. anything can come in. My dog does not know your dog will stop and she will freak out! not to mention i know plenty of dogs who have gotten out. even though you live in a gated community that does not prevent your bored unsupervised dog from making mischief of one kind or another.

[Oubliette8]

absolutely not with an invisible fence. Dogs need to be supervised with them- not only do dogs learn to run through them with some regularity, but it doesn't stop children or animals from entering your property. Your dog could be attacked by another animal or stolen while you are not home. Further, what if a child wandered into your yard? He could nip, or something as innocent as an overenthusiastic greeting from a large dog could injure a small child. I would never, ever, trust an invisible fence with an unsupervised dog, especially if you aren't even home.

Dog doors can also be a security risk to your home, and if you have small children, they've been known to crawl out of dog doors before, so you should do some research on safety before getting one if you haven't already.

[mistymama]

Nope, I wouldn't do it with an invisible fence - way too much could happen.

We have a dog door out to our patio (we live in a second story apartment) but that is just for our dog to go in and out and enjoy the sun on the patio while we are home. Whenever we are gone, he's crated.

[ChristyMarie]

Originally Posted by Oubliette8

Dog doors can also be a security risk to your home, and if you have small children, they've been known to crawl out of dog doors before, so you should do some research on safety before getting one if you haven't already.

We would be purchasing one of the electronic ones that only opens with a signal from a key on his collar.

[waterproofmascara]

I do not like invisible fencing at all; it seems to me that it just traps your dog from being able to flee danger.

One of my friends lost her dear JRT to a wolf-dog hybrid (which are illegal in my state) b/c the JRT was in his invisible fence, but it did not stop the other dog from coming in and killing him. And to make it worse, my friend was home, but it happened so quickly that there was nothing she could do.

[lilyka]

invisible fences have their place though. it is a nice to be able to let your dog out to pee without having to have them on a leash (my dog will poop so much faster if she has a little privacy). or out with the family. but I wouldn't think it was the eqivilent of a real fence.

[nd_deadhead]

If I was your neighbor, I would prefer you not leave your dog outside when you aren't home. We have neighbors with a fenced yard and a dog door, and their two dogs bark CONSTANTLY when they are outside. If the people are home, they can let the dogs in when someone calls to complain; if they are not home, we have to put up with barking for hours.

Sure, our dogs LIKE to go outside - when I'm home during the day, my dog will ask to go out numerous times, and usuallu it's just to lay in the sun on the front steps and watch the world go by. Does he "need" to go out 6 times in 8 hours? Absolutely not. Left alone in the house, he sleeps on the couch or in his bed, and doesn't mind a bit.

[thtr4me]

We don't let our dogs go out when we are not home. Even with a traditional fence, I just don't trust them to stay out of trouble.

[cocoanib]

I would never trust my dogs outside without me, fence or not. Especially one that age. Anything could happen.