Invisible electric fence in front yard - etiquette?

[Anonymous]

Our neighbors put an electric fence in their front yard and regularly let their dog play in the front unleashed while they are inside the house, for an hour or more at a stretch. We live on a somewhat busy street with lots of people walking by and the dog is constantly barking at people walking and running by, and often the people walking by get freaked out (esp those with dogs or little kids) because they don’t realize there’s an invisible fence (also, occasionally the dog runs right through the “fence” anyway). Several times I’ve been outside and had people yell at me for not restraining my dog - I guess they assume it’s mine even though it’s in the yard next door - and I have to awkwardly explain it’s not my dog and there’s an electric fence in place.

Is this acceptable dog etiquette / use of an invisible fence? I don’t know much about dogs but it strikes me as irresponsible and unneighborly. They have a decent back yard that’s fully fenced but apparently the dog prefers the front.

[Anonymous]

We have a neighbor with an extremely friendly large dog that does this. They are similar with the fully fenced backyard. I think it’s inconsiderate of your neighbors with children playing and dogs walking by; I have to cross the street to walk by their house, not because their dog is unfriendly but because MY dog gets super rolled up by this offleash dog. I also have to think their yard is full of poop because they are not with the dog much of the time. I would take another route but I’d have to walk well out of my way to get to the walking trail in our neighborhood. So, yes, inconsiderate, but no, nothing you can do unless you have an HOA that prohibits it. The problem may solve itself when the dog escapes and is stolen or hit by a car.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's acceptable. I have a big goofy lab who thinks every person who walks by wants to pet him and be his friend. He's also 80 pounds. Dog is only allowed in backyard unattended. I'm not worried about him biting or running towards someone else, but completely understand that people who don't know him would have that concern.

[Anonymous]

yup, invisible fences in general are not a good idea for these and other reasons...very un-neighborly and rude, especially since they have a fully-fenced backyard!

[Anonymous]

Our neighbors had a Rottweiler behind their electric fence in their front yard. Apparently I was the only neighbor who expressed concern.

Happily, this family has moved.

Might want to involve your HOA and or animal control. Capture a few escapes on video.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's acceptable. I have a big goofy lab who thinks every person who walks by wants to pet him and be his friend. He's also 80 pounds. Dog is only allowed in backyard unattended. I'm not worried about him biting or running towards someone else, but completely understand that people who don't know him would have that concern.

Thank you for being a decent human.

[Anonymous]

Not acceptable if the fence is not working and the dog is bounding out. My first instinct would be to let neighbors know that Rover is escaping and that you are worried about Rover's safety--first from traffic and second from people who might haul him off to animal control.

But if your neighbors don't respond, you use video + calls to animal control as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not acceptable if the fence is not working and the dog is bounding out. My first instinct would be to let neighbors know that Rover is escaping and that you are worried about Rover's safety--first from traffic and second from people who might haul him off to animal control.

But if your neighbors don't respond, you use video + calls to animal control as needed.

Rover is not escaping. It’s just shocking to people who don’t know Rover will stop at property line but see a big dog running and barking at them.

I grew up in an area with lots of invisible fences but not a lot in the DMV. Interested to hear the responses.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think it's rude. Our neighbor has one and the two dogs are constantly out there barking at everyone as they go by. We have to drag our dog by their yard and it used to scare our children.

Were we to get one, we would limit it to the back of the house so the dog isn't charging at people walking by on the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not acceptable if the fence is not working and the dog is bounding out. My first instinct would be to let neighbors know that Rover is escaping and that you are worried about Rover's safety--first from traffic and second from people who might haul him off to animal control.

But if your neighbors don't respond, you use video + calls to animal control as needed.

Rover is not escaping. It’s just shocking to people who don’t know Rover will stop at property line but see a big dog running and barking at them.

I grew up in an area with lots of invisible fences but not a lot in the DMV. Interested to hear the responses.

Wrong. OP said he occasionally runs right through. There is a dog like this in my neighborhood and it drives me freaking crazy! And even when he isn’t running through he is barking like mad at everyone who walks by. Their house is near a walking trail and I have seen this dog out loose on the trail 4 times! Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

We had neighbors who had and invisible fence and two huge boxers who barked aggressively at us when we would walk by, with or without our dogs. They remained at their boundary but the boundary was right at the edge of our property, so they would get within 6 inches of the sidewalk and bark and growl. It was worst when my dogs would be with us, walking on leashes. I'm so glad they moved. It's not OK.

[Anonymous]

The dog is well aware that a regular fence is a boundary that is visual and understood. The invisible fence makes for a more aggressive dog because they feel they have to defend it (since other dogs/ people etc) don’t “see” it. Thus you get a lot of barking and defending. Yes it’s very rude. And hard on the dog as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dog is well aware that a regular fence is a boundary that is visual and understood. The invisible fence makes for a more aggressive dog because they feel they have to defend it (since other dogs/ people etc) don’t “see” it. Thus you get a lot of barking and defending. Yes it’s very rude. And hard on the dog as well.

That is hilarious. I wish my dog were that kind of genius.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dog is well aware that a regular fence is a boundary that is visual and understood. The invisible fence makes for a more aggressive dog because they feel they have to defend it (since other dogs/ people etc) don’t “see” it. Thus you get a lot of barking and defending. Yes it’s very rude. And hard on the dog as well.

That is hilarious. I wish my dog were that kind of genius.

It’s clear you know nothing about animal behavior. It’s not your dog whose not a genius...

[Anonymous]

Do they have a visible sign for the Invisible Fence? I'm in the minority, I think it's OK for the dogs to be out front but I can see how it scares people if the dog is seemingly out of control. What is not OK is that the dog can run out of the fence area, that's a major issue, much greater issue. It's dangerous for him and for the neighbors.