Please Say, “Nooo!” to Electronic Containment Systems for Dogs
Let’s talk about how many of us have seen that dog behind the electric fence.
You are out on a walk, maybe with your dog, maybe without, and a dog comes barking and lunging. Your heart stops and you jump. And then just as quickly as it started, the dog stops. He may still be barking frantically and running back-and-forth, but he suddenly stops running towards you. It’s then that you realize what it is – an underground fence that jolts the pet with an electric current via the shock collar you see around his neck.
A Mile in Their Paws
Think about life for this dog. What might a dog in this situation be trying to say?
Perhaps the pup is saying, “Stay away! Stay away! There is something very painful here that is in between us. I can’t come to you because it’s here all the time. I can’t see it, but I can tell you for sure that it is here and that it hurts.”
Perhaps the dog is saying, “You better stay away! You make something very painful happen to me. I have been hurt when I have run out here before. So, stay away because if I could get to you, I would bite you because I know it’s you that makes this pain happen.”
Either way, it’s not good.
Why would we subject anybody we love to this experience? Electrodes in your neck, giving you terrible pain.
It really does hurt. Don’t listen to anybody who tells you that it doesn’t.
The system has to be aversive (a noxious or punishing stimulus) in order to prevent the pet from crossing the barrier. What is it then? It is detrimental to dogs. It is cruel, unethical and inhumane.
Unintended Consequences
I had one client who told me they were thinking about putting in an electronic containment system. I asked them please not to. I gave a list of reasons why. They called me two months later. You guessed it; they installed it anyway.
Their poor sweet guy was now afraid to poop in his yard! He leaned over too far one day while he was pooping and got shocked.
Now every day promised a horrible time for him, as he would go to the door, cry, tremble and poop right inside. Not a great time for his human, either.
There are many such stories.
Another client explained to me that her husband insisted on installing an electric fence around their yard. He said everybody has them and they are “absolutely fine.”
However, after being shocked in their yard, their dear dog curled up into a ball and trembled.
Mom had to start taking her into the car and driving her down the street to go to the bathroom!
It took us a while to help this dog to see that the evil was no longer in her yard.
Being an Educated Consumer
Plus, some dogs are so excited to see a chipmunk or a squirrel that they run right through the electronic barrier. They get to the other side and then they are rightly afraid to return, knowing they will experience a painful electric shock when they do. Depending on how long it takes for humans to realize the pet is gone, some dogs are out there after dark and terrible things can happen to them.
Also important to know is that humidity, rain, any of the elements, can affect how the shock feels to your pet.
Worse still, there’s nobody looking closely to regulate electronic containment systems either, the way we regulate other electronic devices – like our toaster ovens.
Kindness for the Win
If you would like to avoid pet containment systems that use pain and fear, alternatives include:
- Always a real fence, of course. There are many different fencing companies to choose from. If you are handy, you can put something up yourself.
- Today, we can order panels, which I have helped clients with small and large yards to pick out.
- Sniffspots are fabulous options where you can go and pay a minimal amount to rent somebody’s fenced-in yard for an hour.
- There are tie-outs of all kinds, where a dog can feel comfortable on a very long line. Just always be sure that it is set up safely.
So many wonderful, wonderful options. All of us should want to remove any options that cause pain! Aversive ways should be taken forever off of the table. They should be outlawed.
So, the next time somebody says to you, “Get an electric fence. It’s great,” remember what you read here. Remember that it is not great – not for pets, and not for the families and professionals who have to manage the fallout.
Be an advocate for pets. Be their voice and share this post with others.
Help create a kinder world for dogs.
About the Author
Debbie Sheridan is a proud Pet Professional Guild member, sitting on the Advocacy and Inclusivity committees. She is a certified Dog Bite Prevention Educator, applied animal behavior consultant, an end -of-life doula for companion animals and has completed Michael Shikashio’s Aggression in Dogs Master Course. She works primarily with fearful and anxious dogs who need extra understanding. You can find her at her Debbie’s 4 Dogs website or Facebook Page where she promotes kindness always for the win, helping you, the human, to better understand all issues through the eyes of your dog.
Keep the Discussion Going…
Join the PPG Advocacy Panel for a live session discussing:
‘No! to Electronic Containment Systems for Dogs & Cats‘
Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Where: Live-Streamed on PPG’s Facebook Page! Those who choose not to view the live feed on Facebook may access these events using Zoom, where we will also provide closed captioning. Register for the Zoom link here.
Your Moderators: Don Hanson & Niki Tudge
The PPG Advocacy Panel was established to further PPG’s mission of supporting pet guardians and professionals. We believe it is critical that pet guardians are equipped with the tools they need to ask informed questions of professionals prior to hiring them.
To effectively reach the largest audience of pet guardians, the Advocacy Panel launched a monthly Facebook Live event hosted by PPG and showcasing a number of experts discussing topical pet-related issues.
