We just installed an invisible fence in our yard and our 1 year old boxer is doing fine with it, but on the other hand our almost 7 year old lab is not she has now been peeing and pooping in our house again. Before she would ask to go outside and do all of her business out there, but since we installed the fence she has been doing her business inside more and more. It is mostly when we leave the house that she does this. I am thinking about investing in another kennel to keep her in when we are gone, but it has been a long time since she has been confined to one of these will this cause more stress on her?

Yes will probably cause more stress, her being confined again. She will probably think she has done something wrong. The invisible fence is probably upsetting her. Is she properly trained with it? Does she understand the boundaries? If not she is afraid of her yard.

I have invisible fencing and I can see how stressful it would be for an older dog. Please follow the guidelines for training her on it and when she understands, she will be fine.

Tick

Who trained your dog after the fence was installed? I had an underground fence put in and my dog (a rescue, had been abused) was terrified, began going to the bathroom in the house, started chewing on her feet. I had the trainer come out twice and nothing change. We had a guarantee with the fence, our Vet agreed that the fence was not working and we had it removed.

I would install cheap wire fencing, the green stuff with the green metal stakes, in a 12 x 12 section near the door, for your lab to go in.

I agree with the others. The older dog did not get enough training about the fence, may need more training than the younger dog. The lab is associating going outside with a shock so pees inside instead. The lab has to associate the shock with the small flags placed around your perimeter. Also and improperly installed fence can have "hot sots" in places you don't know about. Take off the collar and walk around your yard so search for unwanted triggers

I would install cheap wire fencing, the green stuff with the green metal stakes, in a 12 x 12 section near the door, for your lab to go in.


Just an opinion but I think it's cruel and unnecessary to confine a dog to a 12'x12' area - dogs need to exercise. If the dog is afraid to go outside this is not going to work. Outside will still be outside. I personally fenced an acre and was not willing to confine my dog to a small area.

This is also not going to work if the dog climbs and/or digs.

Ballinger makes a good point when he mentions hot spots - the fence people DID talk to us about hot spots when my dog was so afraid.

I think the OP has to go back to the people who installed the fence with questions and concerns and ask them for suggestions. This can't be the first time they've heard this problem.

I have trained 3 dogs on invisible fencing, helped others, and I can tell you right now, patience is a virtue. There are really smart dogs who get the idea right away, and there are some dogs challenged as to the purpose, and there are some dogs who are completely dumb. They are like us, all individual and different levels of intelligence.

PATIENCE


Tick

I actually think the 12x12 area is a great idea. It will get the dog used to being outside again and re-train it without it having to be afraid of getting zapped by the invisible fence.

Then once the dog is re-trained to potty in the yard you can try training with the invisible fence again.

I agree with others that the dog is just too stressed/afraid to go into the yard now because it hasn't associated the zap with the boundary of the property, it has just associated the zap with the entire yard.

I know you didn't ask for opinions on invisible fences so feel free to ignore this part.
I personally think they are a terrible idea.
In theory they work so the dog gets a correction if they go near the boundary.
What if the dog spots a cat and completely ignores the shock?
They get out because their instincts make them chase the cat, and the adrenaline makes them ignore the shock but once that has worn off they aren't going to risk a shock to get back IN to your yard.

Then there is the issue of other animals or people getting into your yard.
Only your dog has a collar to stop it getting out, other things don't have a collar to stop them getting in!

I honestly don't know why people would choose this type of fencing, it's very dangerous.