You know how frustrating it can be if your dog sees your yard as a suggestion, not a boundary. When you call their name they look back, think about the situation, and take off. You put a fence and they dig under it before the concrete sets. You go with a wireless network – they just step right through like it’s no big deal.
You don’t have a bad dog. Your dog is dynamic, high drive. When it comes to containment, high-drive dogs require a different kind of approach.
We install and service underground dog fences all over Southeast Michigan and some of our most frequent calls are made by owners of huskies, beagles, hardwired-for-these owners of terriers, German shepherds, and others who are independent. Here are some things that really work with that stubborn dog – and why most containment problems occur before the system even gets a chance.
Why Stubborn Breeds Are Different
If you can only learn their escape reasons, you can be more successful in controlling them.
Huskies were bred to run, literally. In many instances, Siberian and Alaskan huskies are more inclined to follow instructions than to run for distance. It’s quite normal for a husky to follow a scent or run to clear up boredom; after all, that’s what they’re supposed to do. The same drive also involves a high pain tolerance and a high threshold for deterrents.
Beagles are scent dogs. When a beagle smells something intriguing, whether it be a rabbit, deer trail, neighbors’ grill, his brain turns off all other smells. Puppies of any beagle breed are known for pursuing a scent down a driveway without paying any attention to the owner.
Terriers, German Shepherds, Malinois, Dachshunds, Weimaraners all fit into the same category for a variety of reasons – prey drive, work drive, or just stubbornness after decades of making their own choices in the field.
What these breeds have in common: a tendency to cross the line stronger than a basic correction level. It is the real issue and a professional fence digging service does just that.
The #1 Reason Underground Fences Fail with Stubborn Dogs
Before we discuss which systems are best, the first problem to discuss is the most common failure – and it isn’t a function of the equipment brand.
The correction level is set too low.
Most big box store pet fence kits come with a standard correction level which is sufficient for a quiet, food-driven labrador. At best, they do very little for a husky mid chase or a beagle on a scent trail. If a high drive dog hits the boundary and he feels a correction that is not commensurate with his arousal level, he pushes through. Once they have learned that they can, then you have a containment problem that is more difficult to address than ever before.
That’s why it’s so important to have a professional calibration for difficult breeds. An experienced installer evaluates your dog’s size, coat thickness, temperament and drive level and sets the correction to the correct level before you start training. It’s not about being mean, it’s about being effective at the time of need.
What Makes an Underground Fence Work for High-Drive Breeds
An underground dog fence is reliable for escape artists for several reasons:
- Adjustable, high-range correction levels
Not every system is the same. Consumer systems would normally reach a maximum of 4 or 5 correction levels. Higher-quality systems, such as Pet Stop and Dog Guard, have larger correction ranges and smaller increments, so you can look for that perfect spot that will let your husky know, but not be too harsh on your beagle.
- Wide boundary zone
High-drive dogs take things to the extreme. A beagle, tracking a scent, who hears the warning beep at 5 feet from the wire is already on the hunt. An expanded boundary zone (8-10 feet) provides the warning beep more time to register before the dog reaches the correction zone – and before momentum kicks in. This can be adjusted by the professional installation, but not necessarily by off-the-shelf kits.
- Proper collar fit and contact point placement
If a receiver collar is not making good contact with the skin, it’s not a receiver collar. Huskies and German shepherds have a dense double coat that can push the contact points away from the skin around the neck. For thick-coated breeds we employ extended contact points, and we always check fit prior to the training session. It is a major cause of the “the fence doesn’t work” enquiries we get for DIY installations.
- A longer, more structured training protocol
Most dogs can be successfully trained to carry the flag for 14 days without needing any special training. Stubborn breeds may require 3-4 weeks of repetition, and a more gradual progression to off-leash time, particularly during the initial flag introduction phase. If you rush the training in order to save a week, you will end up spending far more time later.
Best Underground Dog Fence Systems for Stubborn Breeds in Michigan
Let’s take a look at the most popular, professional systems for high-drive pups:
Pet Stop
Pet Stop is always our recommended brand for tough dogs. It has a huge correction range, and the increments are very small and exact, allowing you to get a very high or a very low drive, depending on the dog you use. Progressive correction technology is effective in dogs that are more sensitive to signals that increase gradually over time, instead of signals that are simply set. Pet Stop also offers a variety of collar types for heavy-coated dogs, such as collars that have longer points of contact.
Dog Guard
For those who tend to escape easily, Dog Guard is another pro-level countdown that works well. It’s known for deep signal penetration – especially for big Michigan properties – and long-lasting, weather-proof components. Dog Guard’s correction range is consistently effective on high drive breeds, and collars are tough enough to withstand the rough outdoor use active breeds require.
Invisible Fence Brand
For the majority of dogs, Invisible Fence is the most popular brand of fencing. For very high-drive breeds, some professionals have reported that the correction ceiling is not as flexible as Pet Stop or Dog Guard – but depending on the type of dog. A professional can sometimes recalibrate or upgrade an existing Invisible Fence system, rather than replacing it, if you already have the system installed on your property.
PetSafe Consumer Systems
Solid mid-range systems are offered by PetSafe, but when it comes to truly stubborn breeds, the correction range and boundary width options of the consumer PetSafe units are not as complete. These are more appropriate for non-aggressive, docile breeds.
For Michigan beagles, husky dogs and terriers: Pet Stop or Dog Guard, professionally installed and calibrated. There is more to a consumer kit than just a brand – it is about the installer that knows how to set up the system for your particular dog.
Training Strategies That Make the Difference for Stubborn Breeds
The superior underground dog fence for escape artists is actually only as great as the training that went into it. With high-drive breeds, these are the things that work:
Start at the highest distraction threshold. Don’t begin flag training when squirrels are active or when neighborhood dogs are outside. First teach your dog to have a solid understanding of the boundary before testing it in high-distraction situations. Gradually introduce distractions during training.
Use extremely high-value rewards. The kibble is not going to vie with a squirrel for the beagle’s attention. Specifically and only when you’re teaching boundaries with your dog, use the very best treat they’re willing to work for – cooked chicken, cheese, hot dog. Rewards for retreating from the boundary should be more appealing than anything else on the other side.
Practice the retreat, not just the warning. Each time your dog hears the beep, and returns to the yard, the retreat is rewarded with enthusiasm. Your training isn’t only teaching the dog where the boundary is, you’re building a reflexive turn around behavior when the beep is sounded. It’s the reflex that helps to save stubborn breeds when prey drive is on the rise.
Increase supervision time before granting full off-leash freedom. After 2 weeks most dogs achieve off-leash yard access. If you have a husky or beagle, wait 3-4 weeks before letting them play off-leash, test off-leash in low distraction settings first, and supervise their time outside for one month.
The Bottom Line for Michigan Escape Artists
For stubborn dogs, the underground dog fence will not be broken – the method just needs to be tailored to the dog. A system that works is differentiated from one that doesn’t by using professional grade equipment, precise correction calibration, collar fit for dense coats, wider boundary zone and a longer training protocol.
Huskies, beagles, terriers and any other breed that seems to be a determined escape artist have been successfully contained across Oakland, Livingston, Genesee, and Wayne counties at Pet Containment Services. We don’t just run the wire and give you a book of instructions, we set up the system for your particular dog and remain with them during the training session to ensure it is working before we leave.
Ready to stop chasing your dog around the neighborhood? Call us at (248) 653-8873 or request a free in-home consultation. We serve Fenton, Brighton, Ann Arbor, Milford, Howell, Auburn Hills, and all of Southeast Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions: Underground Dog Fence for Stubborn Breeds
Yes, with a system that has a broad correction range, the correct collar for a thick double coat and longer training that most breeds do not have. Huskies that have moved beyond the regular consumer system, typically work well after the system is professionally tuned and the training is properly designed.
Yes, with appropriate system and training. The idea is to expand the zone of danger until the warning beep occurs before the beagle attains full-scent-lock momentum and to establish a firm runaway response during the training phase. Many beagles that appear to be “impossible” to control were just a level below their correction level for their drive level.
It’s never a guess and go by yourself. The right level for your dog will depend on their weight, coat, temperament, and drive level. A professional installer will test and dial in starting at the lowest effective level. Most high-drive breeds will end up with this being a higher setting than the manufacturer’s default.
Yes, of course it does, but it will need to be retrained from the start and it will usually take more corrections. Once a dog learns that he can push, he must have this association disrupted and a new, reliable boundary association established. This can definitely be corrected by a professional re-calibration and systematic retraining.
For high-drive breeds we usually recommend 8-10 feet, with calmer breeds we recommend 4-6 feet. The wider zone will buy the warning beep more time until the dog reaches the physical wire location, which is important for dogs that tend to get their momentum going.
Yes. Dogs are contained by an underground fence regardless of whether they dig, jump or run – it’s all about the signal of the collar (not a physical fence). A digger will be within the system’s range while digging 3 feet down. When a jumper crosses out of the signal field, he is nowhere else.