Electric Fence Training...

Also, if you observed your dog being trained by a fencing company please describe what method they used.....

So far I have trained two dogs to an underground electric fence sucessfully. I use the same techniques for both. One I trained four years ago (as one year old) and I just finished with the 8 mo puppy this weekend. (just pulled up the last flag on Sunday).

Both dogs had a good recall and paid attention before I even started. Taught them both that the best, safest and most fun place to be was right next to me in the yard. I started with the tone only no correction setting on the collar on a long training lead. As soon as they heard the tone I had them come to me, away from the barrier and into the yard, for a treat and praise. Once this response was well trained I turned the collar to the correction mode and continued the same way. If they received a correction and started to head out of the yard I would tighten the lead and make sure they came back in to the yard. They always receive treats and praise when they returned to the safe area of the yard. Then I started training them when the rabbits, squirrels and other interesting stuff was on the other side of the barrier. Always treats and praise when they came back to the safe area. Then no lead and finally I start slowing removing flags. Last of all, I trust them outside on their own for 5 minutes then gradually increasing it.

They only are allowed to cross the barrier on one walkway with a leash on. I make a big production of putting on the leash and hold their collar tight and say “you are safe” before we walk across the barrier both ways.

The older dog is totally trustworthy in the yard even without her collar on she respects the barrier. She crossed the barrier maybe three times in the beginning and waited barking at the walkway to get back in the yard. I went out with the leash and walked her back. I learned to keep her inside the house when my son left for school in the morning at the start. Twice she crossed the barrier to follow him. Once to go visit a neighbor cat. She has a high prey drive but continues to be very good.

The puppy is doing great. He has the older dog to set a good example. The only two times he has crossed the barrier was to follow a family member who was leaving. So we make sure he is inside when someone leaves unless someone else is out with him to coach him to stay behind the barrier.

Make sure the batteries are good. Spend lots of time in the yard with them once they are off lead. Know the situations where they are most attractive to them to leave the yard and make sure you are out there with them coaching them through the situation. Once you trust them to be outside in the yard without you be aware of their barking etc. If they sound like they are getting excited I go and check the situation out. Spend lots of time playing with them in the yard so it#%92s fun to stay in the yard.

Train the people who regularly may interact with the dogs. My kids, my neighbors and their kids all understand that under no circumstance will I tolerate any teasing of the dogs, especially from someone on the other side of the barrier. The dogs are never out unless someone is home and can monitor their activity in the yard. Only the back of our house is e-fenced so dogs can#%92t run right up to the sidewalk where people may be walking or kids riding their bikes.

So far the only problem has been the occasional loose dog that wanders in but both our dogs willingly have come into the house immediately when that happened. I keep a can of Direct Stop by the back door just in case.

Thanks for the input.  How long did it take you to completel this training with each dog?

It took about 6-7 weeks before I felt they were reliably trained. When people ask me if I recommend efences I always tell them it take a huge investment of time. You really need to commit to working with your dog everyday to make it a success. I know a lots of people who tell me they were a waste of money but when you ask they were not into doing the training. I also planned the layout of the fence carefully so that there were visible cues to the dogs where the barrier was once the flags were removed. It runs along the driveway and along planting areas etc. It doesn't run down the middle of the grass. I think this helps with preventing the dogs running through the barrier when they get excited and are paying close attention to their location.

The trainer at the shelter where I work is working with a rottwieler right now.  She says hes fine with the collar on but when its not on its like he knows it and goes running (dragging her).  Since he is so well behaved when hes got it on (like he recognizes it) she gets me to get one of the other dogs and go right outside of the fence and have all kinds of fun with it to "temp" him into trying to cross it.  We did that today and he only tried once, after that he sat inside the fence.   Even the temptation was not enough to lure him into trying, he didnt want to feel it again.  But, shes frustrated b/c he goes running when she takes it off.
 
Just wanted to let you know the tempting them idea.  But shes trying to get to where this dog will not NEED it on all the time.

took less than a week. We put a very thick and obvious boundary of the white flags up-- many more than recommended, basically a complete wall of flags all around the yard. Put the collars on the dogs. Put leash on dog and walked dog near to flags. On loose leash, let the dog interact freely with the flags-- if he moved forward, he got shocked by the fence and was then urged by the person to back up, if instead he backed up or turned away he was praised and given a treat. Did this multiple times a day, all around the yard boundaries, for three or four days. Average number of shocks per dog was two. Usually after one shock the dogs became quite wary of the flags. In between boundary training sessions we spent a lot of time out in the middle of the yard playing with the dogs (dogs on long lines) and just making being in the yard itself a lot of fun. After three or four days we stopped formal boundary training sessions (because the dogs clearly understood to stay away from the flags) and just kept the dogs on long lines out in the yard and continued the "gee its fun to be in the yard away from the flags". After two weeks we took the long lines off but made sure we were out there in the yard at all times the dogs were out, and we gradually began picking up the flags (took around six months for us to completely remove them). The only way the dogs have ever left the yard was in a car. We had exactly one run-through of the fence, about two weeks into the training, when the SO walked across the boundary to pick up some debris and a dog followed him. SO took collar off and carried the dog back in. And that was that.
I think it may be much more difficult with a dog who has a history of being able to freely leave the yard. Ours was a new house, and the fence was put in by us before we moved the dogs over.

Thanks mudpuppy,
That is the method we currently use, just without the thick wall of flags. 
I appreciate the input.

Im sorry I should have added that, there are flags around the boundries shes using, just not thick, Id say every 2 feet.

I am going to try and do this in record time 2morow.  These people are way to careless with the dog so I better get the job done...and fast.