Laredo and the new invisible fence - Part ONE

Before you read another word I have to say about my installing and training Laredo on an electric fence..... drop your opinion and your judgements at the door well at the blog LOL.

I love my dog. He is my first baby. He was my first big responsibility. He slept in bed with me until Wade kicked him out and had had the rule of the house until kiddos and their toys took over his space. He was always by my side until we got a brand new house and now he is mainly outside. Writing this I feel sad....it feels like he has gotten kicked out of my life to some degree....

But the truth is bigger and better than this. The truth is I am a better parent because of taking the time to learn how to train him and work with him. He is too old to climb up into bed with me...his arthritis is getting worse all the time. He prefers a comfy warm spot in the sun....period. If he can see me it is all that better. He is good with my babies and I think I am being honest when I say he loves them and all their toys as much as they love him. And the outside living now....well I do sneak him in when the weather sucks or I just miss him. He is outside because of ticks and nails on my hardwood and all that endless hair. I am working on these things with frontline and brushing and clipping (which I need to get better at...I just hate hurting him accidentally).

He loves to be outside. He sniffs all the trails the deer leave and he carefully just watches the squirrels. He gives a quick bark when people or cars he does not know come down the street. He rolls in the grass and snuggles with the cat. He naps in the sun and licks the BBQ. Our weather is not bad here in North Carolina. We spend tons, I mean tons of time outside and on our deck with him! All these things make be honestly believe he likes it outside. He likes it soooo much outside that he wonders out of our huge yard into all the neighbors yards and explores the woods for a while before he makes his way home. It bothers neighbors and it worries me....he could be hit by a car or get into trouble with all the snakes. I just want him to stay around our house....seriously it is an acre.

So we installed an electric fence. We dug over 850 feet of wire. Put the white flags up every 10 feet. Of course we read and read and read about it. We watched videos and zapped our selves to be sure it was not horrible. I assumed my sweet, well trained almost 10 year old lab would have no problem understanding where the fence was. He would be able to come and go from the garage and all around the yard as he pleased.

Well training has been harder than I thought.