To Fence Or Not To Fence?

I've been debating whether or not to fence the yard. Truth is, I have a fence already, but it's invisible. That is to say the Invisible Fence, described in promotional materials as an electronic pet containment system.

In my opinion, it has lots of advantages over traditional fences. For one, the dog has the run of the entire yard, front and back. There's no unsightly boundary between properties. And since I live in a wooded area, an Invisible Fence preserves the look of wide open spaces. It's also less expensive, lower maintenance and longer lasting than the visible variety.

As for my Invisible Fence, I can attest to its effectiveness - at least for the three Boxers I've owned. The first two boys learned quickly not to get too close to the property boundaries for fear of getting a correction - in other words, zapped! Of course, Reacher, being the problem puppy that he was, was more resistant to the rules.

For weeks, being zapped meant nothing to Reacher. It was totally worth it to chase a neighbor pedaling a bike down the street or a dog walker strolling past the house. But Reacher too, finally agreed to stay in the yard. In fact, he never crosses the line to chase a bike, a dog or any kind of wildlife including squirrels, cats or deer.

The question is, what would Vega do with the Invisible Fence?

Yes, she is much more compliant than Reacher, generally speaking. And I'm certain she would recognize the property lines after minimal training. But being the prey-driven canine that she is, would she respect the Invisible Fence when tempted by Bambi and company who wander the woods, yards and streets like any other neighbors?

And being super protective of home and family, how many people would suffer heart failure when she switched from her sweet self to killer mode, warning all passersby not to come a step closer to her domain? As for any other dogs that might venture onto the property, I'm certain Vega would consider them fair game. 

So, what to do?

If asked, I believe Reacher would say, "Don't fence me in."

But if I consider all the dog walkers, bike riders and joggers who pass the house on a regular basis, they would probably agree with poet Robert Frost who wrote, "Good fences make good neighbors."