There's also the issue of keeping him on our land. There's added correction capabilities (first a signal noise, then a mild shock) as part of the Halo collar that we got him. And an entire training program that comes with it, so prior to enabling the feedback mechanisms, I train with him so its not just a bolt from the blue.
He's an 80lb Belgian Malinois, a breed known for their high drive, and for being pretty scary looking. People out here keep goats, horses, chickens, etc. He knows not to go after our chickens, but do the neighbors know he won't go after theirs? The last thing I want is for him to wander onto a neighbor's property and get shot because he looks like he's helping himself to their livestock. He'll get shot for that (or less), and I'd have zero recourse, even legally.
The Halo collar is the exact same price (including data plan) as the apple watch, but I trade remote feedback to him if he leaves the property (and a collar ruggedized to the rigors of an active dog), vs owning the data, but on a device that's not at all designed to be worn by a dog that likes to roll in dead fish and coyote shit.
Meanwhile, adequately fencing the property (so he won't jump over it) will cost me between $12k and $30k. Compare that to $700 + $5/month.
Are you asking me if, in the situation where my failure to build a $12k-$30k fence (for materials alone, not including labor, and the environmental impact survey that has to go along with 1200 linear feet of 6' high fencing in a wildlife corridor) gets my dog shot, will I wish that I spent tens of thousands of dollars when the ~$1000 or so I spent on equipment, and a few weeks' worth of after-work training should have done the trick?
No, I won't wish I had fenced the property. I'll wish I'd done a better job of training my dog.
He's an 80lb Belgian Malinois, a breed known for their high drive, and for being pretty scary looking. People out here keep goats, horses, chickens, etc. He knows not to go after our chickens, but do the neighbors know he won't go after theirs? The last thing I want is for him to wander onto a neighbor's property and get shot because he looks like he's helping himself to their livestock. He'll get shot for that (or less), and I'd have zero recourse, even legally.
The Halo collar is the exact same price (including data plan) as the apple watch, but I trade remote feedback to him if he leaves the property (and a collar ruggedized to the rigors of an active dog), vs owning the data, but on a device that's not at all designed to be worn by a dog that likes to roll in dead fish and coyote shit. Meanwhile, adequately fencing the property (so he won't jump over it) will cost me between $12k and $30k. Compare that to $700 + $5/month.