All the dairy farmers round here have it, so I assume you can buy it somewhere.
EDIT: just saw your clarification. If I've understood this post of meloncollie's correctly, those are illegal to use in Switzerland.
There are plenty of electric fences in Switzerland, soon enough you'll encounter one as you wander across some farmer's lands on a hiking trail. So they must be available somewhere. But if you're thinking of keeping Rover in the yard with an electric fence ...
I am sure this is only the start of a long list of things I will discover I'm not allowed to do when we move to CH !!!
But just because this is something of a soapbox issue for me I'll point you in the right direction, from the Suzy Utizinger website which very helpfully gives a simplified summary of the revised law:
http://www.susyutzinger.ch/content/home/index.php?id=86
Geräte, die elektrisieren (inkl. unsichtbare elektrisierende Zaunsysteme) oder für den Hund sehr unangenehme akustische Signale aussenden oder mittels chemischer Stoffe wirken, dürfen nur ausnahmsweise von Personen mit einer behördlichen Bewilligung zu therapeutischen Zwecken eingesetzt werden. Der Einsatz muss dokumentiert und der kantonalen Behörde gemeldet werden. Erlaubt sind Dressurpfeifen und Klicker.
My very rough and likely mistake-laden translation:
Appliances which deliver an electric shock, inclucing an invisible electric fence system, or which send a uncomfortable acoutstic signal, or use chemicals, may not be used except by people with a permit from the relevant authorities, for theraputic purposes. The use must be documented and must be registered with the cantonal authorities. (Whistles and clickers are allowed.)
So no - unless you are a certified animal behaviorist duly registered with the canton and have a permit for its use - you may not use an invisible electric fence (nor a bark collar). These are forbidden for 'Hans Ueli Hundehalter' in Switzerland.
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ETA: Cross posted with MathNut - yep, not allowed.
With those shock collars, I always suggest that the owner first try it around their own neck - just to make sure how it works - to judge the level of shock.
Illegal, try training your dog rather the using barbaric punishments
For instance, in my corner of SZ, fences may be no higher than 120cm at the border, 2M if placed 1 meter back on the property line. (And yes, your neighbors will measure any fence you put up... don't even think of going to 121cm. )
My sheltie can jump 120 cm without even breaking a sweat. As can most dogs. So you might need to get creative with plantings or double fencing to ensure safety.
And in my neighborhood, one needs not only a permit from the Bauamt but also permission from the neighbors - not only those whose land adjoins to mine, but also all neighbors in the Quartier. Some neighborhood associations limit fencing further or forbid fences altogether. Mr Frost notwithstanding, good fences don't necessarily make good neighbors here.
(Although oddly enough, I am required under the Landwirtschaft regs to maintain a fence between my land and the adjoining farm to prevent the farmer's cows from getting onto the street. )
Put up the best fence your building code allows, but as BB says: training is the way forward. Join a Familienhund class - this is the easiest way to learn all about the rules and regs of dog ownership, while having fun with your pup and meeting other kindred souls.
And as Ullainga says, for each and every dog you acquire after 1 Sept 2008 you will need to take the SKN (Sachkundenachweis) course - this is a very basic course, plenty of info on other threads.
Oh, and don't forget to register your dog with the Gemeinde, schedule an appointment with the vet to register the dog's chip with ANIS, and pay the dog tax. We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.
A few months ago, there was a dog in the parking lot of a mall and it was clear that he escaped from a nearby garden. I kept him beside me but the police would not come - there was an accident that afternoon and they were too busy. They told me to take the dog to a vet or the Tierheim.
I guess the owners figured out the dogs (there are two of them) can get out and now I see that the garden where the dogs live has been enclosed with an electric fence. There are two dogs and chickens!
In our village the only electric fences I see belong to the farms. That house with the dogs is not a farm.
Welche Hilfsmittel sind für die Hundeerziehung zulässig?
http://www.tierimrecht.org/de/rechts...ilfsmittel.php
Verboten dagegen sind grundsätzlich Metall- und Lederhalsbänder mit nach innen gebogenen stumpfen oder spitzen Gliedern oder Stacheln sowie alle Geräte, die mit Stromstössen, unangenehmen akustischen Signalen oder chemischen Stoffen wirken. Dieses Verbot gilt unabhängig davon, ob diese untersagten Hilfsmittel im Fachhandel angeboten werden. Ausserdem verboten sind elektrisierende Zaunsysteme sowie Erziehungsmethoden mit übermässiger Härte, Strafschüssen oder Stockschlägen.
Ausser bei verbotenen Zaunsystemen und auf Härte, Strafschüssen oder Stockschlägen beruhenden Erziehungsmethoden kann die zuständige kantonale Behörde (in der Regel der kantonale Veterinärdienst) aber für den Einsatz verbotener Geräte auf Gesuch hin eine Ausnahmebewilligung erteilen. Diese ist aber an eine Prüfung gebunden und wird lediglich Fachpersonen gewährt, die die betreffenden Hilfsmittel zu therapeutischen Zwecken und mit der nötigen Zurückhaltung korrekt anwenden.
So - unless the homeowner is has been granted a special permit by the cantonal Veterinäramt, not allowed.
A chat with the Gemeinde or cantonal Veterinäramt, might be in order. If a special permit had been granted they would know. And if the homeowner hadn't been granted the permit...
One could also write to TIR or the Bvet, asking for clarification. I'd be interested to learn more, especially wrt exceptions.
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In addition to the ethics/welfare issue, another reason why electric fences are a terrible idea: A dog might cross the fence, ignoring the pain while in the midst of an adrenaline rush (chasing a cat, scent of a female in heat, etc.). But once calmed down, adrenaline no longer pumping, the dog is not about to risk the shock a second time... and cannot get back into his garden. Many dogs get lost this way.
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FYI, in googling I found a BVet document explaining the 1997 TSchV, which allowed invisible electric fences under certain conditions. However, in the revised 2008 version - which is the current law - that clause does not appear. Art. 76 simply says ' Die Verwendung von Geräten, die elektrisieren , für den Hund sehr unangenehme akustische Signale aussenden oder mittels chemischer Stoffe wirken, ist verboten .' TIR explicitly states that e-fences are forbidden.
We used it at my home in Belgium and after 2 shocks they know where they can go. It is not like the dog gets shocked 20 times a day. The thing beeps 3 times first and that is how you train them. The purpose of the fence IS training and safety for both you, your dog, and other people walking by. And the shock really is very minimal (Yes tried on myself)
If you want it just get it. It really does work wonders and imho is a great addition to any house.