Invisible Fence?

I posted a while back about my dogs destroying everything I plant. I have a GD and a pit mix (see them both in the "Apollo and his dad" thread). I left them outside alone for maybe 15 minutes this morning and Willis had pulled my Japanese maple out of the ground (again) and chewed it pretty good. I cut what was not salvageable and taped other areas. I heard that may help it heal but who knows. If not, it's a goner. I also have a climbing rose bush they have trampled- 5 of the 6 avoid their wrath for some reason. I moved the other one closer to the fence and it seems to stay out of foot traffic now, but the damage may be done. It isn't thriving like the others. So, that is $50 worth of plant, not counting shipping since I ordered them. They also mangled a hosta and trampled some bee balm, which may or may not come back. I have a buddleia that is just gone. I think it was stomped into oblivion. Funny thing is, I can leave them out for an hour and nothing happens. Then a short unsupervised time outside and this happens.

Ok, that said, I have weighed my options. DH wants me to put up that wire but why bother making my yarden pretty just to mess it up with rabbit fencing all over the place? So, on Friday I got an estimate for invisible fence. Mind you, I don't need it to keep them in the yard so this is to just keep them out of 4 separate garden areas- "loops" as the guy called it. Based on the DIY kits I have seen, I guessed a professional installed system to be about $700-$800. Yeah, try double that. Grand total it will be $1,375. This does include the training they do with the dogs and sending batteries for the collars every 3 months. Plus they guarantee the collars so if the dogs chew them off each other (which is possible with my guys) and/or bite through the little transmitter part, they will replace it for free. As long as you have something to hand him- even a piece of mangled collar- they will give a new one. This also covers malfunctions of the transmitter, including lightening strikes, power surges, etc. There is a one year guarantee for performance, so if it just doesn't work, they will give you a full refund. He said their success rate is near 100%. We discussed the things like over shocking of the dogs, or malfunctions where they get zapped for no reason. He said that is highly unlikely, but one of the benefits of using IF instead of DIY is that you can always call if there is a problem. That's the other thing- each collar is programmed for the particular dog based on temperament, personality, height and weight. So if it seems like it is over kill or something, they will reprogram it. This in and of itself makes me think going with IF is worth it. Also, he said the biggest problem is the dog will go in the yard and just lay down and not move because it doesn't know why it gets zapped. This is a result of improper training, which he did stress over and over that I have to use the flags they provide and walk the dogs on the leash showing them where they can go. For the first 10 days it is an audible warning, no zap, and you have to be with them. So I feel comfortable now that it will be safe, but I don't know that I feel safe using a DIY kit. IF is endorsed by Good House Keeping and the ASPCA, and I called my vet who said he thinks it is fine.

All that said, any one have one of these systems (or a DIY system) that you like, dislike, etc? Convincing DH to spend that kind of money is going to be tough. He sort of freaked out Friday when I told him! He is in school full time and works very part time and so I pretty much support us for now. I understand he is worried a/b money, but I spend a good deal of money on my garden and it's pointless if they just destroy it. Even supervised, they often trample over things and the damage is done before I get them to get out of my beds! Anyway, we can do $200 down and $200/month for 6 months with no interest. But, committing to another $200/month expense is big. I guess I could argue that it IS getting to be winter and I so I can just transfer the $ I was spending on plants to this IF payment... oh, but then I would have to confess how much I spend on plants! :)

Ok, sorry to go on and on. Any advice, suggestions, etc. are much welcome!

Jamie