Electric is the best until the power goes out. They seem to realize it's off fairly quick and when the one does and goes through, the rest will follow. I use barbed wire and electric with the long stand offs. The electric is to keep them from pushing on the barbed wire and getting out. It works great as long as you keep the electric far enough away from the barbed wire so the wind doesn't blow hard enough to get them tangled together shorting out the electric. If it does, then it becomes a major chore walking the fence to untangle it everywhere.