Dog Electric Fence

Learn The Different Options Available For Electronic Pet Fences

See also dog gates and fences and dog fence jumping

If you choose to forgo the traditional wooden or chain link fence and opt for a dog electric fence, you essentially two choices - wireless dog fences and in ground electric dog fences.

Wireless dog fences are the easiest of the electronic pet fences to install. They have an electronic base unit that emits radio waves up to certain range. All you have to is attach the receiver collar on your dog, plug in the transmitter, train your dog to understand the "rules" of the fence border, and you're good to go.

An in ground dog electric fence or a buried dog fence uses a buried copper wire that is connected to a radio transmitter base station that sends radio waves through the buried wire to provide a barrier, or fence, that your dog will not want to cross. The dog wears a collar that picks up the radio waves and at first beeps, then shocks the dog with a harmless shock to prevent him from crossing the perimeter of the wire. 

Deciding on what type of  dog fence is right for you depends on 1) the size and layout of the area you are enclosing, 2) how permanent you want your fence to be, and 3) you much you want to invest in the dog fence. Read on and we'll cover the advantages and disadvantages of each time of electronic per fence.

Wireless Dog Electric Fence Details

This type of fence works best for open yards or acreage where you do not have any obstacles in the way. With a wireless dog electric fence, you have a wireless transmitter base that emits radio waves in a circular pattern (these are adjustable based on your need, usually 90 feet to 200 feet, based on the unit purchased). The dog wears a special collar with a small radio wave receiver that picks up the signal from the base station.

When the dog crosses the boundary line sent by the radio wave, a warning beep is emitted to the dog. If the dog continues to proceed through the end of the radio wave boundary, a small harmless corrective shock is given to the dog from the collar. Because the wireless fence has so few components, there are rarely any maintenance or repair issues.

What makes a wireless dog fence effective is the training you give you dog to understand the fence boundaries plus the wireless fence itself. Both the training and the fence are vital to having a workable pet containment system.

The major advantages of a wireless dog is portability and ease of installation. If you are renting, don't have permission to install a fixed fence structure, or don't want to have an unsightly fence on your property, then you should consider a wireless system. You can also take the wireless dog fence with you to the campground or to another property if you desire, by simply moving the base unit.

Wireless fences for dogs cost between $250 - $400 and can found at a variety of websites on the internet. Popular brands to consider include the PetSafe IF-30 Pet Containment Wireless Fence and the Perimeter Technologies WiFi Dog Fence. As with most things purchased on the internet, you'll want to shop several sites to get the best price.

There are several issues to be aware of with a wireless fence. One of the main issues is the range of the wireless signal. If you have a larger yard that you want your dog to roam in, you'll need to purchase 2 or more units and overlap their signals. Since the base unit needs to be covered, plugged in, and out of the elements, this may present a problem for your yard's configuration. Since the wireless signal is sent out in a circle, you don't have maximum ability to customize the wireless fence to fit the shape of your property.

The wireless signal boundary can fluctuate up to five feet every few seconds. When this happens, your dog will get the warning correction beyond the normal signal boundary and may get the correction shock for a few seconds once he returns back into the perimeter.

The wireless signal sometimes does not go thorough metal siding, metal roofing, some walls, and trees. If you have these obstacles in the range of the wireless signal, be ware that you will have dead spots in your wireless fencing. The wireless dog fence truly is best for open yards or fields with minimal obstacles.
 

In Ground Electronic Dog Fence Details

In contrast to wireless fences, in ground, or buried, electronic dog fences can be customized to fit your particular property. You don't have to worry about any obstructions getting in the way of the signal.

In ground electronic dog fences do require more resources to install them. You will have to either hire an installer to do this for you or bury the copper wire under the ground around the perimeter of the area you want to fence in for your dog. This additional cost and permanent feature of the system needs to be factored in when making a decision as to what type of electronic dog fence is best for your situation.

In ground electronic fences cost anywhere from $175 to $450 depending on the features you are looking for. This price does not include installation. Popular brands for electronic pet fences include Innotek, Perimeter Technologies Dog Fences, and Invisible Fence Dog Fences.

There are maintenance issues related to in ground dog fencing. If your wire gets crimped or cut, you will have a dead zone of no coverage. You'll need to be able to self diagnose where the problem is and repair it or have a hired professional come out to repair the fence. This of course adds more time and cost for you than if you had a wireless dog fence.

The training you give to your dog after installing the electronic pet fence is almost as important as the fence itself. You'll wan to follow through on the instructions provided by your fencing option so that your dog understands the "rules" of the fence.

Good luck with your electronic dog fencing choices!