Wouldn’t you like it if you didn’t have to take your dog out on a leash every time he wanted to go outside? Some people build a physical fence so that they can keep their dog inside their yard when they let him out. However, building a fence is simply not practical for everyone. Traditional fences tend to be very expensive, and some dogs will make it their mission to dig underneath them or jump over them.
There is a better way, and it is known as an invisible fence or dog fence. Because it is invisible, you don’t have to worry about an unsightly fence blocking your view of the surrounding area. Do you know how electric dog fences work?
Buried underground or planted with ground staples on the surface, electric dog fences are made up of three components. A wire is used to define the boundary of your dog’s containment area within your yard. A transmitter is placed indoors, in a weatherproof area. The third element is a special collar that your dog wears. The transmitter emits a radio signal that communicates with the wire and in turn, with the dog’s collar.
When your dog begins to approach where the wire is located, he will hear a warning tone through his collar, alerting him to not go any further. Should he continue forward, he will receive what is known as a static correction. This is a mild, static shock that is delivered to the dog’s neck, through 2 metal contact points attached to the dog’s collar.
You may be wondering if static correction is humane. The answer is yes. If you want to know what it feels like, run across the carpet in your sock feet and then touch a doorknob. Although it may startle your dog a bit, it shouldn’t be described as painful.
It generally takes a couple of weeks for your dog to get accustomed to where his limits are. Small flags that you place every few feet around the border will provide your dog with a visual cue of where he needs to stop. Over this two week period, you train your dog on a leash. With the help of a few tasty treats and some guidance from you, your dog will soon understand that he should not cross the line.
If burying a wire in your yard is not something you wish to do, there is another option: a wireless dog fence. They work in the same way, except for the presence of a wire. Instead, the wireless transmitter casts a circular signal across your yard. find the best under ground fence reviews here.
Wireless dog fences are easy to set up and take down. All that you need to do is plug in the transmitter and set the size of the containment circle. Notice I said circle. This means that you cannot customize exactly where you want the border of your fence to be. If your yard is rectangular, it is unlikely that a wireless dog fence will work for your property.
A wireless dog fence also will not be able to function properly if you have aluminum or stucco siding on your home, if you have dense trees or heavy landscaping, sloping in your yard or any metal buildings within your containment area.
Whether you choose to go with the wired or wireless version, electric dog fences are a great way to make life with your dog a more enjoyable one.