Friday, March 25, 2016

Is an Electronic Dog Fence Right for Your Yard?

Even with a fence, our dogs have managed to escaped the yard.  If the gate is accidentally left open, they will bolt out the yard.  It's nerve wracking trying to find them.  I'm always afraid a car would come along and hit them.  After a drive around the neighborhood, we usually find them running down the street without a care in the world.  If your dog escapes too, there are many ways to keep them safe.  I've always been curious about how effective electronic dog fences really are.  Maybe they're an option for us to consider?  If you're curious too, you can learn more in the article below.


Dogs are members of the family, and keeping them safe is a top priority. If your dog’s ever escaped from your property, you know the fear that ensues while you try to find them, hoping that they haven’t run into trouble before you do. Most dogs require a leash, barrier, or fence to prevent them from wandering out of the yard. There are many different types of fence, however, so how do you know what type is the right choice for you? When choosing between a standard fence and and invisible dog fence, here are some of the questions to ask yourself.

What Breed of Dog Do You Have?
Most dogs can wear an e-collar and be trained to use a wired dog fence or wireless dog fence. Some dogs, in fact, do better with an electronic dog fence. Terriers, beagles, and other dogs that like to dig, as well as hunting dogs and breeds who like to chase, are particularly suited for an electronic dog fence. These types of dogs can often find a way to escape from a traditional fence, whether it be digging under it or jumping over top, for example. If your dog is determined to get past a fence no matter what, an electronic dog fence may be the answer you need. If your dog is a young puppy, you should wait until they’re at least six-months-old to begin training them with an electronic dog fence. Pregnant and infirm dogs should not be trained with e-collars, either, until they’ve given birth or they’re healthy again. If you have an aggressive dog, you must be careful when using an electric dog fence. Dogs that are aggressive may ignore the corrective shock of the e-collar if their adrenaline is pumping, so it’s best to pair an electric dog fence with a traditional dog fence for maximum protection. Since an electronic dog fence only keeps your dog inside the yard, you don’t want to risk someone accidentally wandering into your yard, which may make your dog feel threatened.

What are the Features of Your Yard?
An electric dog fence can be installed almost anywhere, which makes it a very versatile choice. When installing a traditional fence, your ground must be leveled and cleared. On the other hand,an invisible dog fence requires minimal ground preparation, as the wire can be buried almost anywhere. Traditional fences are limited to straight lines and right angles, which make them difficult to place is odd-shaped or circular spaces. The customization boundaries of a wired dog fence make it easy to conform to any space, and a wireless dog fence offers even more options for placement and shape, including radial boundaries. For large properties like farms, homesteads, and ranches, an invisible dog fence is easier and less expensive to install. Electronic dog fence systems can contain more than 25 acres on one system. If you don’t want to obstruct the view or function of your property, an invisible dog fence will be completely unnoticeable and convenient for everyone except your dog, who will be kept safely within the yard no matter what - no need to remember to lock a gate, for example.

 
How Big or Small is Your Budget?
Unfortunately, for most people, cost is always a factor. Oftentimes when our budget is small, the quality we can afford is lower, too. If your budget is modest, a traditional fence may be too expensive for you, as it can cost thousands of dollars. An underground dog fence, however, is generally about 80 percent cheaper. If you can spend the weekend installing your own electronic fence system - which is relatively easy, even for beginners - you can save even more.A DIY electric fence will allow you to save a great deal of money without sacrificing quality, since safety is not something you should skimp on anyway. Over the years, the maintenance of an electric dog fence should be very minimal. Storms, falling trees, etc. do not often damage an underground dog fence as they would a traditional fence. But if you install your own electric dog fence, you’ll also be able to make any necessary repairs on your own, too, rather than calling in a service professional. With a DIY electric fence, your dog won’t be left vulnerable while you wait for professionals to arrive - you can fix breaks immediately.

Will You Commit to Dog Training?
Perhaps the most important thing to consider is whether or not you can commit to the training required with an electric dog fence. Before you purchase a system, be sure you thoroughly understand the training process, because protocols must be followed exactly in order to be effective with your dog. You must be able to spend at least 30 minutes per day for up to two weeks to train your dog. Proper training will ensure your dog doesn’t experience stress or discomfort with the electronic system. If a dog isn’t properly trained, they will feel the corrective shock of the e-collar on a regular basis (as opposed to only during the training phase), and this will lead them to become afraid, distressed, or aggressive when going in the yard. The vast majority of dog owners who properly train their dogs end up being very happy with the system, and it’s clear to them that their dogs appreciate the system, too. If it sounds like an electronic dog fence might be right for your dog, your next step is to check out invisible dog fence reviews and recommendations, so that you can pick out a fence model. Different electronic containment systems have different features. For example, some fences have a limited number of e-collars that can be supported (not ideal for people with more than 2-3 dogs), and some fences cannot enclose more than one acre at a time. There are many different invisible dog fence systems, however, so you’ll be able to find the one that fits your situation best.

*This sponsored post was written on behalf of our dog safety partners www.dogfencediy.com. Please share your experiences with dog containment systems in the comments section!


12 comments:

  1. I've heard a lot of great things about electronic fences. We have a wood one in our backyard that works just fine for our Junie B. Your dogs are so cute Brandi!

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  2. This was an interesting article but we have no need for an electric fence. Shelby will only venture out of the gate if one of us is in the outer yard with her. One day we accidentally locked the gate when she was still in the front yard. After about 10 minutes we heard her at the front door crying to be let in. Even with us in the front with her, she has about a 10 foot radius from the bottom step that she will move through. She is the muttliest of the mutts, looks and sounds ferocious but is most comfortable when she is outside of our yard tethered on a leash.

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  3. Ahh your pups are so cute!! We're bringing a puppy home next week and so excited, our backyard is fenced in, however if it wasn't I'd would seriously consider an electronic fence :)

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  4. Hi Brandi,
    Such a well researched article you have shared with us today, thank you!

    We don't have any dogs at our house but my daughter has to Labs and she did consider an electric dog fence when she moved to her new house. My son-in-law built a gorgeous pen for them with a huge dog house which so far has proved very effective. I will be passing this post on over to her though so she has it just in case:)

    Your dogs are adorable Brandi...thank you so much for sharing...

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  5. Brandi, my seester had an electric fence in her yard as the wooden one was no match for one of her dogs. However, Julia learnt fast that if the front door was open she could haul it out the front and that electric fence was no match for her stealth speed and determined attitude. She would goooooo. However in the back she stayed far away from it?? No fault in the equipment they came and checked just one determined dog.

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    1. My parents neighbors also had a determined dog. They had a Samoyed who figured a running start was all he needed to get through. Did it hurt? Possibly, but I guess it was all worth it to make his grand escape!

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  6. I want to meet these beauties. So adorable.
    We don't have the electronic fence but we made sure the gates are tall enough for them not to jump over.

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  7. Mx sister has one for her dog, and she says that it works wonders in keeping little Sophie safe

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  8. we have a neighbor that uses an electric fence. we have the old fashion 6 ft tall fence with 3" spacing. they go out and play, but stay in the house at night. we've been fortunate, they dig, but not to get out. lol
    your pups faces are so darn cute!!!
    hugs,
    Marie

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  9. I don't own a doggie, but I can see where this fence would come in handy! Missing blog posts from you - hope all is well!

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  10. We had one of these at our last house in addition to the regular fence. Our dog jumped the fence so the electronic was a great answer.

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