Dog Fence

A dog fence is used to keep dogs within a certain perimeter. There are basically two main types of dog fences available on the market: the traditional visible fence and the invisible electronic dog fence.

Traditional Visible Dog Fence
The traditional dog fence is usually of the chain link variety and surrounds the perimeter of an outside yard to prevent your dog from leaving the area. The benefits of this type of fence is that if installed correctly, your dog is assured to be inside the perimeter and the fence also keeps intruders and other animals away from your dog. The drawbacks are that they are visually unappealing and impractical for some people who live in smaller areas.

Invisible Dog Fence, Electronic Dog Fence
The invisible dog fence also known as electric / electronic dog fence is a device that registers a harmless shock to your dog if your dog approaches the perimeter. The way the electronic dog fence works is that you place wires underground in the perimeter that you want to keep your dog in. Then you put a radio transmitter collar on your dog. The collar will first give a warning beep to your dog as it ventures close to the perimeter. If your dog goes further, the collar will administer a mild shock similar to what you get from static electricity. In order for this system to work you have to train your dog for 15-20 minutes a day for several days. If you have multiple dogs, you can train them similarly as long as each of them wears a separate collar.

Wireless Dog Fence
This is the newest type of dog fence. A wireless dog fence is also an invisible dog fence and is a variation of electronic dog fence. The main difference between a wireless dog fence and an electronic underground dog fence is that you don’t have to bury the wires underground. A wireless dog fence has a central transmitter that creates an invisible circular perimeter. The additional advantage of a wireless dog fence is that they are portable and can be taken to wherever you need it.

Invisible fences have become very popular due to their ease of installation (anyone can do it) and the fact that they can be used almost anywhere. However, there are drawbacks to these types of dog fences. First some dogs have thick fur around the neck area and the electric shock may not be enough to deter the dog. In this situation you will need to trim the fur around the neck of your dog. Second, while the invisible dog fence keeps your own dog inside, it does not prevent other animals or people from entering the perimeter. Third, if you dog were to escape for whatever reason, it would have a hard time coming back into the invisible fence.

Newer advances in invisible fences have created more levels of warnings to keep your dog inside the perimeter. There are a lot of information online to do your research. Before you buy, it is best to ask someone who has used these fences for their opinions on their effectiveness.