Bark N Bubbles

what do look for in an electric dog fence?

I have a small yard and want to keep my 30lb beagle from running off. What qualities do i need to look for in an electric fence?

I have had the "invisible" type of fence for over 10 years now.

The "invisible" type of fence is not cruel like some people on this site will tell you. The shock that it gives is mild (and yes, I have been shocked by it). The shock value is immeasurable. The better type of fence systems collars also give a warn beep when the dog gets near the perimeter well before delivering a shock. With proper training the dog will learn quickly where it can and cannot go. Hence it won't get a shock. Most of the people who will tell you that they don't work are ignorant about the fences in the first place or they bought one (maybe a junk one like PetSafe and many others), slapped the collar on the dog and then booted him out the door without training him.

Sometimes a conventional fence is not an option. Either due to the cost of fencing a large piece of property or because some housing developments have restrictions on fences.

Sometimes a conventional fence will not contain your dog at all. He can go over it or under it.

If you are looking for an Invisible Fence brand fence you will have to contact a local dealer for a price to install it though I can almost guarantee it will be over $1000.00. If you wish to install it yourself (and it's pretty easy to do in 2 - 3 hours depending on the size of your property) it is available online (but not I/F brand).

The "invisible" type of fence consists of three things. First is the wire which is buried an inch or two into the ground. This wire defines the outer perimeter of the containment area. You can also block off areas (flowerbeds, pools etc) within the containment area. Some experimentation may be necessary in this. Second is the transmitter which is mounted to the wall indoors and connected to the fence wire, and third is the collar that the dog wears. The transmitter sends out an AM radio band signal that the collar will sense if your pet gets to close to the electronic field. The collar will then deliver a correction. Some of the better ones will give a warning beep prior to delivering a shock. Though it is a strong shock it will not harm the pet in any way. Small marker flags are placed along the inner edge of the field about 5 to 10 feet apart during the training period and removed (every other one) as the pet gets used to the fence.

Huskies are escape artists. We have 14 of them. The only thing that I have found that they can't go over or under is invisible type fencing. Some folks say that it doesn't work on Huskies. They don't know what they are talking about. You can't buy the cheap stuff, like what they sell at Lowe's or Home Depot or PetSmart etc. The best I have found is the Smart Dog 2100 by Innotek. You can find it on line at several sites, discounted for less than $170.00 with 1 collar. Extra collars are about $80.00. The kit has everything needed including 500' of wire and flags, enough to do a quarter acre. Expansion kits (500' of wire and flags) are available for $38.00 and will contain a bit more than an acre. The collars are rechargeable (unlike the "Invisible Fence" and most others where you have to buy the proprietary (one place to get it = expensive) batteries every 3 or so months), has battery backup for the transmitter, run through prevention, waterproof, etc. if you are in an area that has a lot of thunderstorms I would consider a lighting protection module ($50.00). Innotek now owns Invisible Fence brand. Be sure to use heat shrink type splices in the wire if needed. They are available at marine supply stores. Do not use the "weatherproof wire nuts" from Lowe's etc. They will not work for this application. Use an edger to dig the "trench" for the wire. The wire only has to be buried 1 or 2 inches down. The yard will “heal” within a few days normally.

The key is taking the time to train your pet. I have known of people to pay big money to install a fence, strap the collar on their dog and then complain that the fence is junk when the dog blows right through it. Also, you do not mention the breed of dog. Longhaired breeds require a longer contact probe on the collar (these are included with the system above). Training may take awhile, one of ours took 18 months (she was a bit stubborn) before we trusted her, most were pretty good in a month or so and we have one that it only took 3 days! The amazing thing is that we can take the collar off, put them on a leash and when we head towards the perimeter their brakes come on immediately! You can also block off areas of the yard that you don't want them in. When hurricane Isabelle came through we had no power for 3 weeks, the terrain was changed with all the fallen trees, and the underground wire for the fence was damaged and NONE of the kids even tried the fence. As I said earlier, the people who say that it doesn't work don't know what they are talking about. We have 14 Huskies (15 until we lost one over the summer due to medical reasons), all free to run around, contained in our 6 acre yard. And no I am not a dealer ..... just a satisfied customer with 14 hardheaded Huskies most of them rescued as adults. We can leave them outside unsupervised for hours with no problems. However, we do not leave them outside when we leave the house.

It will not keep other animals out including the neighbor’s brats. Neither will a 6 foot stockade fence ... this I learned when I lived elsewhere and was attacked by a neighbors dog in my backyard. As far as people being scared of dogs, well if a 15 to 20 foot barrier field isn't enough, neither would a chain link fence be. Besides, if the pet stays on your property who cares if they are unreasonably scared. As far as a dog running through ... well yes, that could happen, however, with proper training it is unlikely. Huskies have an extremely high prey drive. Where we live we have a lot of wildlife, large and small. The kids will line up along the edge of the field and watch the rabbits, geese, deer etc. They won't challenge the fence. The deer and geese have learned where the kids can and cannot go and will stay just outside "Husky country". Sometimes within 5 feet of the kids. As I said it does work. The key is training. That is the most important part of the installation of the fence.

Some people advocate the “wireless” type of fence. You have little control over the coverage area. The other problem with them is "dead" areas caused by obstructions to the signal by things in your walls, trees and such. Your dog WILL find these areas.

Others advocate tying a pet out “because “invisible” fences are so cruel!” Or “why do you want to electrocute your dog?”, however, think about what could your pet do if attacked by another animal while tied? Where is he going to go to get away? At least with an “invisible” fence or a conventional fence he has a decent chance of evading an attacker or fighting back.

Please note though ..... you MUST not leave your dog out 24/7 with the collar on. You MUST bring him in at night and remove the collar. If you do not remove the collar he WILL most likely develop sores were the probes contact the skin which can become infected quickly opening a whole new can of worms.

25 years of being owned by Siberian Huskies. I currently have 14 Huskies most of whom were rescued by us from people who didn’t know what they were getting into

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