Pampered Dog Blog

A prudent and effective alternative to physical fencing is dog fencing. But there remain those who perceive this pet containment system as ineffective and inhumane. If you’ve read about such doubts but have been thinking about getting dog fencing installed in your home, this article is for you.

A pet containment system works like this – an area is marked off and your pet is not supposed to get out of there. This could include your entire house or just a part of it, like your backyard – the area is encircled with buried wire. The boundaries of the perimeter are the wires buried, and when your dog (which wears a special collar) comes close to the wires, a warning tone is heard from the collar. An untrained dog wearing that collar, should it continue to walk past the wires, the dog will feel a static shock from the collar.

Another version of this pet containment system is also possible. When you have expensive furniture set up, rooms where babies sleep, or storage areas, you want to protect them from dogs who claw up or chew on indoor items out of habit or curiosity. These scenarios are perfect for a smaller scale version of the buried wires approach – but the same warning tone is emitted in the collar of the dog should the dog move too close to the perimeter. This tone serves as a warning and what follows a warning is usually the annoying consequence itself – a static correction.

Just the same, this indoor set up may not work out unless your dog is accustomed to responding in expected ways to the tone, and the shock that may follow. This only serves to remind us that pet containment systems require the investment of the pet owner to train his or her pet to react the proper way, for the system to work.

Here are the key reasons dog fencing is cost-effective – it works around ordinances, rules, regulations against building physical fences; it is cheaper than physical fences (no handyman/contractor to hire or digging machinery to rent); and it does not keep your dog fenced in like a criminal, or like cattle.

Those who claim the invisible dog fence set up is not worth the effort and is even detrimental to the dog cite claims based on the following – (1) some dogs ignore the tone and the static and end up going out of the perimeter at their own and other people’s peril, (2) the possible breakdown of the wires and the malfunctioning on the part of the collars, and (3) about dogs getting too afraid of the shocks they do not act natural anymore.

Actually, these concerns can be addressed by sufficient dog training and routine check ups on the system – both the wires and the collars. One could always hire licensed dog trainers in case one’s schedule if too booked to train one’s own dog. Naturally, as with every pet containment system where the two factors are proper working set up and adequate dog training, the system won’t work just because the infrastructure in already in place – you need to train your dog.

You can keep your dog in your yard without spending much for a traditional fence and ruining the soil in your property. If you want your dog to have some space to roam free, so you don’t have to keep it on a leash most of the time, then you need a dog fence. You can have a traditional fence or a modern dog fence, it’s up to you.

If you do the installation for the traditional fence yourself, be prepared to either make or buy the fence posts yourself. There’s also the digging tools and equipment, which you’ll either buy or rent. When you hire labor, that could end up costing you more. Also, some homes are found in areas with shared pathways, trees, driveways, old buildings, most of which would not be good to fence off – an added problem for the dog owner who wishes for his or her dog to stay home.

Some dog owners live in communities where it’s forbidden to set up a physical fence. For those who rent, a traditional fence is not an option, owing to their contract that includes not performing major remodeling. The alternative, modern dog fences, becomes a serious alternative.

A modern dog’s fence differs from a traditional one in many ways.

Unlike a traditional fence, a modern fence is invisible. A long wire is buried a few inches underground and lined around your house, or the perimeter you want your dog to stay in. Radio signals are broadcast through those wires from a central device – those signals will be “sensed” by your dog’s receiver collar. The moment your dog approaches the wire boundaries, the receiver “senses” the broadcast signal and emits a warning tone, to be followed by a low volt shock when your dog remains near the boundaries.

A modern dog fence is easy to install. You can actually finish buying the wires in a line around your property, all by yourself, all in just a few hours. Before you train your dog, you need to snugly fit the receiver collar on its neck.

With a modern dog fence, your dog can’t gnaw at or scale or dig under a physical fence. Your dog might end up clawing up a wooden fence, for all the good that may bring. Any dog may still try, despite possible injury, to climb over a fence – any physical fence for that matter. And there’s also the amount of damage to your yard or garden a dog can do either in an attempt to dig its way out or just out or boredom. But with a modern invisible fence, you won’t have any of these worries.

One way to keep your dogs or livestock within your area is through physical fences. There are supposed to prevent animals from entering and leaving the specified area. Some fences are equipped to release a current when touched. If you’re worried your dog may never come home again from his neighbourhood strolls, such a pet containment system is available. Many dog owners claim that this pet containment system tends to be more cost effective over time. In areas where it’s prohibited to erect physical fences, electronic dog fences are preferred.

A fence without a fence? How does that work?

The aim is clear – for your dog to remain inside your area. An electronic dog fence is essentially an area bound by buried wires instead of erected fences. There are usually marker flags visible, and planted at intervals – these flags are small, unobtrusive ones. The dog wears a collar that emits a warning sound when it nears the boundaries. The collar sends out a mild shock every time he leaves the boundaries. With some training, the dog realizes that he is not to go beyond the area wherein he hears the warning sound.

So even though there are no physically erected fences publicly visible, there might as well be, since the dog will keep inside the area marked by the flags. Naturally, any other animal (human beings included) who does not wear the collar, are unaffected by the virtual fence. Because of the space retain, or reclaimed, some dog owners choose an electronic dog fence to physical fences.

The same principle but using other means

There are alternative ways to this pet containment system’s set up. Marking the boundaries of the area, in an alternate set up, makes use of radio signals broadcast from a central device. When the dog walks outside a certain radius, the warning sound, and later, a corrective shock activates. Another set up uses the Global Positioning System to mark boundaries and track the dog’s movement. Should the dog try to ignore the warning sound, the static correction sets in – this is the same condition that applies for all three sets ups: the buried wire, the radio signal set up, and the GPRS system.

You can adjust or increase the intensity of the static correction the dog receives when it tries to get past the marker flags, and ignore the warning sounds. It must be emphasized that the dog takes some time getting used to interpreting the warning signal, hence the dog must be trained to and rewarded when he decides to remain inside the electronic dog fence.

Many owner are worried when their dog leaves and they are forced to look for it. Some dogs dog come back at the end of the day, but they do so with wounds. Some of them don’t come back at all. It’s time to seriously think about how to keep your dog at home – via a dog fence. Contrary to what some dog owners may think, this pet containment system is actually worth the money, as you will see.

The fence is not visible to the naked eye

The idea behind an electronic dog fence is for your pet to be deterred from leaving a specific area. The same effect of keeping the dog inside boundaries is also possible with the traditional physical fence. You would have to have the fences themselves installed in the surrounding area. Even if you set it up to be electrically charged, that’s impractical in urban settings – not to mention dangerous.

The practical alternative is for electronic fences. There are several ways in which this set up works. Most installations involve burying wires in a “boundary” designated around a specified area. The dog wears a collar that sends out a warning tone when the dog gets near the boundaries. If the dog ignores the warning and continues to move past the boundaries, it receives a corrective shock. So, over time, even though there’s no physical barrier fencing it in, the dog learns to stay in the designated area.

At least two other dog containment system works in the same manner. One set up involves the use of radio signals broadcast from a central source. The dog, similar to the warning/shock conditions in the buried wire set up, still receives a warning/shock when it tries to leave the radius of the signal. The other set up uses the Global Positioning System to both mark off the boundaries and the dog’s movements. Both methods avoid having to bury wires around a designated area.

The aesthetic benefits of the electronic dog fence

For some people who are only renting, putting up physical fences may not be allowed. And then there are area where ordinances prevent the same installation. The work-around, to protect your dog, is to install electronic dog fences. Clear benefits include not having to ruin the landscape and not making it seem that your dog is in prison behind physical fences. Your dog is free to roam your area, but not outside it.

An dog fence effectively deters your dog from leaving your premises.

Many pet owners would like for their pets to stay at home, if they could find a way to keep them there without making them feel imprisoned. Dogs, for one, may wander too far off from where their owners live. They could get hit by a car, eat unhealthy food from trash, or fail to find their way home. Installing wooden fences is an option. But this kind of pet fencing system might not be for everyone.

They might not be high enough to deter your dog from climbing over. Your dog could get hurt while trying to scale it, dig under, or claw the fences. If you have a full-time job, you might also find it inconvenient to take time off or devote many weekend hours to installing the wooden fence yourself. You may have to shop for the materials themselves and prepare your own tools. After sawing each fence post, you have to use a digger tool to make sure a third of the post is buried. Even after you do those there’s no guarantee the fence would work as you imagine it to.

You could of course hire a contractor to do these yourself. But if you’re renting, your contract might not allow you to do some digging around the rented property. In some areas, community ordinances are in place which prohibited putting up such fences.

You don’t have to spend so much effort putting up fences for which you might get fined and which might not keep you dog inside – an electronic fence. There are several ways in which this set up can work to keep your pet from leaving as it pleases. The most popular way is for wires to be buried around a specified area. Your dog is supposed to wear a collar tracked by the system. The collar emits a warning sound when the pet goes near the boundaries. A static correction is activated when the dog continues to walk past the boundaries.

In another pet fencing, there are no wires around the area. One uses radio signals sent from a central source “marks” the area via the radius or range of reach of the transmission. The collar worn by the dog gives off the same warning tone and static correction.

There is one aspect of having put up wooden fences – if they work, you shouldn’t need to train your dog anymore, which is an aspect needed with electronic fences. Whatever the cast, it is up to the dog owner.

Dog owners that want to get rid of troubles related to their dogs, should get a dog fence. Perhaps, there have been occasions when you left your dog unwatched in an unfenced yard, only to find it did the usual disappearing act. Even if the dog was in no danger at all, you don’t want to have a repetition of such a scare or wait till something really happens to your dog. With a dog fence, you can work, study, watch TV, or leave the house without the fear that you will not find your dog when you come back.

What Should You Consider?

Choosing a good dog fence requires you to consider the size and type of place you live in, the area that you will limit the dog to, the size and breed of the dog, how much freedom of movement the dog needs when you’re not around, and how much you can afford to spend, of course. As a result, it’s smart to sit down and compare the options that you have and establish your priorities first.

What Types of Dog Fences Are There?

Dog fences don’t have to be necessarily made of wood or steel; in fact, manufacturers produce several types of fences that use many materials. What’s more, now you can also buy a high-tech, invisible dog fence if you so desire. Here are two types of dog fences you may consider.

The wooden dog fence has been very popular for centuries. However, although it is difficult to install and costlier than other fences, it is suitable for all weather conditions and has a longer life, too.

On the other hand, the invisible fence is very original and very easy to install. A cable that marks the limits of the dog’s movement is buried around the area where the dog will be and then flags or posts are placed on top of it to mark it. The cable is connected to a transmitter that will send a signal to your dog’s collar, making it beep if your dog gets too close to the fence. If the dog still tries to cross the fence, it will recieve a mild shock, discouraging it from trying to cross to the other side of the fence.

Being wanderers and nosey by nature, dogs will act instinctively when given the opportunity. Therefore, to avoid dangerous situations for the dog and problems for you, install a dog fence. This way, you’ll keep trouble OUT. And your dog safely IN.

Most families have at least one pet these days. Pets are loved by all members of a family and they are always with you in the good times and the bad times. They are fun to play with and to have around and they give you a sense of accomplishment when they grow. Of course, pets also teach you responsibility since you have to take care of them and make sure that they don’t get into danger. For this, you have to contain your pet to the limits of your property whenever you’re not around or not looking at your pet.

There are a few different products and methods you could use for this. Of course, training plays a big part, but it’s not the only thing. Dogs are still predators and their predator instincts will kick in of they see other people or animals running. Even with the best training in the world, dogs will sometimes do something totally unexpected of them.

This is the part where the Invisible Fence shows its usefulness. This pet fence is a very popular solution for dog containment and you should at least consider it.

The Invisible Fence

Like its name implies, the fence is totally invisible. Even though you don’t see a thing, the fence marks a barrier around your property. Best of all, a group of trained professionals will come and install the fence for you. You get to sit down and relax while someone else does the job for you.

People who love their dogs AND their home prefer the invisible pet fence because it doesn’t add a fence to the look of their house and it doesn’t obstruct the view from the house either. People who took the time to design the look of their houses either have a fence already or don’t want one at all since it would ruin their desired house look. And if the property occupies a large area, a fence that surrounds it completely might be expensive or inconvenient, but the owners still want the dog to lack any spots where it could escape.

Once the system is set up if your dog goes too close to the edge of the system then an alert will sound. The sound is meant to warn the dog that it should turn around and stay in its designated area or it will get a mild electrical shock. Trained dogs will then turn around and leave in order to escape the shock.

As you would expect from a product called the invisible dog fence, you can’t see it or even touch it, but you’ll definitely notice the difference it makes when it keeps your dog from leaving the area you set up for it. This unique fence system is designed to prevent your dog from straying, being a nuisance to your neighbors and safe from accident or attack by other animals. It is not only an innovative way to keep your dog safe, but will also save you a lot of money on installing a traditional fence. In addition, your house’s look will not be altered or affected at all, and the view from inside the house will still be the same.

If you find that a traditional fence is beyond your budget, or if such a fence contravenes rules laid down by your neighborhood community, then installing an invisible dog fence system would be the best option. The invisible dog fence comes in several models, so you can find something that keeps your dog inside and that you can afford.

Going the Hi-Tech Way

Among the types of invisible dog fence options, the radio signal one is one of the most popular ones. It is designed for the sole purpose of deterring your dog from moving out of the demarcated areas of your property. There are two main components of this type of fence, a transmitter and a collar with a radio signal receiver.

How The Invisible Dog Fence Works

The invisible dog fence comes with a wire that you bury and that you use to mark the limits you don’t want the dog to go beyond of. If the dog approaches the wire, this one will make the transmitter emit a signal that will be detected by the collar and activate a beeping sound. If your dog continues to ignore the signals, a mild shock is delivered via its collar to stop it from crossing the invisible dog fence. You can always adjust the intensity of the shock so that it’s not too strong or too mild.

The invisible dog fence is ideal for most breeds of dogs except for dogs that have thick and long hair coats. In case you have such a dog, make sure to shave the area around the neck where the collar is fitted. Otherwise, the dog might not feel the shock at all.

The invisible dog fence will teach your dog a bit of discipline while it keeps it inside your property at all times. Although it cannot be seen by your dog or anyone else, the results will be clearly visible to you.

Have you got a pet that is new to the household? Or maybe you have recently gone to a brand new area and Spot no longer has his great fenced in backyard to play in. In this post, we are going to go over a couple of pet containment alternatives that may be a very good fit for the canine. As soon as you are mindful of the fundamental alternatives available to you, the very best choice regarding the dog will likely grow to be apparent.

One of the very best options in pet containment will be the in-ground secure fencing alternative such as the Innotek SD 2000. These are basically invisible secure fencing devices that could provide two functions. From a security perspective, you could make a boundary in your own yard so that your canine can not stroll away any time you permit him outside the house. This may allow your own pet a bit of liberty and much more notably a good opportunity to get some exercise, whilst at the same time providing you the peace of mind in order to realize that your dog will not really end up being able to run away or wander away straight into the street.

The receiver education collar with regard to these sorts of models could additionally be utilized in order to coach your own canine and purge your pet of the poor habits that may well be driving you a little bit crazy. The Innotek 2000, and related sorts of systems tend to be very easy to set-up, teach and use on a day-to-day basis. Not only can you teach your own pet not to cross the invisible boundary of the containment system, but you could additionally purge your pet of these poor habits as chasing after autos, jumping up on strangers and returning to you any time you call your pet.

Additional containment options are your basic picket fences, smaller convenient secure fencing and tying your own canine up in the yard. As you can probably speculate, these alternatives really do limit your own pet quite a bit when it comes to the space he may use or your own spending budget in terms of setting up an authentic fence which usually could end up being very costly.