ELECTRONIC PET FENCES

Invisible Fence®, dog fence, hidden fence, radio fence... Whatever you call it, it works.

The purpose of this article is to educate you about electronic pet fences, including do-it-yourself and professionally installed systems. After reading this article, you will understand how an electronic pet fence works, what to look for when buying a pet fence (DIY or professionally installed), whether you are capable of installing a pet fence yourself, and what questions to ask when purchasing a pet fence from a professional installation company.

ABOUT ELECTRONIC PET FENCES

MAJOR BRANDS: Pet Stop®, Invisible Fence®, PetSafe®, DogWatch®, Sport Dog®, Innotek®, Guardian®

Electronic pet fences go by many different names, including dog fences, hidden fences, pet fences, and radio fences. Some people simply call every pet fence an "Invisible Fence", although that is technically a brand name. Despite the confusing array of terms, they all refer to the same type of containment system - a combination of electronic transmitter, receiver, and buried wire that acts as a training aid to keep your pet in your yard.

An electronic pet fence is a training tool that teaches your pet to stay within a defined boundary. Through a training process that generally lasts about two weeks, your pet learns to respond to a warning (usually audible but sometimes vibratory) that he is too close to the limits of his boundary and should turn around. If your pet does not turn around and return to what is known as his "safe zone" (see diagram at right) , he receives a correction.

Most electronic pet fences use static correction to help a pet understand boundary limits, although some use citronella spray instead. Citronella is a harsher correction for a pet than static correction. Static correction, which feels similar to the sensation of rubbing your feet on carpet and then touching metal, corrects only when your pet is outside of his safe zone. Once your pet reenters the safe zone, all static correction stops. Citronella, on the other hand, is a correction that takes advantage of your pet's greatest asset - his super sense of smell.

A dog's sense of smell is as much as a million times better than a human's sense of smell, and cats' noses work almost as well. Citronella is a highly offensive scent to a sensitive nose. Not only is citronella offensive, but it lingers, continuing to correct your pet even once he is back within his safe zone. An electronic pet fence should correct your pet only when he is in the training zone and reward him when he is in the safe zone.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE ELECTRONIC PET FENCES?

Pet fences are a highly effective containment solution if the following two factors are considered: product reliability and gentle training. Note that the size or breed of the pet is not a significant factor. Large or stereotypically stubborn breeds can be contained as effectively as tiny or timid dogs, as long as you use a high quality fence product and follow an established training protocol.

From a hardware perspective, a high quality pet fence product always includes:

- A receiver that includes at least 10 different correction levels, from very faint to powerful
- A reliable transmitter that uses a digital signal to power the pet fence system
- Lightning protection

If a pet fence product does not include a receiver with at least ten different correction levels (also known as personality settings), you run the risk of needlessly stressing your pet. If the technology that powers the fence uses an analog radio signal instead of a digital signal, the fence may be unreliable and confusing for your pet. If the system doesn't include lightning protection, you run the risk of electrical damage to your home in the event of a lightning strike.

While hardware quality is important, good training is absolutely critical. An electronic pet fence WILL NOT WORK EFFECTIVELY if you simply put the receiver around your pet's neck and stick him out in the yard. Instead, your pet will most likely become stressed and confused. Many do-it-yourselfers have poor experiences with electronic pet fences for this very reason. CAUTION: If you decide to install your own pet fence, make sure to carefully follow the training instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Most professionally installed pet fences include training support packages, where someone works one-on-one with you and your pet. Again, the quality of training support varies from company to company. Some companies hire entry-level workers to both install their fences and provide training support. As you can imagine, the quality of training support you receive in this type of arrangement is not very good. Other professional pet fence companies use professional pet trainers to provide training support. These trainers are experienced not just with pet fences, but with pet behavior in general. Training with a behavior specialist is the best possible support you can receive.

ARE ELECTRONIC PET FENCES SAFE?

Pet fences are perfectly safe as long as they include high quality hardware and training support. Pet fences have been available to consumers for over 30 years, and are endorsed both by veterinarians and animal welfare groups.

ELECTRONIC PET FENCE INSTALLATION: Do-It-Yourself (DIY)

Many brands of DIY electronic pet fencing are available, including PetSafe® (Radio Systems Corporation), Innotek® (Invisible Technology), SportDog™ (Radio Systems Corporation), Guardian® (Radio Systems Corporation) and more. These fences generally range in price from about $150 - $350, depending on quality and features. Cheaper systems tend to be less reliable and lack the features required to safely and reliably contain your pet. All DIY pet containment systems include very cheap wire that is not intended for outdoor use. If you decide to purchase a DIY pet fence, do yourself a favor and purchase outdoor-rated wire at your local wire specialty store. This upgrade will probably cost you around $50 - $100, but will pay off in far fewer wire breaks over time.

Installing a pet fence is a three part process that is not unlike installing a sprinkler or outdoor lighting system. The level of difficulty depends on your familiarity with using power tools and installing electronic equipment, your ability or willingness to perform manual labor, and your skill with dog training.

1. Installing the hardware: All pet containment systems consist of two primary objects: a receiver that is worn on a collar around your pet's neck and an electronic transmitter that must be mounted indoors to protect it from the elements. Wire is buried outdoors to create the desired boundary and is connected in a loop to the transmitter. Some systems also include a specialized lightning protector that must be separately installed.
2. Installing the wire: To ensure safety and effectiveness, pet fencing wire should be buried approximately 2 - 6 inches underground. Otherwise, the wire is left unprotected from damage by the elements and roving animals. A pet fence with damaged wire is a pet fence that doesn't work. Stapling wire to the ground or an existing fence can create significant problems for you in the long term.
3. Training your dog: Good training is an essential component of the pet fence experience. Though it sounds like the easy approach, you can't just install the pet fence, put a collar on your pet, stick him in the backyard, and expect him to stay there. Pet fences simply don't work that way. For your electronic pet fence to work effectively, you must adhere to an approved training protocol. It usually takes about 5 - 7 days of interaction and an additional 5 - 7 days of supervision before your pet is fully trained to an electronic pet fence. This is true of all pet fence brands, from Invisible Fence® to PetSafe®.

ELECTRONIC PET FENCE INSTALLATION: Handyman

Some handymen are willing to install DIY electronic pet fences. If you choose a handyman to install your fence, you will still be entirely responsible for training your pet, however, a handyman will install the wire and transmitter that power the fence. Usually, the cost to purchase a DIY pet fence and hire a handyman to install it is similar to hiring a professional pet fence installation company. If no professional installation company exists in your area, look for the following from any handyman you hire:

• Buried wire: The handyman should bury the pet fence wire 2 - 6 inches underground. Some handymen will suggest stapling the wire to your wood fence, threading the wire through a chain link fence, or securing the wire directly to the ground using ground staples. Generally, none of these methods is suggested, as exposed wire is very easily broken. Broken wire means a broken fence and lots of headaches for you.
• Driveway and sidewalk crossings: The pet fence wire must make a complete loop around the area you wish to contain. Usually, that means crossing over a driveway or sidewalk. The handyman should use a saw to cut through a joint of the driveway or sidewalk, lay the wire in the crease (burying it deeply at either end so that you can still use edging tools for landscape maintenance), and mortar over the wire for protection.

DIY systems include very cheap wire that is not intended for lasting durability. If you decide to purchase a DIY pet fence system and hire a handyman to install it, do yourself a favor and purchase outdoor-rated wire at your local wire specialty store. This upgrade will probably cost you around $50 - $100, but will pay off in far fewer wire breaks over time.

ELECTRONIC PET FENCE INSTALLATION: Professional

In most areas of the US, there are pet containment companies that specialize in professionally installing pet fences. These local companies usually represent a national product, such as Pet Stop® (Perimeter Technologies, Inc.), Invisible Fence® (Radio Systems Corporation), PetSafe® Pro (Radio Systems Corporation), or DogWatch® (DogWatch Inc). The price of a professionally installed pet fence varies based on how much area you wish to cover, the number of pets you wish to protect, and the region of the US in which you live. Most professional installers offer free quotes, and some even provide pricing information on their Web sites.

Ask the following questions when you interview pet containment companies:

• What is your containment guarantee? A professional pet containment company should offer some level of pet containment guarantee. In other words, if they can't contain your pet, they should refund your money.
• What is your warranty? Look for a lifetime product warranty and at least a one-year warranty on the installation. Ask how often the equipment is expected to require warranty repair.
• Who will install my fence? How much experience do they have in pet fence installation? At least one person with several years of pet containment installation experience should be present during your pet fence installation.
• How will you install the wire? Wire should be buried underground, including at driveway and sidewalk crossings. The wire should be completely hidden after the installation.
• What training support do you offer? A good pet containment company will offer to perform the first few initial training sessions for you, and offer at least one year of free training support.
• Who will help train my pet? What is this person's experience with pet training? Look for a company that uses experienced pet behavior experts to provide training support.
• What kind of wire do you use? The company should include 14- to 18-gauge outdoor rated wire as a standard part of their installation package. The wire splices should be solidly connected and enclosed in waterproof casing.

Learn more about electronic dog fences, or learn how to install a dog fence.