Wireless Fence For Dogs

What is an Electric Dog Fence?

An electric dog fence is a dog containment system that prevents your dog from leaving the pre-determined perimeter of your yard.

Many owners prefer wireless or in-ground dog fences over standard physical fences for several reasons:

Easier Maintenance. Electric dog fences are much easier to maintain than physical, above ground fences.

Safer Alternative. Dogs cannot dig under or tear through wireless or under-ground fences, as they can with traditional physical fences or outdoor dog kennels.

Maintain Outdoor View. Implementing an electric dog fence allows owners to maintain their picturesque scenery, without having their view blocked by a physical fence or outdoor dog kennel.

Less Expensive Than Physical Fencing. Installing a physical yard fence can easily cost thousands of dollars, while wireless or in-ground dog fences cost a fraction of that amount.

How Do Electric Dog Fences Work?

With all electric dog fence units, your dog will wear a special collar that communicates with your property’s boundary perimeters (which are set according to an in-ground wire or a wireless signal).

When your dog first begins to approach the boundary line, the collar will emit a warning sound.

If your dog continues to approach the boundary and does not turn back within several seconds, the collar emits a static shock correction.

Electric Fence For Dogs

Who let the dogs out? Not these guys! WowPetSupply offers a wide variety of invisible dog fence systems and features to make sure that your dog is just as safe outside as he is inside. The electric dog fence provides the benefits of a traditional fence by keeping your pet within boundaries and keeping him away from the road, bicycle riders, passers-by and the neighbor’s rose garden without the expense, maintenance or aesthetic of an above ground fence. The Wireless Containment System is a wireless kit that comes with one collar, a transmitter for your home and flags for training to give your dog a visual warning of his border. This product doesn’t even require in-ground wires to set up the perimeter! It works in a circular area around the transmitter for up to a half-acre in diameter. This system can also be set up with multiple dog collars for those homes with multiple dogs. WowPetSupply’s selection of invisible dog fence accessories is a one-stop-shop for batteries, additional or electric dog fence collars that are compatible with your already installed system and even indoor barriers to remind your dogs of paws off, no-go zones. For traditionally fenced yards that may feature gardens, or other dog-unfriendly zones, check out Outdoor Pet Barrier to make sure your good boy stays a good boy. Once you have an invisible fence you could consider installing a dog door so your pup can enter and exit the house as they please. With a doggie door installed, your four legged friend can lose the dog leashes and run around with the freedom to head to his dog house whenever he pleases. 

Types of Electric Dog Fence: Wireless vs In-Ground

There are two types of electric dog fences: wireless and underground.

Wireless Electric Dog Fence

Wireless dog fences use computer GPS or radio signals to determine yard perimeter and to communicate with corresponding dog collars and ensure the dog is not traveling outside of the pre-determined boundaries.

PROS:

No wires, no digging, no complicated installation

Units are often portable

The boundary lines can be adjusted according to your needs and aren’t permanent

Can be setup within 1-2 hours

CONS:

In some cases, boundaries may fluctuate to a small degree

Some units are affected by signals/radio reception

Wired Underground Dog Fence

With wired invisible dog fences, a string of wire is dug into the perimeter of your yard. The main transmitter unit connects with the physical wire perimeter, which then communicates boundary information with the dog’s collar.

PROS:

Perimeter can be completely customized for your yard

Underground perimeters won’t fluctuate

CONS:

Complex installation that potentially requires a professional

A path must be dug around your yard

The unit is not portable

Wire breaks can be frustrating to repair

How to Train Your Dog With An Electric Pet Fence

When using an electric fence, it’s absolutely essential that you train your dog and teach them how the fence works.

Nearly all horror stories owners have with invisible fencing come as a result of not properly teaching their dog how the invisible fence works.

dog in backyard

Setting up your electric dog fence and tossing your dog outside, hoping that they’ll figure it out how it all works, is a 100% guaranteed recipe for disaster.

Without training, dogs can’t understand why they are being shocked. In some cases, dogs become terrified to go outside or sit immobilized in their yard, too frightened to move.

Obviously this isn’t what any owner wants for their pet – the whole point of investing in an electric dog fence is to enable your dog to roam and frolic about the yard in safety, not terrify them to the point of paralyzation.

You’ll receive a collection of training information when you order your electric dog fence, but here’s a basic rundown of how it works.

Set Up System + Flags. After installing the dog fence system, you’ll set up flags around the perimeter of your boundary area 10 ft apart (you may need to buy extra flags for larger yards).

Show Dog Boundaries with Tone Only. Switch the collar to a tone-only setting and hold it in your hand. With your leashed dog, approach the flagged boundary line. When the collar emits the warning sound, bring your dog several paces back towards the safety area. Reward with praise and treats!

Repeat With Several Flags. Repeat this process with a few flags on the first training day until your dog resists approach the flag.

Add Static Correction. In following days, switch to the static shock correction (start with a low setting and adjust if necessary if your dog ignores it). Continue approaching the flags (and retreating after the correction) until your dog resists approach the boundary flags.

Test Your Dog For Distractions. After several days of training, test your dog’s resolve by throwing a ball or toy outside of the boundary line. If he doesn’t go after the toy and stops at the boundary line, reinforce him with praise.

Go Off Leash. After a week of solid training, let your dog off leash in the yard. Don’t move to this step until your dog has completed the previous steps.

Begin to Remove Flags. After two weeks, begin to remove boundary flags. Start by removing every other flag, and then eventually you can remove them all.

Extra Training Notes:

Keep Training Sessions Short. Training sessions should last between 10 – 15 minutes. You don’t want to exhaust and frustrate your dog. Shorter, more frequent training sessions are the most effective.

Plenty of Play. Be sure to start and end every training session with plenty of fun play time. Take frequent play breaks if your dog seems stressed. Patience is key!

Leaving the Area. When going on outside walks, always remove the invisible dog fence collar and replace it with a walking collar + leash. When leaving the property, always leave by the same route so as to not confused your dog.

For more in-depth training help, YouTube has tons of helpful videos, such as this invisible fence training video from PetSafe.

Can I Install an Electric Dog Fence Myself?

The DIY route can be a hassle, but plenty of owners have installed in-ground wired systems themselves. If you feel confident, go for it.

Just read instructions carefully and make sure you have a map of your property. You don’t want to go digging around your yard and accidentally hit a water line or anything else potentially disastrous.

Setting up a wireless boundary on your own is a breeze – it’s just a matter of plugging in the unit, placing the boundary flags in the appropriate areas, and training your dog.