Some dogs can have a tendency to get distracted and wander off. This can put them and others in danger. However, building a traditional containment system like a fence can be more expensive than what dog owners can afford. So, how can dog owners keep their dogs safe without busting their budget? An invisible dog fencing system can be the answer they’re looking for.
Although invisible dog fences won’t keep strangers and other animals away, they cost far less than a normal fence while still preventing your dog from escaping from your yard.
Article contents
What is an invisible dog fencing system?
An invisible dog fencing system has 3 main components:
- Transmitter: Sends a radio signal through the wiring. It needs to be set up in a dry location near an electrical socket.
- Wiring: A single strand of insulated wire through which the radio signal will pass through. In order to work, it needs to make a big loop from the transmitter, around the property, and back to the transmitter again.
- Receiver: Most invisible fence systems include waterproof, lightweight receiver and a collar. If you have more than one dog you want to contain, you can buy additional receivers and collar kits for them.
The wire is the foundation of the invensible fence system becausue it’s what limits the area you want your dog to have access to. You decide what the layout is going to be. You can also keep areas you don’t want your dog to access out of this layout like your swimming pool or flower gardens.
Finally, most invisible dog fencing systems come with one waterproof, lightweight receiver and a collar. If you have more than one dog you want to contain, you can buy additional receivers and collar kits for them. This system won’t work on any animal that doesn’t have a receiver in its collar.
How does it work?
The transmitter emits a radio signal that travels throughout the wire. Whenever a dog wearing the receiver approaches the wire it will hear a warning sound first. If the dog continues to approach or crosses the wire boundary it will receive a static correction.
This static correction is delivered by the receiver placed in the collar around the dog’s neck. It consists of a pair of contact points touching the neck. These will give the dog a harmless and safe electric stimulation enough to surprise it and grab its attention. It’s nothing more than a slight tingling sensation or like an unexpected tap on the shoulder but it’s enough to discourage the dog from moving forward.
Some systems have an adjustable intensity level. That way you can adjust the static correction to your dog’s temperament. Other systems also have a tone-only mode which is usually used during the training process.
Does it require training?
Invisible dog fences shouldn’t be used as a replacement for obedience training. In order for this system to be effective, you should spend some time training your dog after the installation is complete.
The goal of the training process with an invisible fence is to teach your dog to stop whenever it hears the warning sound. At first, your dog won’t know where the boundaries are so most trainers will start by clearly marking the boundary with flags during the training process.
As training progresses, dogs start to learn that approaching the flags will result in a warning sound. If they don’t stop, they’ll get a static correction. If they stop, they’ll receive a reward. This will help them learn to respect the boundaries of the invisible dog fencing system.
After consistent training, the flags can eventually be removed as dogs will know exactly how far they can go without hearing the warning sound or receiving a static correction.
Making sense of it all
Invisible dog fencing systems allow you to keep your dog safe in your backyard by teaching it not to wander off without supervision. They’re cheaper and a lot easier to set up than a traditional fence.
Invisible dog fencing allows a lot of flexibility when it comes to customizing the layout of the boundaries you want to set for your dog and can accommodate as many dogs as you want. All you need is to get a receiver collar for each one. While invisible fence systems require a bit of effort and time to properly train your dog, they’re an effective tool to help you contain your dog.
In order to be effective and bring you some peace of mind, you’ll need to dedicate some time to teach your dog how it works and where the boundaries are. Set aside at least an hour a day in the first week after installing the invisible dog fence for training.
