When you have pet dogs, invisible fences are excellent options for their protection on your farm. Whether you need to keep your dogs on your property, out of your garden, away from your chickens, or simply in their own special “zone,” an invisible dog fence is a versatile way to do it. Choosing an invisible fence is very different than selecting a traditional fence, so let’s take a look at some of the things you need to consider and some of the advantages of invisible fencing.
Benefits of an Invisible Fence
There are many reasons why you might select a DIY invisible fence for fencing needs on your farm. An invisible fence is a great alternative to a traditional fence because it is extremely reliable. The underground wire rarely breaks, and if it does, your system will notify you. Your dogs will be unable to dig under, jump over, or break through the invisible fence boundaries like they could with a traditional fence. Invisible fences are also great because they do not obstruct your view, and they do not stop you or create the inconvenience of fiddling with a gate everytime you must pass your dogs’ boundaries. They can be used inside or out, and they allow you to fully customize your dogs’ boundaries, helping you maximize the space available on your farm.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Fence
-Size of Farm: The size of your farm matters when choosing an electronic dog fence, because each system has a different capacity. Some dog fence systems can contain up to 100 acres, so it’s possible to give your dogs the entire run of your farm up to that size. In order to maximize your dogs’ zone, you may need to buy additional wire, because each basic system does not come with enough wire to use the entire capacity.
-Number of Dogs: Most underground dog fence systems can be used with an unlimited number of dogs. If you are considering a wireless dog fence, you may be limited to only 2-3 dogs. Each dog fence system will come with one e-collar, and additional e-collars can be purchased. If you are considering getting more dogs, you may not want to limit yourself by choosing a system with a finite number of e-collars that it can support.
-Size of Dogs: Basic e-collars are generally meant for medium-sized dogs. If your dogs are small, such as under 15 pounds, you may need to purchase specialized e-collars that are meant for use with smaller dogs. Not all systems support these e-collars, so you’ll have to choose a system that has a range of e-collars available for use with it. Bigger dogs may also require special e-collars, especially if they are more stubborn and need a stronger correction.
-Battery Backup: If you want your underground dog fence system to work in the event of a power outage, you’ll need to purchase a system that has battery backup. Many systems have battery backup, but not all do, so you’ll have to decide how important this feature is to you before selecting an electronic dog fence.
-E-Collar Batteries: All e-collars run on batteries. Some e-collars, however, have rechargeable batteries, and some have replaceable batteries. Replaceable batteries are nice because they last longer at one time, but they must be replaced 2-4 times per year. Rechargeable batteries will need to be charged more often, but you do not need to purchase new batteries.
-Exclusion Zones: Exclusion zones are zones that you can create within your property that your dogs are unable to access. For example, if your underground dog fence is around your ranch’s entire perimeter and your dogs have the run of it, you can create an exclusion zone to prevent them from getting into your flower beds, machinery storage, or pond. Not all systems are compatible with exclusion zones, but they’re excellent to have for additional safety measures.
Cost of an Invisible Fence
Another excellent benefit of a DIY invisible fence is that it’s significantly less expensive than a traditional fence, especially over lots of acres. The average, basic invisible fence system costs about $300, and wireless dog fence systems can cost up to $800. Most systems come with one e-collar and 500-feet of boundary wire. Additional e-collars may cost $60-$100, and every extra 500-feet of wire may cost $22-$100. E-collar batteries cost about $7-$10. The cost of running an electric dog fence is about $2 per month in electricity. All-in-all, these costs add up to be thousands less than traditional fences. If you install your own electric dog fence, you’ll save more than $1200 in installation fees.
Comparing Electric Dog Fences
In order to compare invisible fences, there are many great tools available online. Invisible fence reviews can help you see the pros and cons of each system. Online customer reviews can give you insight into people’s personal experiences with each system. Manufacturer instructions can also help you learn about what goes into installing and running an electronic dog fence. Electric dog fence comparison tables can also help you compare and contrast systems in order to select the one that has the features you need for your particular farm and dogs.
Choosing an electric dog fence can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it in the end. The peace of mind that your dogs will be safe on your farm is invaluable. Giving your dogs the freedom to run and explore will also help promote their physical and mental health. Most dogs do very well on invisible fence systems, and only dogs who are pregnant, less than six months old, or very infirm are restricted from using the system. With consistent training that takes about 30 minutes per day for two weeks, all dogs can learn their new boundaries and expectations.
Published in partnership with www.dogfencediy.com. We encourage you to share your experiences with a variety of dog containment systems in the comments section. Commenters and those who share the post in social media qualify for a drawing of a $25 Amazon gift card!
