If you need to keep your dog confined to a certain area then an electric dog fence could be the perfect solution for you and your dog. Have you ever had a dog run towards you and then suddenly stop? This is probably due to the owner using an electric fence to train his dog to stay within certain boundaries. Electric fences have been in use for many years. Ranchers to keep their livestock in their pastures and predators away from the livestock first used them. They started being used for dogs about thirty years ago and have undergone improvement over the years to get to today’s invisible fences. Electric dog fences do their job very effectively if they are used properly.
There are three main components to electric dog fences. The first is the wire that is installed around the perimeter of the area where you want the dog to stay. This wire is usually buried but can be installed in other manners depending on your needs. The second component is the transmitter. The transmitter is mounted in an area out of the weather and the ends of the wire connect to the transmitter to create a continuous loop. The transmitter sends a radio signal through the wire. The last component is the collar/receiver. If you look at the collar, there is a small box on the collar and this is the receiver.
The way the electric dog fence operates is simple but effective. You put the collar on your dog and when he approaches the wire he at first gets an audible warning and if he ignores the warning then a mild electric shock is applied and the intensity increases until the dog turns away from the fence. This is accomplished by the receiver picking up the radio signal from the wire. If you purchase an electric dog fence, get a model that allows the power of the radio signal and the intensity of the shock to be adjusted. It is not recommended to use electric dog fences for dogs that weigh less than eight pounds. You will want to start the training with the collar at the lowest intensity. Do not turn the intensity up unless the dog completely ignores the correction. Many newer versions of the electric dog fence increase the intensity of the correction automatically, saving you time when training your dog.
If used properly you will notice that within a very short amount of time just the sound of the audible warning will be all it takes to make your dog turn away from the fence. If you choose to install an electric dog fence be sure that you follow all of the instructions that are provided for installation and use of the fence. If the training guidelines are not followed, you can do more harm than good to the dog. The dog can be injured if the instructions are not followed. If used properly an electric dog fence is a very useful training tool that can keep your dog and your neighbors safe and secure.
Related Articles:
Electric Fences for Dogs
How Electric Dog Fences Work
Sample Electric Dog Fence Layouts