When I worked as a veterinary technician, it was important to discuss ways that our clients could keep their dog safe at home, like kennel training when they were away at work and if the dog was to be outside sometimes unsupervised, consider fencing. There are two different types of fences you can use to keep your dog safely contained in your yard – a standard fence and an electronic dog fence. Once you’ve selected a type, you can also choose between having the fence professionally installed or taking a DIY approach.
A DIY electric fence will save you thousands of dollars on professional installation costs, and you’ll get the added benefit of knowing how to fix it should the need arise. You’ll be confident your dog is safe, and you won’t have to erect a barrier between you and the outside world, which can satisfy your dog’s curiosity and preserve your pristine views at the same time.
While there are many benefits to a DIY electric dog fence, there are other considerations to make, too. Let’s quickly explore some of the instances when an invisible dog fence is particularly helpful, when it’s not, and what you need to know before deciding to install one yourself.
Is Your Dog a Determined Digger?
We all have our hobbies, and some dogs simply have a passion for digging. Terrier breeds in particular are prone to digging wherever they can, and this can pose a myriad of problems. Any efforts you make to maintain flowers or a garden in your yard may be wasted. And no matter how tall or sturdy a fence you erect, your digging dog may escape underneath it with ease. An electronic dog fence is a great solution for containing determined diggers. With their e-collar on, an annoying beeping tone will warn your dog when they approach the boundary wire. If they continue on, a mild static shock will deter them and prevent them from digging at the perimeter of your yard for escape purposes. Many dog owners have found that an electric dog fence is the only way they’re able to ensure their dog stays in the yard or out of the garden.
Does Your Dog Exhibit Aggression?
There is one particular type of dog that you should not attempt to contain with an electronic dog fence alone. Aggressive dogs can be big liabilities for their owners in certain circumstances. For example, if your dog is fine with you but unpredictable around small children or smaller dogs, you do not want to risk them escaping your yard while unattended. You also do not want to leave your yard open so that anyone can accidentally cross into your dog’s territory and unwittingly surprise them. For aggressive dogs, standard fences can offer more protection. If your dog will not be contained by a standard fence, then the best approach is to use both a standard fence and an electronic dog fence. There are even e-collars with higher correction levels that are intended to be used with larger or more stubborn or aggressive dogs.
Can You Commit to It?
Even if an electric dog fence is right for your dog, it has to be right for you, too. Unlike a standard fence, you can’t simply plug-in an electric dog fence and have it start to work. Installing an electric dog fence is simple enough for most people to accomplish on their own, even without prior DIY experience. As long as you can read and follow directions, and don’t mind spending a few hours in the yard on the weekend, you can do it. Once installed, you must then commit to training your dog, which takes about 30 minutes per day for two weeks. You must also follow the training instructions to the letter, or you dog may not properly learn the new system, which will result in repeated unnecessary static shocks. If a dog is efficiently taught their new expectations, they will not experience the warning tones or corrections at all beyond the training phase.
If you think a DIY electric fence might be the right containment solution for your yard, the next step is to select the best make and model. Different systems have different features, and it’s also important to select the right e-collar for your dog’s size and temperament. Online invisible fence reviews can help you filter through the many different electronic dog fence options in order to choose a containment system that will meet all of your expectations and goals.
If you want to learn more about DIY electric dog fences, be sure to pursue the informational material on the DogFenceDIY website. As our partners in containment and safety education, they can help answer any questions you might have.
