Dogs are fun, but they can also inconvenience you when you want to attend to some important matters. You do not want to leave your furry friend locked in a kennel or on a leash the whole day. They need time to play too so that they can release the extra energy and make them friendly. However, what is the most convenient way to keep a pup free to roam within your compound? An electric fence is the best, and in this article, you will learn more about how it works.
What Is An Electric Dog Fence?
The electric fence does not mean a real wall with electricity passing through it. It is a system that works using radio frequencies that pass between a dog’s collar and the boundary wire. The outlet that acts as the control box is the only piece that has electricity in it.
You will plug the outlet in your house that will help monitor the fence. There are varieties of fences to choose from. In this list, you will get reviews on them. You will learn each fence’s pros and cons, allowing you to make an informed choice.
A free dog is a happy one, and that means you need to give it time to play. An electric dog fence gives it the freedom to roam around your compound, at the same time restricting it from going to the neighbors’ yards or escaping.
How Does An Electric Fence Work?
Electric fences differ in their make, with some requiring you to bury wires in the ground while others have a wireless system. With the wire one, you bury it in the ground in a yard where you do not want your dog to go past it. The fence comes with a transmitter that gets power from a wall outlet, and it sends a radio signal to the underground wire.
There is also a battery-powered receiver that your pet has to wear around its neck like a collar. The work of the receiver is to detect radio signals traveling in the underground wire. Therefore, when your pet approaches the electric dog fence, it will hear a sound. If it attempts to go past the wall after hearing the warning sound, an electric stimulation will send it to a halt.
The electric shock is not harmful to the animal and only acts as a distractor to prevent the dog from going past the set boundary. The impulse is a tingly feeling on the dog’s skin that aims at stopping its movement. The wireless fence works the same way. The only difference is that there is no burying of wires underneath the ground.
How to Get a Dog Accustomed To the Set Boundaries
The electric fence will not be effective without training. Behavioral training will have the dog knowing its boundaries. When you install the electric fence, you can use flags or any other indicators to mark the boundary. You can then start training the dog. As they approach the wall and hear the warning sound, they will not go further. They will experience some static stimulation.
With time they will relate the flags with the feeling and the sound they hear when they approach the area. You can then reward the pet each time it stops when it hears the sound, and it will know that it is not supposed to cross that area. You can later remove the indicators you used to mark with, as dogs will have learned the boundary limits already set.
Pros of Electric Fences for Your Dog
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- You do not have to incur huge costs when buying and installing electric fences as the case is with traditional ones.
- There is freedom for the dog to roam around the compound while at the same time keeping it off from escaping or disturbing neighbors. Even with the gate open, the dogs cannot go out.
- Your pets will not escape by jumping over the fence or digging underneath.
- You do not require having a permit to build the fence since they do not need a regulation to install them.
- You can move the electric fence and even adjust it, unlike the traditional ones.
- It helps keep the dog within the compound without locking them in or putting them on a leash.
Cons of Electric Fences for Your Dog
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- Behavioral training is necessary to ensure the dogs learn the boundaries.
- It only works with your pets and has no control over other outside animals from entering the compound.
- Since the fence is not a real barrier, a determined dog can still find its way through it.
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Looking for more pet tips? Read our post about the signs that you need to take your dog to a veterinarian, these myths about dog and cat food. or these tips for designing dog friendly apartments.
