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Frequently Asked Questions About Wireless Dog Fences Listed Below.
Q: What system should I get?
A: If you have one or more similar-sized dogs, weighing around 15lbs, we recommend buying a system that has the same correction level for all the collars. That way when the little shock happens, it won’t be too much for your dogs and all of them will be able to handle it quite well.
If you own two or more dogs of different sizes you should buy something that lets you adjust the correction level of every collar separately. It is clearly a better choice if you have dogs that need different correction levels. When they get near the boundary, every collar will react differently and according to its setting.
If the dogs you own are a small breed, you would want a collar that is small enough to fit them and can be calibrated to provide a lower correction level for these dogs.
Q: Wireless or in-ground fence?
A: In-ground dog fence systems work by burying a boundary wire around the perimeter of your property. The wire serves to transmit a delicate radio signal. When the dog wearing the collar gets close to the designated area he gets a warning. If they keep getting closer they will get slightly shocked by the collar. That way, the dog will remember not to get close to that area, as it shocks him every time he gets close. By using associative memory the dog will learn about the unsafe areas and will stay away from them. In-ground systems provide a consistent stationary solution for containing your pets and for that reason they seem to be more popular. They can be shaped to suit every yard. The downside is that they require more work upfront.
Wireless dog fence systems work by creating a circular boundary around the transmitter (central base). The waves always form a perfect circle around the transmitter, although the radius can be adjusted to suit your needs. Wireless fences are more convenient to set up but they tend to have imprecise borders and “blind spots”. Also, large metal objects can interfere with the wireless signal. That’s why these systems are unpredictable and their success largely depends on the environment. They are great if you have a lot of open space without many obstacles. They are extremely useful when camping as they can be set up very quickly.
Q: How old or big must my dog be?
A: Firstly, your dog should be adjusted to the environment before the start of the training. You should not start training a dog who is not older than six months. Young pups usually are not ready to learn and won’t be able to cope with the technique. They can be easily distracted and can’t be effectively trained. We also don’t advise you to contain the pregnant or infirm dog, rather wait until gets back to normal state. As for the size, there are no minimum or maximum limitations.
Q: Are Wireless Dog Fences Cruel?
A: You probably know the feeling of static shock that hits you sometimes when you step out of a car. The correction shock feels pretty much the same. You can try it on yourself if you fear that it might hurt your dog. It can be described as unpleasant and surprising, but it definitely isn’t painful. The dog doesn’t really feel anything after the correction is over. It is not an ongoing feeling by any means. Of course, it’s an unusual sensation that anyone would want to avoid, but not a big deal.
Here is what we think about the cruelty question. We understand that you wouldn’t want to see your dog in any pain. We also understand that nobody wants their dog to be put in dangerous situations by escaping the yard. Add to that the freedom he gets by being able to play outside during the day and you’ll get your answer. If you watch how the mother interacts with her pups, you’ll notice that when the pup gets out of line she will give him a small nip on the neck. That is because she cares about her pup’s safety and she is trying to discipline her pups if they get mischievous.
One important thing to mention is that you should perform the training after you buy the system. Your dog will get more corrections if he tries to learn on his own without your guidance. Also, the training drastically improves the chances of your dog being safely contained.
Q: How long does it take to train my dog?
A: Usually it takes about six days to train a dog. Also, using gentle training techniques can greatly reduce the training duration and you will be able to let your dog roam on his own much faster.
Q: How do you install an electric dog fencing system?
A: It really depends on the type of electric dog fence you decide to purchase, whether wireless vs in-ground dog fence installation we wrote a guide here on how you can install your own dog fencing system.
A wireless dog fence system will be much easier to install without the need for physical labor.
With an in-ground dog fence, you’ll need to dig out trenches to lay the wire which can be more physically laborious but will allow you to customize the pet containment area.
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