When it comes to dog safety, keep in mind that several important questions arise when you’re a Michigan dog owner thinking about installing underground dog security. When you’re a dog owner in Michigan considering an underground dog security, one concern immediately pops into your mind – should you install it yourself or hire a professional?
It’s an equitable question. The kits can be purchased online and in hardware stores too and initial savings may appear attractive. However, the answer really has to do with your yard, what your dog does there and the weather conditions in Michigan over time.
This guide objectively analyzes both systems, outlining the expenses, risks, training and lifetime reliability on each to choose the right one for your dog.
What Is an Underground Dog Fence?
A hidden fence, invisible fence or electric dog fence is a type of dog fence that is underground with a transmitter usually placed in your home or garage. Your dog is equipped with a light receiver dog collar. The dog approaches the wire, it starts beeping, then if the dog moves toward the wire, it then gives a static correction of a very mild level.
It can accommodate any yard shape, not affect your property’s appearance, and can be used for multiple dogs, zones for inside versus outside, pools, driveways and more. It is one of the most popular pet containment systems in Michigan and there’s a good reason.
DIY Underground Dog Fence: What You’re Actually Getting Into
Underground fences will come pre-made or available as DIY kits on the internet and at home improvement centers like Petco or Home Depot. At a glance they appear to be a good investment approach to saving money. This is what the truth is.
Upfront cost of a DIY underground dog fence:
- Basic kit for a small yard: $200–$500
- Mid-range kit (up to 1 acre): $500–$900
- Some wire and extra supplies: $50 to $150 extra
- Rental equipment (trencher, splice connectors, flags): $100 – $200
Usually the total cost of materials required for an average Michigan suburban dog fence will be about $400 to $900. That’s the one that most people come across, and it’s a pretty nice way of comparison to when it’s being professionally installed.
However, this price is not all-inclusive.
What DIY doesn’t cover:
- Custom land surveying of your property done by professionals
- Identify and avoid sprinkler system errors
- The correct wire depth for Michigan freeze-thaw cycles
- Driveway and sidewalk crossings (requires conduit or special technique)
- Collaring tutorial for breeds and temperament of dogs
- Any training by a certified professional in the field
- Warranty on labor or materials
However, wire is not easy to keep alive in the soil of Michigan. The freezing and thawing of the ground in the winter stretches wires and puts tension on them, particularly when they are at the driveway crossings or at splice points. Even an inch deep can be off target and the wire can become defective one winter. If this occurs, then you are finding and fixing yourself or paying a technician anyway.
Being DIY also puts all the training process on your shoulders. Over 90% of the kit manufacturers offer a printable guide or video. It will work in some dogs, but not others. Need hands-on training in boundaries for high-energy, stubborn and puppy dogs.
Professional Underground Dog Fence Installation in Michigan: What You Get
In Michigan, you can hire professional underground fence installers for a fee.
- Average cost of a standard residential lawn: $950-$2,500
- Based on labor or per linear foot (yard): $10 to $32.50 depending on size and complexity of yard
- The higher the property size is (1+ acre) or the more complex the property layout is, the more costly it will be
A significant difference in cost to self-serve. However, read what comes packed into you when you enlist the services of a local dog fence company in Michigan such as Underground Fence Michigan.
What professional installation includes:
- Free home consultation and home assessment Ready for tenants’ properties
- Special mapping for your unique yard design
- The backfill for wire should be at least 4–5 inches deep (based on terrain)
- Good rod conduit at crossings at all driveway and sidewalk crossings
- Identification and protection of sprinkler system prior to any excavation work
- The transmitter set up and calibration of signals
- Trimming and fitting collar to the ideal level based on your dog’s size and temperament
- Learning through practical, boundary-exercising with a certified trainer
- Equipment and Labor are covered by warranty
- Continuous service and same day repair service
The process of installing electric fencing professionally is a once and for all installation and done correctly – and once it is done, it can be called upon by a local service to modify set-up if a change occurs – such as a wire that’s broken after a Michigan winter or a new dog coming along.
Underground Fence Installation Cost vs DIY: The Real Comparison
An independent comparison, slit down the middle:
DIY Underground Dog Fence
- Upfront cost: $400–$900
- Estimated Time of Installation: 6 – 12 hours (usually more)
- Enseignement: Autodidactique suite à des documents imprimés ou vidéos
- Warranty: Kit manufacturer only (usually 1 year for parts)
- Repair support: You deal the drill or pay the tech
- Michigan winter durability: It depends solely on how it’s installed
- Ideal for: Very intelligent do-it-Yourselfers who have a straightforward yard, and a quiet, easy-trained dog.
Professional Underground Dog Fence
- Upfront cost: $950–$2,500
- Install time: 1 day (all by the installer)
- Training: In person with certified trainer
- Guarantee: Machine + man hours, sometimes extended service too
- Local support for repairs: available on call
- Conducted with proper depth and conduit protection in place, this will effect Michigan winter durability
- Ideal for: The majority of Michigan homeowners who desire it to be done correctly the initial time
Make things a lot worse once you include a do-it-yourself repair call at year 1, new collar batteries and retraining after your dog learns to override an incorrectly programmed system.
Why Michigan’s Climate Makes Professional Installation the Safer Choice
Michigan is not an easygoing state for buried wire. Decades of freeze thaws are a common occurrence in Oakland County, Troy, Novi, Bloomfield Township, Rochester Hills and Ann Arbor each winter. It’s as if the ground is coming alive, expanding, contracting, and twirling – and not just once or twice between November and March.
Installing wire too shallow, not splicing correctly or running wire across hard surfaces without conduit is a wire that will fail. If, however, it does get released, then your dog’s containment is gone until it is fixed, which typically happens on a cold morning when you don’t expect it.
Southeast Michigan professional installers are aware of this. They have taken into consideration local soil conditions, typical frost depth, and are sensitive to the special conditions of Oakland County yards, which are detailed below but are not covered in any instruction manual.
Is Professional Underground Dog Fence Installation Worth It in Michigan?
If you’re a Michigan homeowner, resoundingly, yes.
There are three reasons why investing in professional underground fence installation is worthwhile:
- It requires no tweaking and sticks to its target job well after its initial launch. No trial and error, no guesswork, to the depths of wire or calibration of collars.
- It is tolerant of Michigan winters. The typical mistake when installing would cause the DIY systems to be broken due to the freeze/thaw effects of the soil, which isn’t an issue for proper installation depth or conduit crossings.
- Your dog respects it as his training. The difference between a two-week training dog that learns the boundary and a dog that blows through it is professional in-person training.
A quiet, gentle adult dog, a legato handyman and a simple, small yard are a perfect match for a DIY kit. For most Mich residential homeowners with regular suburban homes, puppies and dogs, driveways with vehicular access and sprinkler systems, it’s a wiser investment to be done professionally.
Going to Get a Free Quote on Underground Fence Installation in Michigan?
Underground Fence Michigan, a family owned dog fence company, serves Oakland County, Troy, Novi, Bloomfield Township, Rochester Hills, Ann Arbor and all Southeast Michigan. No franchise fees and free in-home consultations are necessary, and all major brands are installed and serviced.
Frequently Asked Questions Underground Fence Installation
What is the price of professional underground dog fence installation in Michigan?
For a professionally installed underground dog fence, most Michigan homeowners can expect to spend anywhere from $950 – $2,500, depending on yard size, complexity and the dog’s number of pets. There is no cost for appointments and an in-home consultation is available with Underground Fence Michigan, which means you’ll always be aware of what your project will end up costing you.
Is a DIY underground dog fence worth it in Michigan?
Underground dog fence (Doo Di) can be used in simple yards; the materials to be used for the Doo Di dog fence are about $400-$900 for doo di materials. But problematic improper installation is common in Michigan because of their freeze-thaw, driveways over pavement, and sprinkler systems. The typical Michigan householders discover they save money in their pocket in the long run, as there is no need for fixing calls or re-training problems from the work done by the professional.
How long does a professionally installed underground dog fence last in Michigan?
In Michigan, a professionally installed system and conduit and depth of wires can last 15-20 years. The variables are the quality of the wiring, splicing technique and installation depth. Burial-adapted wire and waterproof, silicon splice connector from the local professional installers takes care of Michigan soil movement.
Can a professional installer service a DIY underground dog fence kit?
Yes. Underground Fence Michigan covers all major brands such as PetSafe, Innotek, Invisible Fence, DogWatch, Dog Guard and most DIY kit brands. A nearby tech can diagnose and repair issues such as a wire break, collar or transmitter fault issues if something is wrong with your DIY system.
Do I need a professional to train my dog on an underground fence?
It’s not required, but when dogs train boundaries at a professional school, it helps them get better results, particularly high-energy breeds, puppies, and dogs who have not been rewarded with success for following or heeding boundary signals. With professional installation by Underground Fence Michigan, in-person professional training is included.
What is the best underground dog fence for Michigan weather?
The perfect electric fence in Mich. will utilize burial grade wire, conduit protection at any driveway crossings and splice connectors which are waterproof. The importance of brand is much less significant than installation quality. Underground Fence Michigan installs all major brands, and follows the standards of installation designed specifically for the Michigan climate.
Does underground fence Michigan work for large properties?
Yes. Pet containment systems under ground can be used to cover up expansive yards and multi-acre lots. The extended transmitter range and/or extra wire may be necessary for properties larger than 1 acre. Underground Fence Michigan’s expertise is in custom installations throughout Rochester Hills, Novi, Troy, Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Township and other Southeast Michigan neighborhoods of Oakland County.
How do I know if my underground fence wire has a break?
Common indicators are a steady red or blipping light on your transmitter, an alarm beep, your dog bolting out of a portion of your yard or the collar is changing but it is not always. If you think a wire may have been broken, do not leave the dog off the leash until the break is fixed.