5 Myths About Electric Dog Fences, Debunked

Let’s face it, if you’ve been shopping around for ways to contain your pet then you’ve encountered many conflicting ideas. Some neighbours swear by their undetected fence and some recite frightening anecdotes passed on from someone else. This is what makes electric dog fence stories last longer than their usefulness in most cases – they travel quicker than the facts.

We’ve been putting and maintaining underground dog fences in Southeast Michigan for years and we get these same misunderstandings from setting up in almost every consultation. So, let’s get acquainted. The five most frequent electric dog fence myths have been straightened out in the following list of facts to help you make a decision that’s best for your dog and your yard.

What Is an Electric Dog Fence System, Exactly?

First, though, in order to debunk any myths, it’s important to understand what we’re talking about. An electric dog fence system (also known as a hidden fence or invisible dog fence) is a fence system that makes the fence invisible or uses a wire that is buried into the ground to create the invisible fence around your property. Your dog is fitted with a receiver collar which emits a warning tone when they are nearing the boundary, and a static of moderate intensity when they get closer to the boundary.

They come in two forms:

• Underground dog fences – This is a wire which is laid into the ground a few inches below the surface and located exactly where you need a fence to be, such as making an irregular shape, a garden, a swimming pool, up to a wooded area.
• Wireless dog fences – A transmitter is installed to establish a circular containment area that doesn’t need any buried wire, and is ideal for smaller, more uniform yards.

Both are more flexible than a good old fashioned privacy fence or chain link fence, but more flexible can be the source of more than a little confusion and even misunderstandings (mischievous rumors).

Myth #1: Electric Dog Fences Are Cruel and Painful for Dogs

This one is the most frequently discussed myth – and typically it’s from someone who is parallel to a businessperson equating a professional containment fence with an online-priced chain acquisition of an unsupervised, inexpensive, dog shock collar fence.

When it comes to the safety of electric dog fences, the answer is (as with most things) – yes, this is safe when it is set up properly, installed correctly, and paired with real training. The static correction felt by a good receiver collar is like getting a light static shock from touching a doorknob after walking on some carpet – a shock but not a painful one. Collars developed by reputable companies such as Invisible Fence, PetSafe, Dog Guard, and Pet Stop are made with various levels of correction options so that it can be properly configured to fit your dog based on his specific size, temperament and coat thickness.

The fact that the technology is not dangerous; it’s going without professional guidance. A bad experience is not caused by the concept of the electric fence for dogs but by a poorly fitted collar, incorrect setting or a dog that has never been trained to understand the warning tone or voice response. Our training always incorporates hands-on, positive-reinforcement training for your pet, which is why.

Myth #2: Electric Fences Don’t Actually Keep Dogs Contained

A hidden fence can seem like a suggestion even to some pet owners that can be ignored when a squirrel jogs by.

The Fact: For most breeds and temperaments an electric dog fence system that is properly installed and appropriately trained is quite effective. The word here is ‘correctly’. Nearly all containment issues come down to one of three things – an old or broken wire, a collar that carries either an unsound or incompatible battery or a dog that was never properly trained to respect the containment.

The electric dog fence facts are even more important than the assumption here. Professionally-layed systems are customized to match the exact topography of your yard, including slopes, tree lines and driveways and high distraction areas, rather than a boundary that’s one size fits all. When a wire does break it has to be located and repaired in a timely fashion as even a little leak will result in containment failure. We have a wire break repair service that will do this promptly and many times the day of your call.

Myth #3: Electric Dog Fence Installation Is Expensive and Complicated

Many homeowners think about digging ground up, wires and wires, and a massive bill awaiting.

The Facts: There are several things that efficiently installed modern electric dog fence are quicker and less intrusive than many realize. Enlist professional installation services for your average yard in Southeast Michigan, and the process will have taken a few hours from start to finish, including the time required for burying the wire, setting up the transmitter, fitting on the collar and conducting the initial training session on that same day with your pet.

An electric fence system for dogs is far and away the lower cost alternative to a physical privacy fence (no permits are needed for fence height, no maintenance required on wood and vinyl fence panels, and there is no blocking on the view or landscaping. Prices will vary based on the size and layout of your yard, the number of pets, and whether or not you would like indoor containment areas as well; we recommend an in-home consultation where it will be discussed in detail instead of estimating prices over the phone.

Myth #4: Electric Fences Stop Working in Bad Weather or Winter

This myth is particularly prevalent here in Michigan where snow, ice and freezing cold is an integral and active component of yard life for months each year.

The Fact: If properly installed, a dog fence buried underground is buried below the frost level and constructed to be completely weather proof. Neither is there any effect on the wire nor on the signal due to snow, rain, humidity and temperature differences. The collar receivers are also rain-proof and will keep your dog protected from rain, regardless of the weather. If a system does stop working in the winter, it is often for a reason other than the cold, such as a broken or cut wire, landscaping work or an already worn-out battery.

Myth #5: All Electric Dog Fence Brands and Systems Are the Same

Okay so many companies sell some form of a hidden fence, people think that while they all work the components are all interchangeable and it means that they can purchase any kit, insert the wire and you’re done!

The Fact: Far from it. Wireless and wired dog fences are ideal for various yard configurations and requirements, and even wired collars can differ when it comes to good signal, collar fit, range of corrections and battery life. A self-made kit purchased at a large hardware store will not also have the professional-grade property mapping or the dog-specific training that sets it apart when it comes to its lasting acceptance of the boundary by the dog.

We service and repair all major brands, such as Invisible Fence, PetSafe, Innotek, Pet Stop and Dog Guard, so we can tell you the facts about which electric fence system works best in your yard, with your dog’s breed and budget in mind, and we’re not trying to sell you one specific brand.

Electric Dog Fence Facts: Quick Recap

Having now busted some of the myths, here are the unconfused electric dog fence facts to be aware of:

• Systems installed professionally are safe when installed and trained properly and humane
• To ensure containment reliability, install, train and maintain wires properly, not by chance
• Installation usually is not a multi-day process, but is a same day one
• A properly-buried, frost-line system is not affected by Michigan winters
• All brands and system types are not created equal – check with your yard and your dog