How Do Electronic Dog Fences Work?

One way to keep your dogs or livestock within your area is through physical fences. There are supposed to prevent animals from entering and leaving the specified area. Some fences are equipped to release a current when touched. For owners who tend to worry about where their dogs run off to, such a pet fencing system is available. Some studies show, however, that a pet boundary control system, without the use of erected fences, tend to be more cost effective over time. One more thing – they are the sensible choice in areas where it’s prohibited to set up physical fences.

What is a fence without a fence?

It’s simple, the goal is for your dog to keep inside your area. An electronic dog fence is essentially an area bound by buried wires instead of erected fences. The boundaries are marked by small flags outside of which the dog is not to venture. When the dog approaches the boundaries, his collar gives off a warning sound. The collar gives him a corrective shock whenever he exceeds that boundary. With some training, the dog realizes that he is not to go beyond the area wherein he hears the warning sound.

The benefit is clear – despite there being no visible fence to keep the dog in the area, when a dog has been trained to heed the system, it’s a better fence. Naturally, any other animal (human beings included) who does not wear the collar, are unaffected by the virtual fence. Either due to the aesthetics (virtual fences retains or avoids ruining precious yard space), some dog owners prefer the electronic dog fence to actual, physical fences.

Alternative set ups you should know about

There are other approaches to the invisible fencing system. One of them does away with the buried wires and instead relies on radio signals sent from a central device. There is a marked radius and when the dog is detected as nearing the edge of that range, the warning sounds go off, followed by the static correction should the dog continue to leave the perimeter. Another system is possible via the use of the Global Positioning System, which some dog owners find more sophisticated compared to the other two. The principle behind these two approaches are the same as that of the buried wire set up – should the dog get near the boundary, the collar sends off a warning, prior to the static correction the dog will receive should it continue to leave the perimeter.

The corrective shock to the dog can be calibrated to increase in intensity and frequency, depending on the setting the dog owner chooses. Remember that for you to get the most of this electronic dog fence, your dog must be trained and rewarded for a specified period, until it heeds the warning tones and static corrections, and stays inside the perimeter.