Invisible dog fences are commonly used by dog owners in situations where a traditional fence would either be impossible to build or would simply be impractical. If you’ve never used one of these fences, though, you might wonder why they tend to be so effective. After all, you’ve probably seen dogs run towards their boundaries and come to a dead stop, clearly unwilling to follow you any farther. The following quick explanation of how these fences work will give you a good idea of why they’ve become so common and why so many dog owners choose them over more traditional types of barriers.
The Traditional Invisible Fence
When most people think of a traditional invisible fence, they’re really thinking of a wired model. In this version of the fence, there is actually wire running along the boundary of a specific area – the owner of the property can delineate where the dog can roam and ‘fence off’ those spots by burying the wire underground. While they do require regular maintenance and a bit of work to install, these are the fences that are by far the most popular and that tend to be recommended by most of the professions who work with invisible fences.
How Electric Dog Fences Function
To install a wired invisible fence, the property owner first surveys the area in which he or she wants to confine the dog. This can be as small as a traditional backyard or as a large as a few acres, with the range of the device largely based upon how much wire is bought and the strength of the transmission device. Once the area is staked out, the owner can bury the wire and let it be – most wired fences require a minimal amount of maintenance, though they do have to be checked to ensure that the wires haven’t been damaged or moved due to erosion or the actions of animals.
The real heart of the device is in a radio transmitter that is generally housed inside the owner’s home. The transmitter sends a signal, which runs across the buried wire. The owner’s dog will wear a special collar that is attuned to that radio signal – when the animal approaches the barrier, it will receive the first in a series of corrections to ensure that the animal does not exit the area’s boundaries.
The Dog’s Reaction
It’s important to remember that invisible fences are not meant to hurt dogs. In fact, the first step in correcting the dog’s behavior doesn’t involve any kind of physical sensation at all – the collar will emit a signal that only the dog can hear. When the vast majority of dogs hear this signal, they will stop what they are doing and back away from the buried wire. It’s a quick and harmless way to keep an animal within his or her boundaries without doing any harm.
Even the so-called ‘static correction’ of invisible fences is not a shock. It’s more akin to a slight tingle, an unusual sensation that will alert the dog but that is incapable of actually causing the animal pain. It’s intended to help the animal associate crossing the boundary with an unpleasant sensation, which should help to convince him or her to stay within the alienated area.
The goal of the fences isn’t to shock the dogs or make them feel unpleasant. Instead, it’s more of a training tool. In time, most dogs won’t even technically need the collar in order to stay safe – they’ll be averse to crossing the boundary simply due to their experience with the fence.
Wireless Fences
Given the proliferation of wireless technology over the past decade, it makes sense that even the invisible dog fence would go wireless. Despite the change in technology, you’re still looking at something that’s essentially the same principle – a signal-based training tool that helps to teach an animal where it is and is not allowed to roam. These wireless systems simply take a little bit of the manual labor out of installing one of these fences and tend to be a little easier on their owners. This does not, however, mean that wireless invisible fences are the right choice for everyone.
How Wireless Fences Function
Wireless dog fences are a little simpler than their wired counterparts. At their core, they’re just a paired transmitter and receiver set. Instead of having to bury wires, you can simply plug the transmitter into a household outlet and determine the range in which your dog can roam. You’ll still use a receiver collar for your dog, and your dog will still experience the same kind of corrective effects that are found in a wired set-up. The only real difference between the two sets is that you won’t have to bury wires.
Do Invisible Dog Fences Really Work?
It’s important to think of these invisible fences as a corrective tool rather than as a barrier. It is entirely possible for a dog to get through the barrier, but only if he or she is able to ignore a type of stimulus that works on the vast majority of dogs. While this means that the fence might not be quite as a secure as a traditional fence, the flexibility offered by both the wired and wireless set-ups does allow the vast majority of dog owners to rest easy knowing that their dogs won’t leave their defined areas.
Invisible dog fences work by transmitting radio signals to dog collars. They’re a fantastic training tool and a great option for those who are either unwilling or unable to put up a more traditional fence. While there are certainly differences between wired and wireless fences, both do a great job of helping animals to learn where it’s safe to roam and keeping them from running off. If you’re looking for a good way to keep your dog safe and you don’t want to deal with traditional fencing, this may be your best choice. Make sure to check out our reviews of some of today’s best invisible dog fences located here: https://www.thiselectrichome.com/best-invisible-wireless-dog-fence-reviews/.
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