Advantages and Disadvantages of Using an Electric Dog Fence
If you own a dog that you keep outside, then you will obviously need some way to keep it in your yard. Keeping it tied to a stake doesn’t offer a whole lot of freedom, so erecting a fence is a good idea. Instead of using a physical fence, you may want to consider using an electric dog fence.
There are two main types of dog fences on the market. With one type, you will have to bury wire beneath the ground to act as a perimeter. The other type of system utilizes radio waves. Both types of systems require your dog to wear a special collar.
The main advantage of using an electric dog fence is that your yard will look much more beautiful. A physical fence will restrict your view of the surroundings. Erecting a fence yourself can be a lot of work too.
You will also find that using electric dog fences will save you money. You would have to spend quite a bit of money to erect a physical fence, depending on the particular size of your yard. It would easily cost $500 or more, with increased costs for hiring a professional to do it for you. Going with an electric fence will cost you on average $100.
Another advantage of using an electric dog fence is that it’s very versatile. There are some systems that aren’t limited to outside use, so you can use them in certain areas of your home. This is very useful if you want to keep your dog out of the kitchen or other rooms.
You should also be aware of some of the disadvantages of using one of these electric fences. Most importantly, you will have to train your dog properly in order for the fence to be effective. You can’t just set it up and leave your dog to figure things out for himself. Proper training will take a few weeks.
Depending on the type of electric dog fence that you get, installation can be very troublesome. You will have to physically bury the wire beneath your yard if you get that type of system. Many owners simply get a professional to do it for them, which would cost more money. This problem can be avoided by getting a system that makes use of radio waves.
If you get the buried wire variety, then hopefully you won’t move anytime in the future. That’s because you won’t be able to take this type of system with you easily. You will have to dig the wire up and bury it at your new home or simply get an entirely new one installed.
In order to use an electric dog fence, you will need to use a power source. Power outages may be a problem because they would render the system useless until it comes back on. In the meantime, your dog can make his escape if you don’t lock him up in time.
Finally, the electric dog fence will only work on animals wearing the special collar. It will keep your dog inside of your yard, but it won’t do anything to keep other animals from coming in. Therefore, your dog would be safer with a physical fence.
