Many people think an invisible underground wireless electric fence is the best way to keep their dog in their yard. However, they are simply not as effective as you might think. Statistics suggest that invisible wireless electric fences are only about 70% effective.

Dr. Ivana Crnec, DVM, highlights that while invisible fences can work for small or low-energy dogs, they are often less effective for high-energy or prey-driven dogs [SafeWise] [Pet Lover Guy]. Moreover, these fences do not provide a physical barrier, leaving your dog vulnerable to other animals entering your yard, which can be particularly concerning in areas with wildlife such as coyotes [PetMD].

What is an Invisible Dog Fence?

An invisible dog fence, also known as a wireless dog fence, is a system designed to keep a dog within a predefined boundary without the need for a physical barrier. It works by using a wireless signal or radio frequency to create a virtual perimeter.

How Does an Invisible Dog Fence Typically Work?

1. Transmitter Unit: The system includes a central transmitter unit, which emits a radio signal. This transmitter is usually placed inside the home.
2. Boundary Area: The signal forms a circular boundary around the transmitter. The size of this boundary can often be adjusted to suit the size of your property.
3. Collar Receiver: The dog wears a special collar that receives the signal from the transmitter. As the dog approaches the boundary, the collar will detect the signal.
4. Warning and Correction: If the dog gets too close to the boundary, the collar emits a warning sound. If the dog continues to move closer or tries to cross the boundary, the collar delivers a mild electric shock or other type of correction, such as vibration.
5. Training: Training is essential for the dog to understand the boundaries and the warnings given by the collar.

Advantages of a wireless dog fence include its flexibility, ease of installation, and the fact that it does not obstruct views or require physical maintenance like a traditional fence. However, it requires consistent training to be effective, and some argue that the use of electric shock can be inhumane or stressful for the dog. Additionally, it does not prevent other animals or people from entering your property like a traditional fence.

Do Invisible Dog Fences Work?

Here’s why using an invisible underground electric fence for dogs is not a good idea:

• While an electric fence may look invisible, its damaging effects are very visible and generally increase harmful behavior over time. Dogs can become fearful or even aggressive because they are being hurt. This might make it harder for you to take your dog outside of your home at all, and can even cause dogs to bark or bite strangers because they simply don’t know who or what is harming them [PetMD].
• Dogs can feel like they are being punished (by the shock) when they run and greet someone who is past the boundary line. That new association can lead them to believe that everything should be feared and nothing is safe. This new fear can easily turn into aggression.

• Invisible wireless electric fences do not stop other animals from coming onto your property. If you live in an area where coyotes are common, you can endanger your dog, because essentially your dog becomes a sitting duck. Invisible fences allow other animals to freely enter your property while your dog is restricted [Rover].
• Many invisible wireless electric fences do not include a transmitter that includes lightning protection, which means in inclement weather your electric fence might not work.
• Some of the DIY invisible wireless electric fence kits do not use wire that is rated for outdoor use and will simply short out after a few months.
• Invisible underground electric fences require a long training process. If you just install an invisible dog fence, slap the shock collar (receiver) on your dog, and then stick him in the yard to figure it out on his own – at best you’ll confuse your dog and at worst you’ll frighten him. If you want to create an area where your dog can run free without having to spend the $1,000 training fee that most invisible fence companies charge, get a non-electric dog fence kit. Because it’s a real physical barrier, no training is required.
• At low levels, the shock is too weak to stop your dog from leaving your yard to investigate nearby wildlife or another dog, and at high levels, the dog may become scared or aggressive [PetMD].
• If your dog is younger than 6 months old most veterinarians will tell you to wait before you can install an invisible wireless electric fence, which means your pup cannot run free and play. With a non-electric dog fence kit, you do not have any age restrictions.

You might think at Pet Playgrounds, we’re biased, but you don’t have to take our word for it. According to Victoria Stilwell of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog: “Dogs contained behind electric fences tend to become more reactive and in some cases more aggressive toward strangers and even family members because of anxiety and frustration. Recent studies show that dogs without previous aggression problems are more prone to attack family members when the systems are activated. Only a proper fence will keep people or other animals out of the yard and offer more protection. It is a much safer and more humane and effective containment option than an electric fence will ever be.”

So there you have it. Invisible fences are not the best way to contain your dog. Interested in why so many dog parents have chosen our unique dog fence? Find out why in the video below.

What do you think about wireless, invisible dog fences? Use the comment section below where many have described their experiences. Join in on the conversation. Ask about our dog fence or build your dog fence kit here.

The post Why Invisible Wireless Electric Dog Fences, Just Don’t Work appeared first on Pet Playgrounds.

Coyote attacks on dogs, cats and humans have increased within the past 5 years nationwide. Researchers are seeing increasingly bold coyote behaviors, including:

• nighttime coyote attacks on dogs
• sightings of coyotes in neighborhoods at night
• sightings of coyotes in morning
• attacks on dogs during daylight hours
• attacks on dogs that are leashed and in their yard
• attacks on dogs contained by invisible wireless fencing systems
• chasing of joggers and bicyclists
• mid-day sightings of coyotes in and around children’s play areas

In suburban areas, coyotes can lose their fear of humans because of the abundant food resources provided. Unfortunately, their food supply may include family pets. Household garbage, dog food, and available water from ponds and landscape are also to blame. Intentional feeding of coyotes by residents is another problem.

What precautions can you take?

• Do not feed coyotes
• Keep dog food and water inside
• Keep garbage securely stored. Use trash cans with lids and make sure they cannot be opened easily
• Install a 6 foot tall Pet Playgrounds Dog Fence to keep your dog in your yard, and to keep coyotes out

What should you do if you encounter a coyote?

• Make noise to try and to scare the coyote
• Portable air horns, motor vehicle horns, slingshots and even rocks can be effective to scare coyotes away

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With just $85 of parts and 20 minutes of time, a Pet Playgrounds dog fence can easily be repaired. Watch how:

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Our dog fence kits have been purposefully engineered to be incredibly strong, but there are some breeds (and some specific dog personalities) that just seem to chew through everything. For these dogs we created a third layer of protection. A 19 gauge steel vinyl coated welded wire netting material in combination with our:

• 1000+ pound break strength polypropylene mesh
• 1800+ pound break strength rubber coated welded wire

creates our MAX STRENGTH dog fence kit.

Watch these two diggers and chewers enjoy their MAX Strength fence!

If your dog is a constant chewer, consider purchasing a MAX strength kit. You can choose this option in the 3rd step of our Build Your Kit tool. Our MAX strength kit is 6 feet tall and is $10 per linear foot.

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What you are seeing here is a tree that has fallen down on a Pet Playgrounds fence installation which happened after a hurricane. As you can see, all that needs to be done is to get the tree off of the fence and your fence is back up and working.

No other fence – whether it is wood, vinyl, aluminum, composite or chain link could stand up to a tree falling on it. You would have to replace an entire section and most likely fix posts, fix the railing and it could potentially cost you thousands. That’s how strong a Pet Playgrounds non-electric dog fence is – and we think you’ll love it!

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Pit bulls (in particular) should have a large, well fenced yard for daily exercise. A fence that is able to contain your large and energetic pit bull is absolutely necessary to protect your dog, the breed, and the neighborhood. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to contain a dog and yet so many people fail to, resulting in “incidents” which harm the breed. There is NO excuse for allowing a bulldog to run loose in the neighborhood. We recommend a 6 foot tall fence with at least 200 feet of room for any large dog. This will give you about a 2,500 sq. foot personal dog park. Our unique fencing materials makes it very uncomfortable for a dog to spend too much time against the fence. This increases the level of protection our fence provides. Every Pet Playgrounds dog fence comes with REAL chew, climb, and dig protection.

Pet Playgrounds makes the safest and most reliable REAL dog fencing system in the world™

Our hybrid dog fence is strong and flexible. It’s so strong it can even stand up to a tree falling on it during a hurricane. Its flexibility is what makes climbing our fence virtually impossible from either side. The fence feels like a net that dogs and other animals simply can’t climb. Our hybrid fences do not have a top rail, instead there is a 12 gauge black vinyl coated, UV protected, braided STEEL cable that keeps the fence tight and straight.

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BEFORE

Even though our fence is incredibly strong, it is also incredibly flexible. We utilize 11 different components to assemble our fence, but our 1000 pound break strength polypropylene mesh is what helps dogs like this pit bull stay on their property. The material is strong enough to bounce right back up after a hurricane, but flexible enough so that dogs are not able to climb it. The material feels more like a net than a ladder to a dog. Additionally, our dig guard which is assembled from our 1800+ pound galvanized rubber coated welded wire coated prevents this large dog from digging under as well. All our of kits come with REAL climb, dig, and chew protection and our kits also have the added benefit of keeping coyotes, deer, and other dogs out as well.

AFTER

Having problems containing your dog? Contact one of our Pet Fence Experts at

1-800-985-9202

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PETA field tested our non-electric dog fence kit and loved it! We shipped PETA a 5 foot dog fence kit with a gate. PETA found a family that had two dogs that were living on a leash. Like PETA, Pet Playgrounds believes all dogs deserve to run free so we were ecstatic that our dog fencing system was going to be used to improve the life of two wonderful dogs. Scroll down to check out the pics of PETA installing and testing our unique DIY dog fence system for these two wonderful dogs.

PETA loved our product, and has now included us in their PETA Business Friends Program. We couldn’t be happier. In fact, we are ecstatic. Why? Because the authority on humane treatment for animals has professed their love for our product. Our product is the most affordable and most effective way of letting your dog run free as well as well as protecting your dog from running away and being attacked from other predators (like coyotes, or other stray dogs).

Use coupon code PETA and save 5% off of the purchase price of your DIY non-electric dog fence kit. When you use this coupon code, we’ll send an additional 5% right back to PETA to help animals in need.

See how easy it is to install a Pet Playgrounds DIY dog fence. 

> Read PETA’s blog post about testing our DIY Dog Fences

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