There is a lot of information online about every type of dog fence imaginable. But electric dog fence reviews seem to focus more upon the moral side of the equation than the functional side. An electric dog fence uses a transmitter and receiver to help train your dog and keep them within a preset boundary. If you are considering using an electric fence, then honest information is what you crave. Pair an electric fence with a great dog door and you and your dog will have the freedom you both need.
Pros
An electric fence for dogs isn’t the same thing you see outside a prison. These fences are created by burying a wire a few inches below ground level and using the wire to transmit a radio signal to a special receiver on your dog’s collar. The largest advantage cited by homeowners is that they have no worries of their yard being covered or aesthetically ruined by the placement of a permanent fencing structure.
If you live in a neighborhood that has specific covenants, the electric fence may be the only acceptable and affordable choice. It is low maintenance and generally invisible. The only way someone else can see it is if they were around when you trained your dog with the flags or if they are close enough to your home to see the connection site for the wire’s ends.
Electric dog fences are effective in training dogs to remain within a certain boundary because they feed directly into the reward system, if the training is done properly. Since most dogs are very eager to please their owners, training is quick and with occasional refreshers, consistent.
Cons
Opponents cite the use of an electric shock as cruelty. If you agree with that viewpoint, you don’t need to read any further. The shock is fairly mild, and any good trainer using this system will let you feel the intensity for yourself.
There is no guarantee that a particularly distracted dog will be able to stay within the boundaries of the fence. Additionally, this kind of fencing can’t keep others off your property and away from your dog. Kids can stand just beyond the wire and tease or harass your pet if they are in the yard, and your pet has little protection.
The fence depends upon your vigilance in maintaining fully charged collars and a system that is working. In a power outage, there is no way for the transmitter to produce either the warning sound or the shock that reminds your dog where to remain.
General Information
All the fences work on the same principle. The transmitting wire carries the signal around the perimeter you have set. When your dog approaches the perimeter wearing the receiver, he will first get a warning then a shock. Look for a system that meets your specific needs.
Some people need a unit for multiple dogs, others for elevated transmitter wires. Dog size matters very much when purchasing the collar, because you don’t want to shock a small dog too strongly, but neither do you want a collar that has no effect on your bigger dog.
You can find many different collar types and set up directions online. Figure out which is best for you and your pet and give it a try if you find it appealing.