Dogs are a man’s best friend, and as the owner, you naturally want to take good care of your friendship. This can be relatively easy indoors where your pet easily adheres to restrictions and boundaries.
However, it’s when you start taking him outdoors that you need some help, perhaps through wireless dog fences. With so many around, reading and comparing some wireless dog fence reviews makes your selection easier.
Don’t worry, you are not the only pet owner going through this trouble. Dogs are naturally curious and rebellious, and want to explore their surroundings. You as a pet owner make its safety and security top priority.
It’s not possible or practical to keep your pet indoors all day long. They need the exercise and play that is possible outdoors. The problem is that no matter how well you train your dog, there is always the risk of bad judgment and crossing boundaries.
This is when and where wireless or invisible fences prove helpful. They give your pet their freedom while preventing them from venturing into unknown places.
Wireless systems use the help of negative reinforcement to prevent straying by sending a light electric shock whenever your pet reaches a boundary.
There are two wireless fence types that keep your dog safe. The semi-wireless ones work with buried antenna wire and a receiver collar while the fully wireless fences work with radio transmitters.
While each has its advantages and features, the semi-wireless options are recommended over the 100% fully wireless systems. This is because of their versatility, usage on uniquely-shaped properties and minimal interference problems.
You should be able to make your final selection from these best wireless dog fences after taking your property and dog breed into consideration:
01
- PetSafe Wireless Dog and Cat Containment System
Your pet security woes are practically taken off by PetSafe’s wireless dog containment system. As long as you have a power source nearby, you can use it to secure a ½ acre circular boundary. The perk is that it’s done without any burying of wires or installing of fences.
You only have to install the transmitter someplace weatherproof, plug it into an outlet and adjust and set the area to cover. You can choose to cover 5 to 90 feet in all directions from the transmitter or a maximum of 180 feet across. Adding extra base units helps cover larger boundaries.
You can take this system when traveling because it just needs 2 hours to set up a new boundary. The system comes with a battery-operated receiver collar with a tone-only mode for training purposes. The battery lasts for 2 months, after which the low battery indicator signals it’s time to replace the battery.
The collar can be adjusted to fit 6-28-inch neck sizes and based on your pet’s temperament, 5 static levels. It’s recommended for dogs weighing 8 pounds and more.
You can use the same system to contain as many pets as you want by buying additional PetSafe wireless fence collars. Just make sure the system is placed on level ground because hills and slopes interfere with the base unit’s signal.
Interesting Reads:
02
- PetSafe Stay + Play Wireless Fence
PetSafe Stay + Play wireless containment system may be all you need for your pet’s safety. It is easily installed without burying wires or setting up fences and offers ¾ acre circular coverage from its transmitter.
It can be set up anywhere, making it convenient to carry along when traveling. It just needs a nearby power supply and should be set up in a weatherproof location. You can adjust the area it should cover, and if need be, add additional base units to cover larger areas.
The transmitter can be set to cover from 22 to 105 feet all around the transmitter, or a maximum distance of 210 feet across. The transmitter works with PetSafe’s wireless fence rechargeable waterproof receiver collar.
The collar fits dogs weighing 5 pounds or more and adjusts to fit necks measuring 6-28 inches in diameter. It’s powered by a battery that can last 3 weeks, after which the low battery indicator indicates it’s time to recharge.
The collar has a sound-only mode to use for training purposes and offers 5 static levels to choose from based on your pet’s temperament levels. PetSafe lets you use the system to protect as many pets as required, as long as they wear PetSafe wireless fence collars. The system, however, works best on level ground because hills and slopes interfer with the signal.
03
- Extreme Dog Fence Professional Grade (Premium) Kit Packages
Extreme Dog Fence Professional Grade kit is their Standard Grade kit’s upgrade. Unlike most canine electric fence systems, this kit is manufactured in the USA. While it can contain your pet to up to 1/3 acre, it is the additional 14 gauge wire that helps the transmitter accommodate up to 10 acres.
The wired system can secure as many dogs as needed, as long as they wear individually correction-level programmed collars. Based on your canine’s needs, you can select from 7 corrections and 1 beep only level.
The kit comes with a completely waterproof and submersible collar. This means it’s safe if your pet goes swimming in it because the water won’t affect its functionality.
It’s better to mount the transmitter indoors 3’ from large metal objects to prevent moisture from getting into it. The 14 gauge wire can be buried 1 to 18 feet deep or anchored aboveground using 6” landscape staples or attached to an existing traditional fence or even submerged into water to protect your pet while swimming.
The 16 gauge twisted wire can be used only in specific conditions for containing the front and back yard to create an entry/exit point for your pet or for connecting the main perimeter loop to a smaller loop in the containment area. The entire kit comes with a 1-year warranty.
04
- Sit Boo-Boo Hidden Dog Fence – Safe & Unseen Pet Containment System
Looking after your dog gets so much easier with Sit Boo-Boo’s wireless dog fence system. It uses the latest electric fence technology to prevent your dog from crossing boundaries.
It’s attractively designed transmitter sets boundaries using the latest radio wave technology and its 955 ft long solid copper boundary wire. It easily covers 1.2 acres when placed on shallow ground around the space to be protected. You can buy more cord to service the maximum 5 acres the transmitter can transmit to.
The transmitter works with an extended rechargeable battery-powered collar with 5 correction levels. The collar can be customized to fit your dog breed and size. The transmitter responds to not only a single collar, but to as many collars or pets as required.
Setting up the system is a cinch with its clear and detailed instruction manual. The company is so confident that you will be satisfied with their training and containment system that they confidently offer a lifetime replacement warranty. The 100% America owned company even offers pet training to help your dog get accustomed to the system and boundaries.
05
- SportDOG Brand In-Ground Fence Systems
A SportDog Ground fence system is a much cheaper option than traditional fencing in containing your dog. This in-ground fence system comes with a transmitter, collar receiver and 1000 feet of wire.
It is easily installed to cover 1 1/3 acres of land for single dogs. Just bury the wire along your yard perimeter and plug in the transmitter. Buying more wires, collars, and flags helps contain as many dogs as required, across as many as 100 acres of land.
It works with a waterproof collar that ensures it works in all weather. It fits dogs weighing 10 pounds or more and runs on a standard 9volt battery that lasts 6 to 12 months.
Unlike most containment systems, these collars first give a beep or a vibration warning. It then emits one out of four static stimulation levels to warn your pet against crossing the boundary. You get to choose the stimulation level based on your pet’s temperament, size, and breed.
The transmitter is special from other systems because it also emits a wire break alarm to let you know when your pet crosses boundaries. It also has a built-in lightning protector for protection against lightning strikes and anti-linger feature. This prevents him from standing in the warning zone for long periods and draining the collar battery.
Factors You Should
Before Buying
Wireless and semi-wireless fences use the same parts to serve the same purpose. However, they differ in performance and efficiency, which is why you need to know a few things when looking for the right system.
- 1. Coverage Area And Capabilities
Both systems cover specific areas differently. Taking a look at your property can help you make a choice. A cordless dog fence’s coverage depends on its central transmitter.
It’s placed in the center of the property and emits a circular radius that your pet can’t leave. Different manufacturers offer different radii coverage where smaller systems cover only an acre of land while the stronger units can cover 100 acres.
- 2. Size is important
Wireless fences offer restricted coverage, usually a maximum of 200 feet in diameter. Wi-Fi systems can cover about a 400-foot diameter area, which may suffice in urban properties but prove restrictive in bigger rural environments.
Semi wireless or corded containment systems are different. They don’t depend on a central transmitter but on antennae wires to create boundaries. The extent of the boundary depends on the wire length and strength of the attached transmitter.
Rectangular shaped properties are quite popular and easily protected by just covering the perimeter. This system offers the benefit of protecting any shaped properties like gardens and buildings.
- 3. Weather and metal structure interference
With wireless fence systems working on radio waves, anything metal, like metal sheds, siding or roofs, can play havoc with the system. This is because the waves are susceptible to any interference from metallic objects.
Even old metal septic tanks and chain-link fencing can disrupt the delicate radio waves. To make things worse, electrical storms interfere with the signal, just like storms make it difficult to watch TV through dishes.
Not only metal, even solid structures and densely wooded regions tend to disrupt the transmitter signal. You can understand better if you compare the situation to the poor cell phone reception in big buildings.
- 4. System’s Effectiveness
It’s not just the coverage area you need to check, but also the system’s ability to create a solid boundary. As you know from earlier, semi-wireless systems are a better choice because fewer obstacles involved and because it works properly as long as the antennae wire is buried.
Cordless wire systems are affected by various things. Transmitters don’t go through metal or wood, which is why metal siding, roofs, and nearby cars can interfere with it working. Transmitters work best on flat ground, away from metal objects.
- 5. System Collar Limits
Not all systems are built to protect just one dog. There are many units that can protect more dogs wearing collars. So make sure your chosen set accommodates multiple collars if you plan to use it to protect more than one pet.
Training is always better done alone because it’s difficult having one pet on the system while others roam around freely. This only endangers the training process.
- 5. Easy installation and use
Different systems offer varied user experience and installation procedures. It’s generally easier to install fully wireless systems. You just have to set up the transmitter in the right spot to set boundaries.
The semi-wireless system isn’t so easily installed because the antennae wire has to be buried at least 4 feet into the ground. This is to ensure it doesn’t get picked up by your dog.
There are specially designed tools that simplify the process by letting you bury the antennae without a shovel. Just adjust the collar settings once the system is up, and start putting the collar on your dog so that they get comfortable wearing it.
Important
Features
What’s great about dog containment systems is that once the boundaries are set up, you no longer have to deal with the wires or transmitters. The only thing you will have to regularly handle is the collar because it’s responsible for training your pet.
There are a few important things you need to know about them like:
1. Shock levels and training style
The collar plays an important part because it determines the level of safe and effective shock your pet receives. Most brands offer various correction levels, and while most use a small shock to train your dog, some may only create a strong vibration.
You can adjust the shock levels based on your dog’s size and sensitivity levels. Smaller dogs are generally at the lower end of the spectrum and large dogs at the higher end.
It’s only through trial and error that you finally find the right level for your pet. You can always change or even lower the correction level once your dog knows his limits.
Some collars emit a shock and tone that some models may offer as a tone-only option or a warning mode. Pet owners use the tone-only mode for puppies and sensitive dogs that can’t tolerate the lowest correction level.
The warning mode is usually used to emit a tone when your dog moves closer to the boundary. It may give a shock if your pet crosses the boundary. The benefit of this feature is to help pet owners reinforce training as the correction level is gradually reduced.
Training collars should have a unique fit, making it difficult to get a snug fit on the first try. They usually have two small, blunt prongs with rounded edges and raised design that goes through your dog’s hair to touch the skin.
The collar should fit your dog properly because loose fitting contacts may slide off and prevent your dog from feeling the shocks. On the other hand, too tight a collar can lead to injury.
You can get the right size by measuring your dog’s neck circumference and then checking the collar’s level to ensure it fits within its range. You can then adjust the collar until you get the right fit.
As wireless fence collars are used outside, it needs some protection because water and electricity don’t mix. So check the collar’s label to ensure your chosen collar is waterproof or water-resistant.
Water-resistant collars are great for general wear because they withstand rain and occasional water splashes. However, they are not useful when swimming or with prolonged exposure to water.
It’s better to invest in a waterproof collar if you have a pool or lake within the containment system boundaries. These collars are entirely sealed to protect the electrical components, and consequently your pet and investment.
Some manufacturers offer durable weatherproof collars that withstand not only water but also intense heat, strong wind and much more.
Batteries determine the effectiveness of the system. They power the collar to receive signals and give your pet the correction shocks, and determine your additional maintenance costs. There are collars with rechargeable or single-use batteries.
a.) Single use batteries
Single-use 6volt batteries hold only a single charge. You need to buy a replacement battery when drained because they can’t be recharged. These are additional costs that can add up rather quickly, especially if the collar runs on a unique proprietary battery. This is why rechargeable batteries are generally better and cost-effective.
b.) Rechargeable batteries
These batteries are not only convenient but also save lots of money in the long run. You may not be able to remove it because they are built into the collar. While you just plug the battery into a charger when the battery runs out of power, do ensure your collar comes with a compatible charging cable.
c.) Battery capacity
Not only the battery type, but you also have to pay attention to the collar’s battery capacity. It determines how long it stays charged and when it needs recharging. Some batteries can last for months on a single charge while others last only a few days.
Questions and Answers :
- 1. At what age can dogs start using electric fences?
It’s better to wait until your pet is at least 6 months old to start training with corrective shocks. You can always start training with flags and other methods if you want to start sooner.
There is no maximum age to start using the containment system. As long as they are healthy, even dogs aged more than 12 years can use them because the fence’s electric shock is harmless.
- 2. Are toy breeds safe with wireless dog fences?
It’s not advised to use the systems with dogs weighing less than 12 pounds because they may feel uncomfortable wearing a large and heavy collar. Besides, even the smallest shocks from the lowest correction level are too strong for them.
- 3. Will the static correction of invisible fences hurt dogs?
No, because these hidden fences are safe for not only canines but also cats. They don’t receive any shock through the fence or ‘shock collar’. It’s much different from the shock felt upon touching a physical electric fence.
It’s just the battery that powers the collar’s shock. With the wire in the ground only sending signals to the collar, electricity isn’t involved with the shock at all. The collars have different, increasing correction levels.
The intention is just to startle your pet and not hurt him. While the highest level doesn’t hurt him, his reaction to it increases with the levels. The shock he feels is similar to the stimulation you feel when your tongue touches a 9-volt battery.
It’s only if the collar is left for too long on your pet that it may hurt his neck. This is because receivers use metal prongs to deliver the shock. The related friction and pressure can, in the long run, irritate your pet’s skin. This is avoided by removing the collar every night and putting it back in the mornings.
- 4. Will wireless containment systems work well on sloped yards?
No, they may have a problem on sloped yards because the slope blocks the transmission signal. It’s better using a semi-wireless system if your property is sloped because the wire is buried to cover the slope region.
- 5. Are electric dog fences effective?
Electric fences that are installed and used properly work by constantly reminding your pet of where they can and cannot go.
- 6. Are wireless containment systems always circular?
Yes, and it’s because wireless transmitters simultaneously broadcast signals in all directions to create a circular safety zone. This can be a problem in rectangular properties because the fence doesn’t cover the corners. This doesn’t let your pet venture throughout the property, which may not be a problem to rural dwellers, but is restrictive to town or city dwellers.
- 7. Are wireless containment systems a wise investment?
With thousands of canine owners using, loving and swearing by wireless fences, you certainly can’t think that they are a waste of money. They generally don’t have any problems using the systems.
Some pet owners may, however, think that wireless fences are not suitable for them because of potential property-related problems. If this is the case, it’s better to learn about this now rather than later after spending on a useless system.
Conclusion
With a containment system in place, you no longer have to continually remind your pet about their boundaries. You can confidently let them roam and explore the property without worrying about their crossing boundaries. With time, your pet slowly but surely realizes his limits and won’t even think about wandering away.