How to Decide on Electric Dog Fences

Research the difference between wired and wireless electric dog fences. A wired electric dog fence comes with wires that must be buried underground. A wireless fence uses signals to determine the perimeter and can emit several levels of shocks to keep your dog within the perimeter. No burying is required.

Find out how much wire comes with a wired electric dog fence and how far the signal goes for a wireless fence. The fence you choose needs to be able to create a complete barrier around the perimeter of your yard.

Check to see what batteries are used to power the collar that comes with the electric dog fences you're deciding between. You can find collars with fences that come with rechargeable batteries, rather than one-time-use batteries.

Pay attention to how the shock on the collar is set. Some collars require that you call the fence company to reset the shock, while others allow you to set it yourself. Note that you should always test the maximum shock the collar is set to on your own neck before putting it on your dog. The shock is meant to correct, not to cause physical pain to your dog.