Guide to Inground Fencing for Dogs

How it Works

• An in-ground electronic dog fence is a wired system that sends a mild electric shock via radio waves to the dog's collar when the dog gets too close to the boundary established by the fence. Once the dog learns where it can go in the yard, it cannot dig its way out of the yard and it's unlikely it will try to escape.

Size

• When selecting in-ground dog fencing, you should consider the size of the area you are creating for the dog to roam in. The basic wired dog fence package typically covers up to 1/2 acre of land. Additional wiring and booster units enable you to enlarge this space up to 200 acres. An in-ground electronic dog fence can fit into any shape of yard. You can design it so that the dog doesn't have access to any flower beds or garden spots and you can keep the dog away from trees.

Installation

• The electronic dog fence has a grounded control box that needs to hang on or near the house or garage. It needs access to electricity. Wires run from the control box around the perimeter of the yard according to your design plan. The electric circuit is complete when the wiring returns to the control box.

  In most cases, installation of the wire involves digging a shallow trench to place the wire in. It's also possible to bury the wiring in mulch in the flower beds. As you install the wiring, place flags along the perimeter to serve as temporary visual markers of the fence line for both you and the dog.

Training Dog

• Turn on the dog fence. Attach the electronic transmitter around the dog's neck and turn the transmitter on. Keep the dog on the leash as you walk it around the yard. Show the dog the flags and allow it to approach them. As you do, the dog should feel a tingle from the collar similar to the shock you receive when you walk across carpet and then touch something metal.

  Some systems also have an audible noise that serves as a reminder to the dog. If the dog doesn't respond to the electronic signal in the collar, adjust it so the shock is slightly stronger. Monitor the dog's movements in the yard for several days until you know it understands the boundaries. Once the dog knows how far it may go, you can remove the flags if you wish.