Dog’s new friend

There is no doubt that dogs are safer and less likely to get themselves or their owners into trouble if they are not roaming free.

For outdoor dogs, a fenced backyard or a dog-run are two ways of achieving this. Underground fencing offers many advantages over traditional methods of confinement.

The underground fence is a buried wire which acts as a radio transmitter. The dog wears a collar with a receiver on it. If he gets too close to the perimeter, most collars emit a warning “beep,” and then if he continues toward the wire, he’ll get a mild shock.

If this sounds like a dirty trick to play on your dog, remember, the point is to train your dog first so that he is rarely – if ever – going to experience a shock. With most systems, you’ll place visual cues such as flags along the underground wire until your dog learns the perimeter.

Train first

With your dog on a long lead, walk him around the yard. As he approaches the flag, tell him to get back and give a quick jerk on the lead to get him away from the wire. For most dogs, only a few times of getting too close and getting the correction is enough to make them understand the boundary.

How much will it cost?

Underground fencing is much less expensive than putting up a physical barrier to confine your dog, and it doesn’t obstruct views if you live out in an open area. Also, if you move, you can dig it up and take it with you. One common concern owners have is that the correction will cause their pet pain or injury. In fact, only a mild shock, similar to static electricity is needed for most dogs, and there should be built in safeguards to prevent excessive shock. It’s important to take the collar off for at least several hours a day to prevent pressure sores on the neck. Most people take the collar off when their dog is inside or in a crate or kennel.

Dependability

Reliability is another common concern. Some dogs with a high pain tolerance and strong motivation to leave the yard may run through the fence. (These are the same dogs who are likely to jump over or dig under a traditional fence.) For dogs with very dense coats, it may be necessary to shave a little hair so the posts can be in contact with the skin. And don’t forget to change the battery in your dog’s collar.

For most dogs, underground fencing is very effective at keeping them within the perimeter you set for them.

Do it yourself or hire a pro?

If the installation and training sounds like a lot of work, consider having an underground fence professionally installed.

Sandy Springer, of Invisible Fence Brand of Spokane, notes that with programmable collars, even 8-week-old pups can learn to stay in the perimeter.

“Most people are surprised at how such a gentle correction can still get the job done,” Springer says.

Professional installers also evaluate your pet to make sure he’s a good candidate for the fence. Invisible Fence will send batteries to pet owners as long as they have the fence.

Underground fences cannot keep other dogs (or people) from coming into your yard. Also, to people passing by, dogs behind an underground fence appear to be on the loose.

The benefits

There are benefits to an underground fence system. For example, you can get a small portable transmitter for use indoors. One common use would be to keep the dog out of the cat’s litter box area. Also, cats can be trained to these fences as well. An indoor cat can learn not to rush out the front door, and outdoor cats can be kept away from your neighbor’s bird feeder. Springer says she has even used the Invisible Fence to keep a pot-bellied pig out of the flower bed.

If you are interested in an underground fence system do your homework. Talk to your vet to see if this type of fencing might be right for you and your pet.