August 18, 2009

Installing an Electric Dog Fence

If you have decided to use an electric dog fence and gone to get your own, you will need to install it. In your mind you should include the training period involved as part of the general equation, since the job isn’t really complete until you are confident your dog will remain inside your borders.

Installation
Delineate the area you want to use. It isn’t necessary to give your dog free run of the yard, just make sure the entire area can be encircled. The transmitter wire can be run up on existing structures as well as under ground as long as there is a continuous loop.

Dig a channel, about 6 inches deep in which to place the transmitting wire. Ensure that both ends of the wire reach the same point and that there is enough slack to pull them into the garage or whatever structure will hold the transmitter unit and its power supply.

Drill any needed holes through walls. Connect the wire to the transmitting unit, attach the unit to the power source and plug it in.

Testing
Once the receivers are fully charged, turn one on and approach the border of the hidden wire. The receiver should go off a few feet from the buried wire. This is the place you will set your flags, making sure that they are only a few feet apart.

Place the collar upon your dog and test to see what strength of signal it takes for your dog to respond, even a little to the shock. That will be your starting signal strength.

Training
Training takes a number of days or weeks, depending on how fast your dog learns to stay away from the border. You are responsible for putting your dog on a leash, taking them near the wire and when the initial warning sounds, pulling them back and telling them, "NO!"

Flags are removed as your dog gets more consistent in staying behind the invisible barrier and can eventually be completely eliminated.