Invisible Fences Offer Unseen Benefits

When people think of invisible fences, the first thing that comes to mind is the whine of a neighbor's dog. Don't worry; it isn't as bad as it sounds. In fact, when training a dog, many invisible fences have adjustable controls for any kind of shock your dog may, or may not, feel. However, there are also many other flexible advantages these types of fences can offer in return for training your dog.

Hidden Benefits
Unlike traditional wooden-plank or chain-link fencing, which can take up a lot of space in a yard, these fences work underground by planting a perimeter of wire around a designated area and attaching a radio transmitter to your dog's collar. You can use flags around your yard to denote where the fence ends and begins, but otherwise they literally perform through the use of invisible radio-waves that monitor your yard's barriers. But there are other advantages to invisible fences, such as:

Cost and Maintenance: Invisible fences are much less expensive than traditional fencing, and they don't ever need to be re-finished, re-stained, re-painted, or replaced, saving you money and time in the long run. Also, the only maintenance to be concerned about is batteries which will have to be replaced every once in a while. But even this minor task can be made easier if your fence company has a mailing program that will send you batteries when it comes time to replace.

Flexibility: Due to its use of radio waves, invisible fences provide many other options. You can create fencing exactly where you desire; you're not just limited to the perimeter of your yard. You can put is around a garden or flowerbed so you dog won't dig up your vegetables or plants. You can put it around your patio if you don't want your dog to leave the porch. If you have a giant yard, you can build a lawn-within-a-lawn to control your dog's movement. In fact, if you already have a pre-existing fence that you enjoy but your dog has still found a way to get out, simply place the fence around the border to make sure escape is prevented for good.

Convenience: Do you have hard-to-fence areas in your yard: around trees, sharp corners, or your neighbors' pre-existing fence? Remember, invisible fences are simple to install and they can go anywhere you want. Plus, they work all day and all night so you never have to think twice about them. In fact, if you move, you can now bring your fencing with you: just dig it up and you have a lifelong investment.

No Obstruction: These fences open up your backyard and allow for unhindered views of your neighborhood. Plus, they are perfect if you have a homeowners association or a landlord that does not allow traditional fencing.

Who Let the Dogs Out?
When training your dog with an invisible fence, here are some things to keep in mind:

First, make sure the fence and radio-collar are adjustable. It is unsafe to have just one setting which may be too powerful or too weak (a lot of which depends upon the size of your dog). Some even come with special systems that allow the electrical charge to slowly become stronger and stronger as the dog approaches a border.

Second, remember that bigger dogs with thicker coats will have to be shaved where the transmitter sits around the collar so that they can feel the charge; otherwise it won't work.

Third, all invisible fences work on the same principles but come in many different designs. Some use mild electrical shock, some use an irritating noise, and some even use a spray as a deterrent. Think about which one is most safe for your dog and convenient for you.

Fourth, if your dog runs past the perimeter and through the shock, they are not only free to run, but in order to avoid further shocks they may avoid returning to the yard. So even with these fences, you still have to keep an eye on your pets and train them on your own.

Fifth, remember that other animals, pests, and pets can still enter your yard (unless you plan on collaring every living thing in your neighborhood).

Overall, these fences provide many answers that traditional fences cannot when it comes to the hassles of run-away dogs. And though these systems aren't a catch-all for every aspect of pet training, they do offer a hands-off solution to many major pet problems.