Everything You Need to Know About Electric Dog Fence Installation

 Electric fences reduce the chances of your dog escaping the yard. However, they require training and a good company to install them properly.

Before installation, you need to make sure your property has no buried wires that may interrupt the signal. Using a map or graph paper, plan out where you want your boundary wire to go.

Wiring

If you’re installing a wired electric dog fence, your wiring must be secure and properly installed. This ensures that the system will work as intended and that your pet won’t accidentally break the fence.

The type of wire you use will depend on your needs. The most common is 20-gauge wire, but heavier gauges such as 18 and 14 can also be used.

It’s best to use solid insulated wire rated for burial, preferably polyethylene. This wire will withstand freezing conditions and water exposure without breaking, which makes it a good choice for an underground installation.

In order to ground your wiring, you need to install several 5-foot metal grounding stakes in the ground. Place one stake in the ground at each end of your electrical conducting wire. Then, attach hose clamps and connect the wire from one grounding stake to the next until all are safely covered.

Control Box

Bulldogology 9 Best Electric Dog Fences are an effective, dependable method for containing dogs. However, they aren’t without drawbacks. First, they require a lot of planning and can be expensive to install.

In addition, they can cause problems if your dog is afraid of electrical shocks. To prevent this, you must train your dog to avoid the wire before installing it.

Ideally, your transmitter box should be located near an outdoor power outlet. If it cannot be placed near an outdoor outlet, it might be more convenient to locate it in your garage or shed, where it can be protected from the elements.

A power edger can be a great tool for burying the fence wires, saving you a lot of time and effort. Many homeowners use this type of equipment for other yard work, so it’s worth buying or renting one to help you get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Boundary Wire

The boundary wire in an electric dog fence system sends a signal to your dog’s collar that warns them not to go past the line. Depending on the system, this can be in the form of a beep, vibration or even a shock.

Ideally the wire is buried underground, however it can be laid above ground as long as the wire doesn't come into contact with the ground or a lawn mower when in use. If you do decide to lay your wire above ground make sure to test the system in multiple areas to ensure that it's working properly.

Boundary wire is usually a 20 gauge wire with a vinyl coating, although professional grade wires are available as well. Both of these wires are compatible with most electric dog fence systems, but the higher quality wire will last longer and stand up better to the elements.

Collar

Unlike traditional fences, electric dog fences use a collar that attaches to your dog’s neck and triggers a correction when it gets close to the boundary wire. This deterrent shock isn’t painful, but it is an effective and safe method of controlling your dog.

Some systems come with multiple levels of correction so you can customize the level of deterrent to your dog’s size, temperament and strength. Others have more powerful shocks, which may be a good choice for strong-willed dogs who try to break the rules.

In-ground wired fences require you to bury the wires under concrete, while wireless systems work in gardens and around buildings, sidewalks and driveways. To get the best results from a wired system, your yard should be at least four feet wide and separated from other properties by about six to 10 feet.