Your dog needs exercise to be happy and healthy. You enjoy your dog's freedom in roaming your yard, but you have to protect your dog. Cars pass in the street, other animals and people enter your yard. The neighbor doesn't enjoy your dog's freedom at all when your dog wanders into his yard and digs up the flowers. And you want to keep your dog out of your flowerbeds, or swimming pool, or some other area on your property.
There are 2 basic kinds of fencing available Traditional (chain-link, wood) and Electronic (wireless/invisible).
Traditional fencing consists of either metal or wood fencing that provides a barrier between your yard and the outside word. These fences provide containment by creating a physical barrier. In the case of wooden privacy fences, they also provide a visual barrier so your pet can't see what's happening on the other side of the fence.
Electronic fences consist of In-ground invisible fences place a wire underground around the area you wish to fence. Wireless fences work in much the same way, but the barrier is created wirelessly. With both systems, you teach your dog where the yard boundaries are in short training sessions. Your dog wears a special collar that can sense when he's approaching the perimeter of the yard. The collar will emit a sound to warn your pet that they are nearing the barrier. If your pet continues towards the barrier, a correction will occur. The degree of the correction can be adjusted or removed altogether depending on the dog. Most dogs learn the boundaries of the fence quickly during the training period, and some will no longer need the correction to stay within the boundaries of the yard though it is always a good idea to have them wear the collar.
Benefits of Traditional Fencing
- Keeps other animals (pets and wildlife) out
- Keeps children/people out of the yard and restricts approaching your dog
- Can provide a visual barrier to decrease barking
- Can provide a visual barrier for privacy
- Better for dogs with intense prey drive, or anxiety
Cons of Traditional Fencing
- Cost to install a wire or wooden fence is often thousands of dollars
- Wire or wooden fences undergo wear and tear from sun, rain, and snow. They need to be maintained or replaced periodically, which adds additional cost and time.
- Some dogs will escape from traditional fences by jumping over, climbing over, or digging under the fence.
Benefits of Wireless or In-Ground Fences
- Lower cost than traditional wire or wood
- Easy to install
- Easier to fence large areas
- In-ground fence can be placed strategically to avoid parts of the yard such as flower beds, pools
- No obstruction of view
- Prevent escape by jumping or digging
- Low maintenance
- supplement existing traditional fencing
- Compliance with Homeowner Association rules
Cons of Wireless or In-Ground Fences
- Dogs who are highly prey motivated might bolt through the wireless fence if they see something to chase, despite the correction, but then may be reluctant to re-enter the yard.
- Timid or fearful dogs may have a hard time adjusting to the correction, especially if you don't complete the recommended training.
- Does not prevent animals from entering yard and interacting with your dog
- Does not restrict people/children from entering yard and approaching your dog.