So you are thinking about getting an electric dog fence? Excellent. The next question that enters many people’s minds is whether they should get a wired dog fence or a wireless one. This article will present to you all the facts regarding both options so that you can make the decision that is right for you.
Wired Dog Fences
For the most dependable and reliable option, nothing beats a wired electric dog fence. As we compare the two, this will become evident.
Wired electric dog fences can contain acres and acres of land. Generally speaking, a wired fence can contain between 10 and 100 acres of land.
As the name suggests, a wired dog fence relies on the use of a physical dog fence wire, which serves as the boundary that your dog cannot cross. The border of a wired fence can be created in the exact location of where you would like for the fence to exist. Whether you have buried your dog fence wire, or kept it on top of the ground, your border is customizable.
The signal around your property is consistent and strong with a wired dog fence. This is important because this makes a wired fence the most reliable option.
The only drawback is that with a wired fence, it will take a day’s work to install it. With that being said, if you go with a kit that comes with 14 gauge dog fence wire, you don’t even need to bury the wire. You can simply tack it to the top of the ground with landscaping staples if you like.
Wireless Dog Fences
The main benefit of a wireless fence is that it offers the easiest installation that you can get. All you need to do is plug in the transmitter and set the size of your containment circle. Put the receiver collar on the dog and you are ready to train him.
However, as mentioned, a wireless dog fence is not as reliable as a wired one. Why is this? There are several aspects that can cause a wireless dog fence to fail.
One of those is if there is any sloping in your yard whatsoever, the signal will be lost. A wireless dog fence works on a line of sight. If the yard slopes down, the transmitter can’t create the boundary in that area.
Another problem happens if there are too many trees on the property. Lots of trees or heavy landscaping can block the signal.
The same goes for a metal roof, metal shed within the containment area, or stucco siding on the house.
In addition to this, a wireless dog fence cannot contain nearly as much land as a wireless fence can. In general, a wireless dog fence can only contain between ½ and ¾ of an acre.
The border of a wireless fence is not customizable. Here is what I mean. Wherever you place your transmitter, becomes the center of your containment circle. This means that if your yard is rectangular, only a circle can be created to contain it. Perhaps you are looking to contain your backyard only? A wireless fence won’t let you do that. This is because the fence circles your entire house, whether you need it to, or not.
Conclusion
To determine whether a wired dog fence or wireless is right for you, there are a few aspects to take into consideration. The first is whether or not you want to do a bit of digging, or have time to install a wired fence. The second has to do with the limitations of your property, based on the specific needs of a wireless system. Perhaps you are wondering which is the most cost-effective. The answer is that the two will cost right around the same amount of money.