Do you want to keep your pup within your yard? Installing a traditional fence might be the first option for many of us who desire our dogs’ safety.
However, you may not have a physical fence on your property. In addition, the cost of building such a fence might discourage you. What can you do in such a situation?
Which type of Invisible Fence is best?
- PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence for Dogs/Cats
- Extreme Dog Fence – Second Generation
- PetSafe Basic In-Ground Dog and Cat Fence
The thought of a pup wandering around your neighborhood may make you think of more diligent measures. There is an option for you to achieve this, and it is the invisible dog fence.
An invisible dog fence is an attractive alternative to privacy fences or dog pens. It interacts with a special collar and fencing system that keeps your dog in your yard. When the dog gets to the boundary, the collar vibrates.
If the pup goes too far it will give an electronic correction. As the invisible fence keeps your pup within your yard it still maintains an open backyard with a clear view.
How do I choose an invisible fence for my dog? In this article we will give you an idea, and here are what you should consider:
Common Dog Fence Wire Gauges
Most electronic dog fences are commonly designed with 20-gauge (which is the thinnest wire gauge), 18-gauge, 16-gauge or 14-gauge (which are the thickest wire gauges).
Most pre-packaged do-it-yourself fencing kits are made with 20-gauge wire.
On the other hand, 14 or 16-gauge wire is used in most professionally installed electronic dog fences. You may want to replace a section of your already existing fence or you may want to wire your yard for the first time.
Meanwhile, you will have no difficulty getting relatively cheap wires that will suit your project.
We recommend that you choose a standard or solid insulated wire, irrespective of the gauge. You need the insulated rated wires for burials. Polyethylene or plastic-coated wires are the best.
You will get different gauges and lengths of invisible fence wire that suits your need here.
Signal Transmission
The way your electric dog fence wire transmits signal is not dependent on the gauge of the wire although the gauge has little impact. The rate transmits the signal depends on the system you use.
You should use a system that is at or near the maximum capacity of the wire for it to transmit signals well.
If you want the system to give you a better transmission use a thicker wire. For instance, you can enclose 22 acres of land with a 20-acre system by using thicker wire.
Ensure that the wire you want to use to replace a bad section of your electric dog fence is of the same gauge as the existing wire in the good section.
This makes the signal throughout the fence wire to be consistent. Using different gauges of wire will not allow for smooth transmission. It will result in inconsistent signals and false wire break alarms.
Durability
Some people choose to use 14 or 16-gauge wire when they install outdoor electric dog fence applications because they are thick wires. They believe the wires will last longer and will not break easily.
Many professional installers of invisible fence and dog watch systems also believe that the thickness of the wire is necessary for the system to last long.
The difference between how long a 20 gauge and a 14 gauge wire will last is substantial.
Most firms that produce pet fence systems produce them with low-quality 20 gauge wire. This reduces the shipping cost and the initial costs of the product.
If they should use heavier professional grade dog fence wire the initial cost of the product and the shipping cost will be higher.
Using the lower quality wire will at first save you a small amount of money but, as time goes on you will spend more money on maintaining the system. It will take you more time for repairs too because thinner wires are most likely to rust and break.
Manufacturer Grade Wire
Manufacturer grade wire is the wire that comes with all self-install kits. They come in different gauges but they are all medium quality. They have light weight and as a result, their initial cost and shipping costs are low.
This wire will serve its purpose but cannot hold on to the elements the way professional-grade wire does. The wire is vinyl coated and is likely to have cracks. As time goes on, the copper it is made of will be exposed, making it dangerous.
These cracks and exposure bring up problems that affect how the dog fence system works. Tracing, digging up, and repairing the broken wire is a difficult job. For this reason, many people choose to use professional-grade wire from the beginning.
Professional Grade Wire
The price of professional-grade wire is certainly higher than the price of manufacturer-grade wire. However, there are many things you stand to gain if you choose to use professional-grade wire for your dog fence.
Professional-grade dog fence wire withstands harsh conditions like low temperature up to a freezing point, sunlight exposure, contraction and expansion of the ground, water exposure, and such other conditions as the ones above.
Using the heavy-duty professional-grade wire will save you time and money if you have the intention of keeping the electric dog fence for 4 or 5 years.
Workability
Workability is the advantage of a thinner wire-like 20-gauge. It is easy to work with because it is flexible. If you have a plan to make your own twisted wire sections or you know that the place you plan to lay the wire has a difficult configuration, you have to consider how flexible your wire is.
Thinner wire is easy to twist and easy to lay because of its flexibility. Thicker gauge wire is more difficult to work with because it is stiff and hard to twist, although it lasts longer.
FAQs
How do I choose an invisible fence for my dog?
There are different sizes of invisible dog fence system for different sizes of yards. With the transmitter of a smaller underground system you can create a barrier that can cover half an acre of land
Go for a more powerful system if your yard is bigger in size. There are kits that can cover up to 1 1/3 (one and a third) acres of land. This space is enough playing ground for a lot of puppies.
Which is better underground or wireless dog fence?
An underground dog fence works better for larger yards than a wireless system. Most wireless systems max out at 90 feet of radius.
Are Invisible Fences cruel?
Invisible fences can harm wild animals, cats, other dogs, or even people, especially children who wander into your yard.