Dog Fence DIY: Containment Made Easy

Three Reasons You Might Want 

an Electric Dog Fence For Your Yard

There are few things in life more fun than being a dog owner. Sure, there’s the poop-scooping, tick-picking, and fur-fighting stuff that no one loves (you don’t know anyone who actually enjoys that, do you?). But the unconditional love, spontaneous kisses, and the fact that this little creature is unwaveringly loyal and fully dependent on you pretty much make up for the gross parts. All you have to do in return is take the best care of your dog that you possibly can. That’s not too much to ask, right?

Making sure your dog gets enough exercise, for example, gets you out of the house and moving, too. Taking care of your dog’s physical and mental health automatically boosts your own well-being. Picking out the things that help your dog, like a functional collar, plush pet bed, and darling monogrammed sweater (okay, maybe not a necessity…), is also a lot of fun. Sometimes, however, the choices can be a little more difficult to make.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a yard for your dog to play in, choosing a safe way to keep them on your property is a tough decision. Your two main choices are a traditional fence and an electric fence. Some people think that electric dog fences are cruel and unusual punishment, but if that were the case, they wouldn’t be so steadily gaining in popularity. Of course, not everyone will want to use an electric dog fence and e-collar, and that’s fine. It’s still nice to understand why some dog owners might choose to use one in their yard, so let’s take a look at a few of the practical reasons (because for all dog parents, practical is key!).

Reliable Containment for Escape Artists

Some dogs, especially little “diggers” like terriers or hunting dogs like labs, just won’t be stopped by a traditional fence. If they want to get out, they will find a way! Dogs aren’t aware enough to understand the dangers beyond their boundaries, so it’s up to their owners to keep them safe from their own blissful ignorance. Determined dogs can dig under traditional fences, jump over them, and break through them. An electronic dog fence, on the other hand, doesn’t even allow your dog to get close enough to the perimeter to consider finding a way through it.

Now, some people think that the e-collar used with an electric fence is painful. In reality, it’s more annoying. And as long as you take the time to thoroughly and properly train your dog with the e-collar, your dog won’t feel the “shock” more than a few times while learning. Once your dog knows what its boundaries are, they’ll stay in the safe zone and won’t be bothered by the corrective static shock again.

“Invisible” Boundaries for All Types of Yards

An invisible fence is a great solution for all types of “problem” yards. Yards that have irregular shapes, uneven terrain, and lots of acreage aren’t easily enclosed by traditional fences. Placing a traditional fence on those kinds of yards is difficult and sometimes not even possible. If you have a stellar view from your yard that you want to preserve, or if your housing authority prohibits fences, an electric fence may be your only option. When you start reading invisible fence reviews, you’ll find that there are containment systems that are specifically designed to deal with all types of unique yard situations while still providing the best containment available. Similarly the technologies available in dog containment systems can also be used for pet proofing; that is keeping your dogs away from furniture or dangerous areas.

Low-Cost and Low-Maintenance       

Unfortunately, money is always more of a determining factor than it should be in all areas of life. We’d all like to have enough money that we’d never have to worry about a budget, but hey, we don’t live in a fairy tale. When you look at the numbers, the invisible fence cost is much lower than a traditional fence. With as a little as $300 and a weekend of do-it-yourself work, you can install an electric fence system. With a traditional fence, you’re looking at

$2,000 and up. Because it’s not exposed to the elements, an underground or wireless dog fence also requires much less maintenance work and expenditure over time when compared to a traditional fence. Wireless dog fences consistently rank four stars in Amazon. You can read the reviews here.

Clearly, a containment system for your yard is an important purchase that shouldn’t be taken lightly. When it comes to the safety of your dog (or as some like to say, your baby), there’s no cutting corners. Everyone’s preferences, budgets, pets, and properties are different, so be sure to consider all the angles before you start fencing in your yard. And no matter what you decide, you can be sure your dog will still love (and slobber on) you like always.

Published in partnership with www.dogfencediy.com. We encourage you to share your experiences with a variety of dog containment systems in the comments section. Commenters and those who share the post in social media qualify for a drawing of a $50 Amazon gift card!