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!

Dogs Make a Difference

This post is underwritten by our partner Dog Fence DIY, the most affordable resource for wireless dog fencing.

I feel sorry for petless people who have never experienced the joys of dog ownership. I've owned at least one pooch since age seven and cannot imagine life without a furry friend to help me with my emotional needs, physical well-being, and safety. 

As for emotional health, dogs provide us with unconditional love unlike any other. Imagine locking your spouse at home every day without a means to leave the house. Yes, you provided a water bowl, but you left the bathroom doors locked. "Just hold it until I'm back, Dear." Would your significant other jump up and down when you simply walked through the door? Well, if he or she had to go badly enough, there'd be jumping but not the glad to see you because I love you excitement. 

Or try feeding your kids the same meal out of a bag every day for breakfast and dinner. Would they be thankful just to see food? It sure would be easier than cooking, but they wouldn't appreciate it like your dog does. You eat your Thanksgiving meal complete with pumpkin pie in front of your dogs without offering them a bite, yet they still love you. My human family members would never be forgiving or loving like my dogs in these situations.

No one needs to dress up, wear expensive scents, shave, or even shower; dog love no matter what. And in a world like this, we need all the unconditional love we can get. With a dog, you'll never be alone, even when you use the toilet or shower. When I walk through the house, my dogs parade behind me as if I'm the most important person in the world. To them, I am.

Dogs provide great entertainment too. Dress them up in stupid costumes on Halloween and they won't complain. They make fabulous subjects for kids' school projects too. What would my kids have done about science fair if they didn't have animals to experiment on? FYI, a dog's hair grows faster than a kid's after being shaved; dogs prefer rain water to Evian; and golden retrievers do not forget where treats are hidden hours later. Also, tail hairs make great fox fur on Social Studies posters.

Dogs also improve our health. Studies have shown petting dogs lowers blood pressure and decreases anxiety. My dog has been wonderful for my back. I have a history of back problems including a surgery on my lowest disc. My small dog sleeps with her back to mine. This provides a convenient heating pad that improves my back aches in the morning. No kidding! Plus, a walk at the dog park helps my back too. How could I ever go to the dog park without a dog? Not to mention the exercise I get from my golden retriever asking me to let her outside, bring her back in, let her out again, etc. I'm up and down plenty.

On another note, dogs protect us from fierce squirrels, cats, and mailmen attacks. We often hear our vicious alarm system in stereo, but it beats calling the police after a break in.

Dogs are the best friends anyone could have, so you want to protect them from being struck by cars. Check out my sponsor to learn more about invisible fences. http://www.dogfencediy.com.