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The Benefits and Cost of an Invisible Dog Fence
Your pet dogs love to run and explore, which is why a farm
or homestead is such a great environment for them. Giving your dogs the entire
run of the farm, however, isn’t always practical or safe. Designating clear
boundaries is important for dogs, and fencing is the easiest way to do it.
Traditional fencing is one option, but there is another you might want to
consider - an invisible dog fence.
Invisible dog fences are reliable and versatile, and they
can be particularly helpful on a farm. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons
you might want an invisible dog fence. We’ll also answer the next most
important question: How much does an invisible
fence cost?
Uses for an Invisible
Fence on the Farm
There are many different ways an invisible fence can be set
up on your farm. One of the best things about it is that it does not create a
barrier for anyone other than your dogs. With the dog fence wire buried
underground, there is no physical fence obstructing the path or view. This
makes it easy to create a dog-only zone on one section of your farm. There will
be no gates to fiddle with or worry about when you need to access the rest of
your property. Here are just a few of the different ways you can take advantage
of invisible fencing:
-Separate Dogs and
Chickens: An electronic dog fence can keep your dogs at a safe distance
from your chicken coop. If your dogs aren’t contained, they could kill or
injure your chickens or disrupt egg-laying. An invisible fence will keep dogs
out, but it won’t stop chickens from roaming when your dogs are inside,
allowing them to graze freely.
-Separate Dogs and
Livestock: If your dogs are not herding dogs, you may want to keep them
separated from any other livestock you have on your farm. The fences that are
typically used to contain livestock aren’t usually adequate for containing
dogs. An invisible fence can be used to reinforce the boundaries of existing
livestock fencing.
-Contain Digging
Dogs/Protect Your Gardens: One of the best advantages of an electric dog fence is that it can reliably
contain dogs who love to dig. Digging dogs can burrow underneath traditional
fences, and they can wreak havoc in the appealing soil of a garden or flower
bed. Your dogs’ e-collars will emit an annoying beep as a warning, followed by
a mild static shock, if they get too close to the boundary wire of an invisible
fence, meaning they can’t dig under it.
-Enclose Multiple
Acres: If you do want to give your dogs the entire run of your farm, there
are some benefits to doing so with an electronic dog fence at the perimeter of
your property. Boundary wire costs significantly less than traditional fence
sections, so it’s more economical to enclose large areas with an underground
dog fence. Also, an electric dog fence system will tell you if there is a break
in the wire. You’ll know immediately if your dog is at risk of escaping, unlike
with a traditional fence, which would require you to regularly inspect all
sections of it.
Cost of an Invisible
Fence
If you’re interested in installing an invisible dog fence on
your farm, the next thing you need to know is how much it costs. You’ll be
happy to hear that electronic dog fences are very reasonably priced -
especially if you handle the installation yourself. A DIY electric fence system
can cost as little as $200 total. Traditional fences can cost
thousands of dollars to enclose the same area. Let’s take a look at some of the
other costs that may be associated with an invisible fence system.
-Extra Boundary Wire:
Most electronic dog fence systems come with 500 feet of boundary wire.
Additional boundary wire will cost approximately $22-$150 per 500 feet. Your
total cost will vary greatly depending on the size of the area you want to
enclose. A wireless dog fence is also an option, and
these systems may cost up to $800 to enclose up to 25 acres.
-Extra E-Collars:
Invisible fence systems usually come with one e-collar. If you have more than
one dog, you will need to purchase additional collars at about $60-100 each.
You may also need to purchase a specialized e-collar if a dog is less than 10
pounds, or if a dog is particularly large or stubborn. Specialized e-collars
have varying correction levels, either less intense or more intense than the
average e-collar.
-E-Collar Batteries: Lots
of invisible dog fence systems have rechargeable e-collars. These are
preferable, because you don’t have to worry about changing the batteries. If
your e-collars require replacement batteries, you can expect to spend $14-40
per year, per e-collar.
-Installing the Fence:
Professional invisible fence installation can cost up to $2500 for the average
yard. You can save that money by going the DIY route and installing your own
dog fence. This is a project that anyone can complete. You can expect to spend
the better part of one weekend installing the fence, but doing so shouldn’t
cost you anything.
-Running the Fence: For
the average-sized yard, an electronic dog fence may cost about $1-2 per month in
electricity. Of course, larger boundaries with more wire will cost slightly
more.
Selecting an
Invisible Fence
If you’re interested in purchasing a DIY electric fence for
your farm, there are several different brands and types to choose from. Invisible
fence reviews and comparison charts can help you evaluate different
options. You’ll need to decide which features are most important to you, such
as rechargeable or specialized e-collars, or wireless versus wired dog fences.
You’ll also need to know the size of the area you want to enclose so you can
select a system that has the right capacity. Online customer reviews can also help you choose a
good system.
With the right DIY electric dog fence, your dogs will be
happy and safe on your farm.
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 $25 Amazon gift card!
