How to Install an Electric Fence for Dogs

An electric fence offers your dog the freedom to enjoy himself openly in your yard while ensuring your peace of mind that your pooch is, in fact, safe and sound. Depending on the size of your yard and the type of electric fence you’ve bought, you can install a pet containment system within a day and training your dog within a week.

Let’s have a look at what you need to know about how to install an electric fence for dogs. 

How Electronic Fences Work

An electronic pet containment system aims to keep your dog within a certain perimeter. There are two main types of electric fences: wired fences and wireless fences.  

As the name suggests, a wired fence features a transmitter that emits a signal that travels along underground wires. On the other hand, a wireless fence does not require wires. Instead, it comes with a transmitter that emits signals to create a circular perimeter to contain your dog.

Both these electric fences work in the same manner: they feature an electronic dog collar linked to the transmitter. So, when your dog nears the boundary wall, the collar gives a warning tone or beep, and if your pooch tries to cross the boundary line, the collar delivers short and safe static correction. This static correction is just uncomfortable enough to make the dog learn its boundaries to remain safe in the yard.

How to Install an Electric Fence for Dogs

Electric fences are easy to install, mainly because they are accompanied by an instruction manual. However, in case you’ve lost your instruction manual and are wondering how to install an electric fence for dogs, follow these instructions:

Installing a Wired Dog Fence

Here’s how you can install a wired dog fence:

Install the Transmitter

Install and ground the transmitter in a safe place, such as a garage or basement. It’s important to make sure that the temperature of the area where the transmitter is installed does not drop below freezing. Moreover, the transmitter must also be installed a few feet away from any metal objects or circuit breakers.

Lead the Boundary Wire

Once you’ve installed the transmitter, lead the boundary wire to create a circuit around your boundary area.

Bury the Wire

Some people simply choose to mount the wire on the ground, while others bury the wire. Mounting the wire can be risky due to the potential threat of tripping or wire damage. Burying the wire is the wiser choice. To bury the wire, you will need to determine the area the fence is supposed to contain and dig up at least an inch or two in the ground. Then you can simply lay down the fence wire and cover it up.

Installing a Wireless Dog Fence

Here’s how you can install a wired dog fence:

Install the Transmitter

Place the transmitter inside a safe place near the center of the containment area where the temperature does not drop below freezing. Moreover, install the transmitter a few feet away from any metal objects or circuit breakers.

Adjust the Dog Collar

Once the transmitter is in place, adjust the range of the containment area using the electronic dog collar as a guide.

The Bottom Line

Once you’re done installing your electric fence, make sure to train your dog using treats and visual clues, such as training flags. All in all, both wired and wireless fences are easy to install and ensure the safety and protection of your dog.