How do wireless electric dog fences work?

Many pet owners, especially the tech-savvy ones, are increasingly embracing investing in a wireless electric dog fence to keep their dogs safe.

Popularly referred to as an invisible fence by some pet owners, a wireless dog fence system is not complicated.

Electric or GPS dog fences are composed of a unique collar, flag, and transmitter.

How a wireless electric dog fence works

Technology has allowed dog owners to keep their pooches safely inside their yards without erecting tall ground fences. With good training and technology like a GPS dog collar for your dog, your dog will always stay within the boundaries of your lawn.

To install an invisible electric dog fence, you need to bury wires in the ground, delineating certain boundaries in your yard. You’ll then use a transmitter to connect to the cables in the ground.

The transmitter can emit radio signals detected by the unique light collar worn by your pet. That also means the customized collar on your dog’s neck should have a receiver.

Your dog will hear a warning tone whenever it gets too close to the demarcated boundaries where the wires are buried for the fence system.

That will train the dog to stop whenever he hears the warning sound from the radio signals. If your dog doesn’t stop or continues to cross the boundary even after hearing the warning sound, he’ll get a static correction.

Although some claim that static correction is a dangerous electric “shock,” it isn’t. On the contrary, this mild electric stimulation is harmless to your dog. The static correction feels like a light tickling on your dog’s skin to startle and interrupt his current behavior.

Remember to monitor the batteries in the dog’s collar by using a rechargeable or replacing the battery.

Train your dog

Therefore, you must thoroughly train your dog to respond by stopping whenever it hears that warning sound while approaching the invisible fence. Use the static correction during the training if your dog fails to stop. Trainers use flags in marking the boundary to help dogs master the warning tone and avoid static correction.

Eventually, your dog will learn that getting too close to the invisible fence will result in a warning sound and a tingling feeling if he doesn’t stop. Ensure you reward your dog whenever he stops just before reaching the boundary. 

Over time, your pet will learn to respect the defined boundaries of the invisible fence. You can remove the flags once you are satisfied that your dog is fully aware of how far he can travel while in the yard.

Going wireless

With advancements in technology, you can now invest in a wireless transmitter that doesn’t require you to bury any wires around the set perimeter of your lawn. Instead, you use a transmitter that creates a safe circular zone for your dog. 

So, the dog will receive a constant signal while in the zone. He will receive a warning sound when he gets close to leaving the safe zone and receive an electric charge or static correction if he goes beyond the zone. 

Typically, the light collar will keep zapping until your pup decides to return to the safe zone. Fortunately, you can customize the safe zone radius to fit your needs. In other words, the uncomfortable zap helps teach your dog that staying far away from home is unacceptable.

Benefits of a wireless electric dog fence

Some veterinarians prefer wireless fences over physical dog fences. Here are some of the reasons you should invest in a wireless electric fence:

• Easy to install: You can quickly set up your new wireless electric fence. You don’t have to use posts and wires during the installation.
• Safer: The static correction is safer than the electric charge emitted by physical electric fences. It doesn’t burn your dog or cause aggressive behaviors.
• Low maintenance: Since the fence doesn’t include wires and posts, maintaining its good working condition is not costly. All you need to do is ensure the special collar and transmitter work perfectly.
• Works well with multiple dogs: You can sync the transmitter to multiple collars. Regardless of the number of dogs in your yard, you’ll experience the same convenience.
• Affordable: Purchasing a wireless electric fence for your dogs is cheaper than installing several posts in your yard and erecting a physical fence. Hence, it’s a better option in many ways.
• Portable: As long as there is no issue with your transmitter’s radio signal, you can set up the fence anywhere. Everything will seamlessly work as expected.

Frequently asked questions about wireless electric dog fences

Are wireless electric dog fences effective?

A wireless electric fence can safely keep your dog inside your yard without building a physical barricade or fence. Once trained, your dog won’t be tempted to leap over the pet fence. The safe zone covers a very high vertical limit. 

Is a wireless electric fence safe for all dogs?

Yes. Regardless of the size or breed of your dog, a wireless electric fence is very safe. 

Can my dog run past the invisible fence?

If your dog runs past the wireless electric fence, you must retrain him. Don’t punish the dog because that might cause negative behaviors such as disobeying your commands. Instead, instill positive reinforcement.

How far does a wireless electric fence reach?

A wireless electric fence can cover a radius of up to 100 feet, creating a circular barrier. However, this depends on the specs of the transmitter you purchase. That distance is bigger than most standard yards in many homes nationwide.

Other options

If you don’t want to install any fence or are prohibited by homeowners’ association rules, tracking your dog using a GPS system is another option.

You can purchase a GPS pet tracker or dog GPS tracker system like the Fi Series 3 smart collar, which uses four positioning satellite constellations to locate your dog within a six-foot radius.

Some pet parents experiment with Apple Airtags to track their dogs, but Apple does not recommend doing so. The company stresses its tags are designed to track objects, not pets. The system relies on other Apple phones and cellular networks, which can offer limited service in some areas.

The bottom line

Overall, a wireless electric dog fence is safer, portable, affordable, easy to install, and doesn’t cost much to maintain, making it a viable option. There isn’t much to write home about potential side effects. However, if your dog is brave enough or gets used to the zapping, he can be defiant and run away. But, with proper training, it’s rare for a dog to brave the static charge or remove the collar. 

You can use a virtual fence as an alternative to an electric wireless fence. First, you must equip your pet with a GPS dog collar, providing an “invisible fence” feature. You get a warning on your mobile phone when your pet leaves a pre-designated area on the map, immediately letting you know your pet’s whereabouts.

Richard Thomas has been a freelance animal and pet care writer for over a decade. He also is a volunteer dedicated to animal rescue and welfare, working for different organizations. He lives with two adopted cats and a rescue dog.

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