Underground Pet Fencing

Has the lack of a fence around your yard prevented you from purchasing a pet? Or perhaps you want to get rid of your fence altogether to improve the look of your yard, but can't because of your pet. Well whatever the reason, the good news is that thanks to underground fencing you can now keep a pet in your yard without the need for a fence or any other physical enclosure. Underground fencing is not a new technology and has been around in some form or another since the 1970's, however, it is now starting to gain momentum due to increased housing density and regulations on fencing (fences are not allowed at all in many new developments). The underground fence is also a very cost effective solution that can be implemented for a lot less than a conventional fence and requires far less maintenance. How does it work? The way the underground fence works is that it creates an invisible barrier for your pet. If your pet ventures towards the edge of the barrier it receives a warning signal (usually a beep), but if your pet approaches further it receives a small static shock or a spray of citronella, neither of these are harmful to your pet in any way. An underground fence is comprised of three main parts: wire, a transmitter and a receiver. The invisible enclosure is created by burying wire a couple of inches under the ground. You can create any type of enclosure you like, it is just a matter of laying the wire to suit your needs. Your pet is then fitted with a collar that contains a small receiver. The receiver will give warning signals and then a correction if your pet ventures to close to the fence boundary. Powering all of this is the transmitter, which broadcasts a radio signal through the wires and will enable your invisible fence. The transmitter and hence your fence can be turned on or off with the flick of a switch. For an underground fence to work effectively, your pet will need to be trained in how to react and respond to the warnings/corrections from the receiver. The initial training should be done on a leash and will require patience. Essentially what you are trying to teach your pet is that when it hears the warning signal it should not proceed any further or it will receive a correction. The full training procedure is beyond the scope of this article, but your local supplier of underground fence products will be able to provide you with the various methods. Underground fencing products are readily available online or through a good pet store. For a basic self install kit, you should be able to pick something up for under $200. Pet Handbook.