I get asked from time to time, “Should I buy an invisible fence?” My answer is that you need to know what you are getting into before moving forward. The biggest argument for an invisible fence (aka underground fence) is they do not like the looks of a “physical” fence. If you are one of these people, do not let this cloud your judgement and please read on.
An invisible fence is a wire that is buried in the ground around the area you want to keep you dog in or out. Then your dog wears a collar that emits a sound when you dog approaches the wire and then shocks him/her if they get too close. I am not saying this shock has any permanent effects but it is meant to be strong enough to deter the dog from trying again.
Here are some problems:
- What if your dog is chasing a rabbit or cat and runs across the wire. They may get shocked for a moment but now they are trapped outside of the desired area.
- The batteries in the collars have to be changed or recharged periodically. What happens if the batteries go dead while you are at work? Now the dog is wandering the neighborhood.
- All of the little children in your neighborhood are not wearing collars to keep them out of your yard. If your dog is aggressive this could set you up for a lawsuit. I know, some people out there are saying, “Well then people should be watching their children more closely!!” You are right, they should, but accidents happen all the time. Just imagine how silly you will sound on Judge Judy with this argument.
- Not only are the children not wearing collars but neither are the other dogs. Your dog is now trapped in the yard just waiting to become a snack for some large dog running free.
- This is usually where someone tells me, “Well we live out in the country and our closest neighbor is a couple of miles away.” Do a quick search in your favorite search engine for “rabid animals”. You may never see a raccoon in your area, but that only makes sense because they are primarily nocturnal animals. I am not guaranteeing that a physical fence will keep a rabid raccoon out of your yard but it is better than nothing.
I can’t tell you how many times I have been installing a fence in someone’s yard only to be drilling up the wire from their previous “invisible fence”. All they have done is waste their money and open themselves up to heartache and lawsuits. Do invisible fences have their uses? Yes, I can see using them around gardens and flower beds to keep pets out of these areas, but not as the main pet containment.
Related Links:
Owner and Dog Undone Over a Fence Unseen
