HOW TO INSTALL A DOG FENCE

DIY DOG FENCE BRANDS: PetSafe®, Sport Dog®, Innotek®, Guardian®

If you're considering installing a dog fence yourself -- or hiring a handyman to install it for you -- you'll benefit from reading this article. Topics include a brief overview of DIY dog fences and an in-depth discussion of how to install your own dog fence.

ABOUT DO-IT-YOURSELF DOG FENCES

Many different brands of do-it-yourself dog fences are available both online and at local big box stores. The most popular brands of dog fencing -- PetSafe®, Innotek®, SportDog®, and Guardian® -- are all owned by the same company: Radio Systems Corp. Radio Systems Corp. also owns the Invisible Fence® brand.

DIY dog fences generally cost between $150 - $450. Cheaper systems tend to be less reliable and lack the features you'll need to safely and reliably contain your pet. Look for the following features when you purchase a do-it-yourself dog fence:

The features described above are not included with every do-it-yourself dog fence, but they should be! If you install a dog fence without lightning protection, you run the risk of electrical damage to your home and to the dog fence itself. If the receiver doesn't include a wide range of correction levels -- from very faint to relatively powerful -- you risk needlessly stressing your pet. If your dog fence doesn't include a comprehensive warranty, you'll have to purchase expensive replacement parts when your original hardware fails. Finally, if you use the wire included standard with most DIY dog fences, you'll constantly battle wire breaks. A single wire break will stop your entire dog fence from functioning.

DO-IT-YOURSELF DOG FENCE INSTALLATION GUIDE

Installing a do-it-yourself dog fence is a three part process that is not unlike installing a sprinkler or outdoor lighting system. The level of difficulty depends on your familiarity with using power tools and installing electronic equipment, your ability or willingness to perform heavy labor, and your proficiency with dog training.

STEP ONE: Install the Transmitter
Tools Required - screws with anchors, power drill, screw driver, wire stripper/cutter

To install the dog fence transmitter:

• Use anchors and screws to securely attach the transmitter to a wall in your home. You can mount the transmitter anywhere you like, as long as there is an electrical outlet nearby and protection from wet weather. Every brand of DIY dog fence has unique installation instructions, so you should carefully read the instructions that came with your product to ensure it is mounted correctly.
  
  
• Enable lightning protection. Some dog fences integrate lightning protection in the transmitter, usually by connecting a wire from the transmitter to the grounding screw on your electrical outlet. Other dog fences require you to purchase a separate lightning protection unit. If your hardware does not include integrated lightning protection, you should purchase a separate lightning protection unit to help ensure the safety of your home's electrical system.

STEP TWO: Install the Wire
Tools Required - shovel with a sharp edge, wire stripper/cutter, waterproof wire splices, caulk

IMPORTANT: Before you bury the wire for your dog fence, call your local utility companies to mark any underground lines (cable, gas, etc.). Some states have a centralized agency that manages this process for you with just one phone call. For example, residents of Central / Northern California and Nevada can call Underground Service Alert at 1-800-227-2600. Residents of Texas can call DIGTESS at 1-800-344-8377.

Most do-it-yourself dog fences come with wire that is inappropriate for outdoor use. If your DIY dog fence includes thin, stranded wire, visit a wire specialty store in your area to purchase solid-core wire that is between 14- to 18-gauge. The upgraded wire will add to your initial cost, but will more than pay for itself over the long term.

While some DIY dog fences recommend stapling the wire to your existing fence or to the ground, you really should bury the wire underground. Otherwise, the wire is left unprotected from damage by weather, landscaping tools, and animals not contained by your dog fence system (e.g. your neighbor's dog, wild animals). Remember, a dog fence with damaged wire is a dog fence that doesn't work.

To install the wire for your dog fence:

1. Decide where you want to install the wire. Remember that the wire must make a complete loop around the area you wish to protect, with both ends of the wire connecting back to the transmitter.

2. Create enough twisted wire to reach from your transmitter to the start of your boundary wire. It probably seems obvious that in order for your dog fence to work, you must connect the transmitter in your house to the wire that creates your dog fence boundary. Chances are, though, that you don't want that connecting wire to correct your pet. Fortunately, that problem is easily solved by simply twisting together two pieces of wire to cancel the signal the wires would normally emit.
   
   
3. Install the twisted wire. First, attach the twisted wire to the transmitter (see your hardware owner's manual). Now, you'll need to get the wire to the outside of your home in one of two ways:
   
   
   1) Drill a small hole directly beneath the transmitter through the side of your home and feed the wire through that hole. Caulk the hole on both the inside and the outside of your home to help protect your walls from damage.
   
   2) Staple the wire to the inside wall of your home until you get to a window or door. Tuck the wire discreetly in the corner of your window or door frame so that it's out of the way, and feed the wire outside.
   To install the twisted wire in the ground, use a shovel to create a thin trench 2 - 6 inches deep that leads from the point where your twisted wire exits the house to the start of your boundary area. The trench does not need to be wide; simply cut into the ground with your shovel and move the shovel back and forth a couple of times to create room for the wire. Tuck the twisted wire into the trench, leaving about 6 inches of wire exposed where your boundary loop begins.
   
   
4. Dig a trench for the boundary wire. Use your shovel to create a thin trench 2 - 6 inches deep around the perimeter of the area you intend to protect. The trench does not need to be wide; simply cut into the ground with your shovel and move the shovel back and forth a couple of times to create room for the wire.
   
   
5. Install the boundary wire. Use a waterproof splice to connect one end of your boundary wire to one end of the twisted wire you've already buried. Now, tuck the boundary wire into the boundary trench, and cover the wire by stomping on the ground around the trench. When the wire is completely buried, use a waterproof splice to connect the remaining end of your boundary wire to the side of your twisted wire that is still unspliced. Bury both splices a few inches underground.
   

If your boundary crosses a concrete barrier, like a driveway or sidewalk, you should install the wire in these areas by using a circular saw to cut through a joint in the concrete. Bury the wire very deeply where the wire meets the concrete (that way you won't cut the wire with your lawn edger) and use quick-setting mortar to cover the wire.

STEP THREE: Train your dog
Tools Required - leash, collar, treats, the receiver that came with your dog fence

Good training is essential to your dog's success with a dog fence. Though it sounds like the easy approach, you can't just install a dog fence, put your pet in the backyard, and expect him to stay there. Dog fences simply don't work that way.

To train your dog to understand how the dog fence works, you must keep him on leash EVERY TIME he is outside for the first 4 - 7 days of training. During this time, walk around the boundary area with your pet, allowing him to wander into the Correction Zone. Use the leash to guide him out of the Correction Zone if he doesn't respond on his own within 3 - 4 seconds. Every time your dog walks back into the Safe Zone from the Correction Zone, give him lots of praise and a small food treat.

Tempt your dog into entering the Correction Zone by throwing treats or toys into the zone, or by having family members act distracting on the other side of the zone. DO NOT actually call your dog by his name into the Correction Zone - that's an unfair tactic that will discourage him from coming to his name in the future.

Once your dog actively avoids the dog fence while on leash, you can let him explore the fence off leash while you supervise. Make sure to supervise your dog EVERY TIME he is outside for at least 5 - 7 days or until you are certain he understands how to respond when he enters the Correction Zone. When you do begin to leave your dog unsupervised, start with short lengths of time until you are certain your pet is trained.

DON'T FORGET: For a dog fence to reliably contain your pet, he must always wear the receiver when he is outside. Also, you should periodically check the receiver to ensure that it is functioning correctly. Finally, you must remember to regularly change the receiver's battery according to the manufacturer's replacement schedule.