Wireless Dog Fence - Some Basic Information
If you are looking for ways to allow your dog to enjoy all the freedom and at the same time keep your dog within certain boundaries, a wireless dog fence is the best option. The dog will not need any leash and is not going to be restricted by any physical boundary. The dog can also be managed using the wireless fence even when the owner is not at home. If you decide to carry your pet on a holiday but do not want the dog to disappear from view, a wireless dog fence will be of great help.
How Does a Wireless Dog Fence Work
A wireless dog fence consists essentially of two parts - a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver is usually installed in the dog's collar. Once the base station is powered from a 110 V system, and the collar receiver is activated with batteries, it is easy to set up the boundary within which you would like your pet to roam. By switching on the 'program' button on the base station, walking the collar up to the desired boundary, and then saving the program in the base station sets the boundary. The wireless dog fence is a great training aid and can be set up in just a few minutes. However, many attempts may be required to set up a proper boundary for your pet. Some wireless dog fence systems allow two dogs to be contained within the boundary. Under best conditions, the boundary set up can be as much as 200 feet in radius. It is a good idea to place the base station on non-metal surfaces and away from large appliances.
The base station continuously communicates with the pet's collar and tracks their distance from the established boundary in the yard. The owner has access to critical information about the safety of the dog and is instantly alerted if the dog attempts to break out of the boundary. Any attempt by the dog to get out of line elicits a high- pitched tone that is continual till the dog is back into the boundary. Any loss of signal from the pet is also alerted through visible feedback signals at the base station.
It is a good idea to ensure that large metal objects such as cars, metal sheds, etc., do not pose obstructions. The radio signals may not pass through these objects or may get completely reflected. Also check the collar regularly to ensure that it is not damaged. The collar should be tight enough so that it is not easily removed by the dog and loose enough to enable the dog to breathe comfortably.
Though two base stations can be theoretically used to increase the size of the roaming boundary, sometimes there are signal interference issues that may not allow the fence to operate as required.
Advantages of a Wireless Dog Fence
The wireless fence works without the aid of computers or any other device.The dog fence system comes with an instruction manual and sometimes an accompanying DVD.The fence can be set up very quickly unlike wired systems or physical fences that take much longer to install.The collar receiver uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery can be charged by plugging on to the base station. The time took to charge fully the battery is about four to six hours. The battery can be recharged many times (a 3.6 V battery is capable of taking about 300 recharge cycles!) and lasts many years. The battery should be charged only when there is an alert from the base station. The rechargeable battery is inexpensive.The dog fence is completely portable.The dog feels more comfortable than when constantly tethered to a leash.
Disadvantages of a Wireless Dog Fence
The fence's effective Petsafe PIF 300 Wireless Dog Fence range may sometimes be reduced if the base station looses sight of the dog's collar when over a hilly terrain. The base station may be placed on a higher location in the house to overcome this problem.Based on the power requirements and the circuitry, the size of the collar receiver may be large. Some collar receivers are fit only for pets that are 25 pounds or larger.
Summarizing, the benefits of using a wireless dog fence far outweigh the disadvantages.