Are In-ground Dog Fences Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

One of the biggest questions that comes to peoples minds when they are considering in-ground dog fences is, "Is It Safe for My Dog?"  Because an in-ground dog fence will deliver a small electric shock through the collar that the dog wears around its neck, people are concerned whether this is cruel to their dogs.  Let me start by saying, I love my dogs very much!  I would never do anything to them nor would I recommend anyone else do anything to their dogs that I thought was going to cause them harm.  That being said, in-ground dog fences are meant to train your dogs.  If you use them as such, then you should have nothing to worry about.  

The dog containment systems (http://www.baddogsupplies.com/fences.html) are set up so that your dog will first receive a warning beep if they get to close to the boundary.  If they continue towards the boundary at that point then they will also get the small electric shock.  Now, the shock that your animal is getting is about the equivalent of you receiving a small electric shock after you have been shuffling around in your sock feet in your carpet and then touch a metal object.  Does it hurt, NO, but it will get your attention real quick.  That is what these systems are meant to do.  Most of your dog containment systems will also come with the flags which you set up around the boundary so that your dogs can also see where the boundary is as you begin to train them.  Additional flags are available if your dog containment system does not come with enough.  Yes, you do have to train them.  Putting the fence in place without training your dogs as to the boundary and consequences of crossing the boundary would be more cruel to your dog or dogs.

None of us, I hope, want to create any undue pain for our pets.  I hope you have pets because you are a pet lover to begin with.  But the small correction shock that your dog will feel as you train them with these systems is nothing in comparison to the pain that they will feel if they run off and are injured by a passing car or something else.  Besides that, by giving them an area in which they can run and play rather then chained up to one spot all day, you will be giving them much more freedom, happiness, and exercise.  

So, if the only thing holding you back from owning an in-ground dog fence or wireless dog fence is the concern of the correction, then you can rest assured that they will be just fine.  Many, many vets, trainers, and other individuals can vouch for the safety of these systems when they are used in the way they were designed for, which is for the training of your dog as to the perimeter of your yard.  

As always, we can help you with all of you dog containment system needs.  Visit us at:  http://www.baddogsupplies.com/page/page/8408616.htm for all of your dog supply needs.  I hope this has helped you so that you can make an informed choice when it comes to training your dog or dogs with an in-ground or wireless dog fence.

What In-Ground Dog Fence to Buy for Different Sized Dogs

     When you are searching for an in-ground dog fence, you want to make sure that you are going to select a fence that meets the size of your dog.  There are many great systems out there, so it should not be hard to find a dog containment system for your dog and your dog's size.  Here is some basic information that may be useful to you and a couple of sample systems that may work for your size dog or dogs.  
   If you have one, two, or even more large dogs that are all over fifteen pounds, then you have many options available to you for an in-ground dog fence.  One of the favorites is the Innotek IUC 4100  (http://www.baddogsupplies.com/catalog/item/8482923/9420417.htm).  People tend to like this system because it has three correction levels, a progressive correction setting, and it is rechargeable. The only down fall to this system is that you cannot control the correction level for each collar if you have multiple dogs. So, to use this system with multiple dogs, you really want them to all be over fifteen pounds. There is also the Petsafe In-Ground Stubborn Dog Fence or PIG00-10777 (http://www.baddogsupplies.com/catalog/item/8482923/9419895.htm) in your 20 gauge wire or PIG00-10777-HD which is the same fence but in the 18 gauge wire (http://www.baddogsupplies.com/catalog/item/8482923/9427896.htm)

     If you do happen to have two or more dogs and there is at least a thirty percent difference in their weights, then you too have options.  There are different systems out there that offer an option that allows you to control the correction level for each collar worn by the different dogs you have.  One such system is the Dogtra system.   This system also has the rechargeable batteries (http://www.baddogsupplies.com/catalog/item/8482923/9418831.htm)
This system is a little older and the collars are a little larger but is probably your best choice when it comes to different sized dogs.
     Now, when it comes to your smaller dogs or any dogs under twelve pounds, you also have some great options.  One of the options you have for your little dogs is the the Petsafe Elite System for little dogs or PIG00-10773-HD which is your eighteen gauge wire system
(http://www.baddogsupplies.com/catalog/item/8482923/9428027.htm), or the PIG00-10773 (http://www.baddogsupplies.com/catalog/item/8482923/9419900.htm), which is going to be the same fence in your twenty gauge wire system.  Some of the Petsafe systems will offer additional collars if you have larger dogs as well.  
     The above systems are as I stated, only a few of the many options available to you for your dogs.  Visit us at http://www.baddogsupplies.com/page/page/8408616.htm for all of your dog containment system needs.  While at our site check out some of our other great products that we carry that includes bark control collars, watering systems, GPS tracking systems, and much, much more.  

How to Install In-ground Dog Fences

So, you have done your research, purchased your first in-ground dog fence, and now you are ready for installation.  The purpose of this blog is just to cover the basics of installation of your new in-ground pet fence.  I have included the information you need to install the in-ground dog fence in the ground or install it without having to bury it.  Keep in mind that your dog containment systems will also come with their own guides on how to install that particular system.   Below are some steps to use as just another guide:


1.)  Before you start tearing up your yard and getting frustrated, you may want to just sit down with a pen and paper to sketch out where your dog containment system will go.  Once you have come up with the boundary perimeter, then draw a circle around the area that will represent the warning area and about 3 to 4 feet from the boundary perimeter draw another line to represent where the pet fence perimeter will be.  If you are going to have to cross any utility lines then you will need to contact your local utility company to have them mark their lines for you before you start digging.


2.)  Locate an area that you can place the radio transmitter.  You will probably want an exterior wall in an area that will have easy access to both the pet fence wiring and an electrical outlet.  You also want to choose a location that is going to be weatherproof to avoid getting water damage to your radio transmitter.  Once you have chosen a good location you can screw the radio transmitter into the wall with the screws that are usually provided. 


3.)  Next you will want to lay out the provided wire along the pet fence perimeter.  You are not yet doing your digging yet but you are getting close.  


4.)  Now you can attach the wire ends to the radio transmitter box.  There are different methods to do this depending on your dog containment system, so be sure to look at your systems instructions to correctly carry out this step.  Once the wiring has been attached you will want to plug the box  in to see if you have a complete circuit which will be indicated by the green indicator light and to make sure that the system is operating.  


5.)  At this point you want to test the dog fence.  Most of the systems will come with a test light strip to do this step.  All you need to do is place the test light over the shock plate or shock electrodes and walk toward the pet fence perimeter to see if you first get the warning beep or tone as you get closer and then the test light strip should light up to indicate that an electric shock is being emitted once you have continued forward toward the pet fence perimeter.


6.)  Now that you know the system is operating properly, you can bury the wire.  When you are installing the wire underground, it is easiest to use an edger to assist you in digging the hole.  The wire only needs to be in the ground about 2-3 inches but you can go deeper if you need to.  The best way to keep the wire underground is by digging the hole a little deeper and at an angle.  It is important to have the wire buried enough that you will not disturb it if you need to mow in that area.  If you have to lay the wire through an area that is heavily wooded, instead of burying the wire, you can leave the wire on the ground and use wire staples to hold it in place.


7.)  The last step you will need to do is to place the training flags that are provided with your dog containment systems in the ground to warn your pet and other people that there is a pet perimeter there and that crossing that perimeter with the pet collar will cause an electric shock.  


Now, if you are not going to be burying your wire at all, then simply follow all of the same steps as above up to the point where you start to bury the wire.  When you get to that point, you will be using the wire staples to hold the wire to the ground about every 5-6 feet but you may need to use additional staples to make sure the wire is flush with the ground.


A couple of other side notes would be this:  you do not want to weave the wire through an existing metal fence because it will interfere with the correct operation of the system.  Also,  if you have an existing fence, it is best to place your wire about a foot inside the existing fence.


There are many great dog containment systems that come with everything you need to install your in-ground dog fence ( http://www.baddogsupplies.com/inground_fences.html ).  Just make sure that if you are going to need additional wire for a larger size yard, that you also buy additional perimeter flags, as well as staples if needed.  


I hope that you have found this information helpful.  I have also included a link for a video that you can watch that will also cover many of these steps if you are more a visual person.  As always, you can hop on over to http://www.baddogsupplies.com/page/page/8408616.htm to find your dog containment system or the extras that you will need for installing that system.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYJZGpPq2BA&noredirect=1

How Do I Know Which Gauge Wire to Use with My In-ground Dog Fence?

Ok class, let's continue on with our selection of the right dog containment system, lol.  I would like to give you a little more information you can use when you are looking for your in-ground dog fences.  What you will come across when looking at dog containment systems is that the wire that comes in the system or the spools of extra wire that you can buy mostly come in either 18 or 20 gauge.  So what is the difference?  How do you know which one will be the right fit for you?  That is what I hope to help you with today with this blog.

Your 18 and 20 gauge wires for your in-ground dog fences will come in a stranded wire which is several thin copper wires blended together which makes up the one large wire or your solid core wire which as the name implies, is one solid copper wire.  The stranded wire may be a little easier to work with and is the best wire if you are on a budget during the time of installation, but keep in mind that it may need to be replaced in five years as it does seem to be more prone to corrosion and it is a more fragile wire to work with.  The Petsafe systems will come with stranded wire although solid core wire is available for these systems when specified and works just as well with those systems.  Also, the 500 foot spools of stranded wire only come in 20 gauge.  The solid core wire will come in 18 or 20 gauge as well.  It is a little more difficult to work with but it does seem to be more durable, less corrosive,  and stronger.  It is said that the solid core wire should last about twice as long as the stranded wire.  Most of the Innotek 20 gauge dog containment systems will come with solid core wire.  

When you are looking at the differences between the 18 and 20 gauge wire let me give you some guidelines to use. 

Use 18 gauge wire if you fall within any of the following categories:  burying the wire in rocky soil or rocks, if you are not going to bury the wire at all, if you have a lot of trees or vegetation, or if you have larger than five acres.

Use 20 gauge wire if you fall within any of the following categories:  burying the wire in loose sand or clay soil, if you plan to put the wire next to a fence, if you have few trees or vegetation, and if you have an area less than five acres.

To recap,  for the most part, your dog containment systems and extra wire spools will come with either 18 or 20 gauge wire and either stranded or solid core wire.  The 18 gauge wire is stronger and more durable than your 20 gauge wire and your solid core wire is going to be stronger and more durable than your stranded wire.  You can find dog containment systems that will come with the gauges discussed and the wire types discussed.  Use the guide above to select the right type and gauge for your purposes.  

One last important note to mention.  Do not mix your types of wires.  Keep 20 gauge with 20 gauge, solid with solid, and etc.  Mixing the types and sizes of your wires can result in your system not functioning properly.

The dog containment systems that we carry on baddogsupplies.com come in 18 and 20 gauges.  We also offer the 18 and 20 gauge 500 foot extra wire spools.  As always, if we don't have it, let us know about it.  I hope this was useful information for you and good luck on your dog containment system quest!

What is the difference between in-ground dog fences (aka electric dog fences) and wireless dog fences?

So you are in search of a dog containment system?  If this is the first time you have looked for a dog containment system to keep your dog or dogs safe then you may be confused by the whole in-ground dog fences and wireless dog fences.  So, lets see if I can clear that up for you just a little. 

As I stated, dog containment systems can be in-ground or electric dog fences or wireless/WiFi dog fences.  In-ground dog fences work by using a boundary wire that you will have to install around the perimeter that you want to keep your dog in or out of.  The wire that you put down will form a loop around a certain area.  The wire itself will come in different sizes or gauges and it will transmit a radio signal that will be picked up by the collar that your dog or dogs must wear.  There are different settings that you can use but generally, the collar will pick up a signal when your dog gets too close to the perimeter and then the dog will get a correction if they still get closer to the perimeter.  These systems are very versatile in that they can be shaped to almost any or every yard whether small, large, odd shaped, or not.  That is one of the reasons that makes the in-ground dog fences so popular.  The only downfall is that you do have to do a little work to put the wire in the ground around the perimeter.

Wireless dog fences on the other hand are much easier to set up and are portable and many times more cost effective.  In fact, many of them can be used indoors or outdoors if they come with a wireless receiver.  Wireless dog fences create more of a circular boundary around a central area.  The downfall to having wireless dog fences is that they tend to have imprecise boundaries that can sometimes move from minute to minute.  Not only that, but because they do tend to have the circular boundary if you have an odd shaped yard, you probably will not get the perimeter coverage you are looking for.  The other thing regarding the wireless dog fences is that sometimes obstructions such as trees, slopes in your yard, or metal objects can interfere with the correct functioning of the systems. 

So, I hope I have summed up the pros and cons of the different dog containment systems to include wireless dog fences and in-ground dog fences.  The in-ground dog fences remain to be the most popular.  I would still highly recommend that you do your homework and find the right dog containment system for the area you are looking to cover.  We do have a wide range of wireless dog fences and in-ground dog fences at baddogsupplies.com.  If you have other questions or are searching for something we don't have, just let us know.  We would be happy to help in any way we can to find what works best for you.

 

How to Select Wireless Dog Fences

If you are searching the market for wireless dog fences then you are probably coming to the realization that there are a wide variety of wireless dog fences out there to choose from.   So, how do you know which of the many wireless dog fences will work for you?  What I have done here for you is try to break down some of the facts about wireless dog fences so you can make an informed decision on what will work best for your pet and in your situation.

 One thing you want to look at is how much area you are looking to cover.  In other words, what is the size of the area you are looking to keep your dog contained within?  If you have a very large area you are looking to cover then you need to make sure you select one of the wireless dog fences that has a longer range.  A couple of longer range options might be the Perimeter Technologies Wire Free/Wi Fi Dog Fence or the D.E. Systems Border Patrol:  GPS Containment System.  A couple of other great options with a little smaller range but still a great coverage area would be the Petsafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence or the Petsafe Wireless Fence.

Another thing you want to consider is how many dogs you are going to be using this for.  Many of the systems have the capability to work with at least two if not more dogs.  So, you want to keep that in mind while searching for wireless dog fences.

Of course, if you are looking for a dog containment system that will cover a larger area and need a dog containment system for multiple dogs, then you are going to have to pay a little extra for a good quality system. 

I have provided some basic information for what you should look for with wireless dog fences but I still highly recommend that you do your homework and check the different reviews on each system and then get the best system for your situation.  The good news is that all of these systems are very easy to install and even easier to use!  We have a variety of wireless dog fences and dog containment systems at baddogsupplies.com so come on over to our website and check us out and even if you don't buy one of our systems, I hope that you have found this information very helpful.  Come back often in the future for more information on other products and useful information in general. 

 http://www.baddogsupplies.com/fences.html

Well, we have survived the Fourth of July with our dogs but summer is still here in full force.  As we already know, many people across the county are feeling the effects of record high heat.  So, during this hot summer let us not forget about our four legged friends and try to keep them comfortable as well.  I have included some tips here on how to keep your pet comfortable, safe,  and cool this summer.  First, make sure that your dogs have access to plenty of cool, fresh water at all times.  If you are going to be out and about with your pet then make sure you grab an extra water for them.  Be aware that just as the hot asphalt burns our feet, it can burn the pads of their feet as well so try to walk them only in the grass or dirt.  Please do not ever leave your dog in a vehicle.  As we have heard many times, it does not take long for a parked car to heat up fast and leaving a window down slightly does very little if anything for the dogs while they are in the car.  Avoid strenuous exercise or long walks during the heat of the day and maybe only go in the early mornings or evenings when the sun goes down.  If your dog shows signs of excessive panting, disorientation, and obvious paleness or graying of the gums then they could be suffering from heat exhaustion and you should act immediately by submerging him or her in cool water or by placing ice packs on her neck and contacting your vet right away.  You can help keep your dog cool by always providing shade for them while they are outside.  There are many products available such as fans that clip to their crates or cooling mats which can also help them stay cool.  If your dogs have to stay outside this summer then please follow some of these tips and remember that we do sell a variety of dog containment systems, in-ground dog fences, wireless dog fences, and electric dog fences that can assist you in keeping your dog in an area safely in your yard that offers the most protection from the sun and heat.  Visit us at baddogsupplies.com for some of these products as well as others for your dogs.  Be safe, and keep your dogs safe as well this summer.

What are the advantages of wireless dog fences?

One of the biggest advantages of having a wireless dog fence or in-ground dog fences is that they are not actually a fence at all and instead they use a radio-signal device that will transmit a signal to a collar worn by your dog or dogs once they come close to the perimeter by emitting a sound and then a slight shock once the pets cross the underground wire.   This is a very convenient system to have, especially for people that need to keep their pets within one area or out of another area but cannot put up a traditional fence either because their homeowners association does not allow it or because they don't have the time or money to do so.  This system is also much easier to install and maintain then your traditional fences which is another great plus.  There are even dog containment systems for indoors.    So visit us at baddogsupplies.com and check out our selections of pet containment systems to include in-ground and wireless dog fences.  As always, if we do not have what you are looking for then shoot us over an email because chances are we can find something that you want or need. 
  http://www.baddogsupplies.com/fences.html

Ok.  So I just wanted to post and let people know about a product that we have added to our website, baddogsupplies.com.  We have added bark collars.  Now I want people to understand that these are good if you are just beginning to train you dog, or if you have a dog with already developed habits. I want peoplel to understand first that when it comes to addressing your dog and their barking habit, realize first that God created them to bark. Barking is their only way to orally communicate.  Unfortunately, we also live in a society in which we may have family, friends, and/or neighbors or not so keen on our dogs god given talents, lol.  So, in those cases, we have tools to help you train your dogs and their barking habits with our bark collars.  So, check out our selection and see if there is something you might be able to use and if not let us know and we can try and find what you are looking for.  We are always looking for new products and new suggestions here at baddogsupplies.com. 

Ok.  So I am trying really hard to get this thing going here.  Next is going to be trying to make this page look more like something I would do rather than your very generic page.  Who knew this would be so much work, lol?  I don't know about anyone else but, with 4th of July just a day away and everyone in the neighborhood setting off their own fireworks every night this week, my Shepard is not a happy camper, lol.  If I can get a picture of her hiding under anything she can find I will try to post here.  What a perfect time for those pet fences to prevent our beloved dogs from running away when they are trying to get away from the fireworks.  Ok, I am going to get off from this part so I can work on the other parts of this site, lol.