Your want to keep your pets safe!. But is it really necessary to spend money on an underground fence for dogs? Are they better than wireless dog fences or GPS dog collars? are some of the questions that flood your mind when looking for ways to protect your pup. Here is our comprehensive guide to Best in ground fence for dogs …
| Fence Name | Our Rating | Check Price on Amazon | Good for | In ground Dog Fence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PetSafe Little Dog In-Ground Fence Editor's Choice - Best for for Small Dogs |  (4.9 / 5) | Check Price on Amazon | The Best In-ground Electric Fence for Small Dogs |   |
Sportdog 100-Acre In-Ground Fencing System Best In-ground Electric Fence for Medium Dogs | (4.9 / 5) | Check Price on Amazon | Best In-ground Electric Fence for Medium Dogs |   |
| The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence | (4.9 / 5) | Check Price on Amazon | The Best In-ground Electric Fence for Large Dogs |   |
The Best In-ground Electric Fence for Small Dogs
1 PetSafe Little Dog In-Ground Fence Editor’s Choice – Best for for Small Dogs
PetSafe is one of the most well-known pet product companies and they specialize in containment fences. When you buy PetSafe, you can be sure that you are getting a quality product that is both effective and safe.
The PetSafe Little Dog In-Ground Fence is a fantastic product, but don’t take my word for it. Trust the incredible reviews about the product instead. It has an incredible 75+% of 4 or 5- star reviews. Almost all of the people who reviewed the product said that it was worth the money and that it worked as well as or better than they expected. It is a truly reliable product that is tailor-made to fit your dog.
The MUST Know, True Facts about PetSafe Little Dog In-Ground Fence
The PetSafe Little Dog In-Ground Fence is a safe, reliable fence that is perfect for petite pups. The collar will fit dogs with a neck from 6-16 inches around. It is safe for dogs that weigh at least 5 pounds. It can be installed without professional help, but the installation will take some manual labor on your part. It comes with 500 feet of 20-gauge wire that should be enough to cover about a third of an acre, but more wire can be purchased separately to cover any size of the yard. You can also purchase extra collars to use the system with multiple dogs. All of the PetSafe In-Ground Fence systems will work together, so if you have one small dog, and two large dogs, you can purchase one little dog system and two of the collars from the large system, or vice versa.
If your dog is more than 20 pounds, you will probably want to go with the Larger dog system.
If you live in colder climates that receive a lot of snow, it is important to know how the snow will impact the effectiveness of your In-Ground Fence. If a lot of snow compiles so that your dog will be walking on top of an extra few feet of snow, you will probably need to turn up the strength of the boundary wire. You can easily adjust the strength of the boundary by turning the dial on the transmitter box. You can also adjust how far away from the wire, your dog receives the warning/correction using the same dial. While the boundary wire is weather-resistant, it is a good idea to use PVC pipe to protect the wire, specifically if the wire is exposed to a lot of water.
Crucial Tips
- It is important to know how close to the boundary the collar will begin responding. You can adjust this with a dial on the transmitter, and it ranges from 3-12 feet. Several factors will impact how wide you want to boundary width to be. If you bury the wire too deep, you may need a stronger boundary width to compensate for the extra ground that the signal has to go through. You probably don’t want to set the boundary wire up with the exact perimeter of your yard, especially if you live near a street, because then your dog may not receive the correction until he or she has actually left the yard.
- You should regularly test the receiver collar using the included test light, at least once a month or so. If the batteries in the collar die, your dog will be able to leave the yard without any corrections or warnings. If you don’t test the collar on a regular basis, the batteries could die without your knowledge and your pup could be dangerously wandering before you know it.
- The transmitter needs to be plugged into a standard 110-volt wall outlet. The transmitter is not weather-proof so it should be kept indoors or at least inside your garage.
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- It is safe for small dogs.
- It can be customized to the shape of your yard.
- You can add multiple dogs by purchasing extra collars.
- It is not a portable system, especially if you bury the wires instead of laying them on top of the ground.
- The batteries in the collar will need to be replaced every one to three months depending on how often your dog challenges the boundary.
- The installation will take one to two days of manual labor.
- The collar fits neck sizes 6-16 inches.
- It is safe for dogs weighing 5-20 pounds.
- The included boundary wire will cover approximately ⅓ of an acre, and more wire is available for purchase.
- The collar is lightweight (only two ounces) so it won’t irritate your dog’s neck.
- It has four levels of adjustable intensity for the static correction. It also has a sound-only option.
Conclusion
All of the PetSafe In-Ground Fences are great products that put your dog’s safety first. They are reliable and accurate. However, this is one of the only products available that is specifically made for smaller dogs. The size and weight of the collar will fit your dog nicely without being too heavy and the static corrections can be adjusted to be sure that they are not too intense for your little dog. These features make the PetSafe Little Dog In-Ground Fence the best underground fence for small dogs.
The Best In-ground Electric Fence for Medium Dogs
1 Sportdog 100-Acre In-Ground Fencing System Best In-ground Electric Fence for Medium Dogs
This is another product that gets great reviews from its customers. Plain and simple, the system works. The installation is about the same as other in-ground systems, but many owners say that the training took less time than expected. Once the dogs experience the static correction a couple of times, they quickly learn to respect the boundary, even when there are distractions on the other side of the boundary. And because the boundary is consistent, it is easy for dogs to learn.
The MUST Know, True Facts about Sportdog 100-Acre In-Ground Fencing System
The SportDog 100-Acre In-Ground Fencing System comes with 1,000 feet of wire. This is more wire than most underground fences come with and it should cover at least half of an acre. You can purchase extra wire to create a fence with up to 100 acres of coverage, but beware that you will need to purchase extra wire for that. However, the wire is 14 gauge, so it is thicker than the wires included with other systems. Some owners felt like it was better to purchase a thinner wire.
You can also purchase an add-on training remote. This training remote will connect to the same receiver collar, but you can control when to give warning tones, vibrations, and static corrections. This is a great tool for training away bad habits like barking, chewing or jumping.
It is important that you understand how to lay the wire properly. Read the instructional manual, or check out the manufacturer’s website for some important information on how to splice and twist the wires. You can also check out some videos on YouTube for some helpful information. Specifically, if you twist wires the wrong way, you can unintentionally create a neutral zone, where your dog will not get the static correction. You should also make sure that you test the collar after laying the wire so that you can be sure that it is working the way you want it to.
Some customers have complained that their system broke unexpectedly or stopped working shortly after it arrived. Specifically, some of them have complained that the receiver collar has cheap screws holding the shock mechanism in place and if the screw gets loose, the collar breaks easily.
There is no backup power supply for this system. So if there is a power outage, your dog could leave the perimeter without receiving any correction. However, if you have trained your dog properly, it will most likely respect the perimeter even if the power goes out.
Crucial Tips
- The installation of the SportDog In-Ground Fence system will be a lot easier if you have the right tools. If you have or can rent a trencher or an edger, your installation time will be dramatically decreased.
- This system includes twice as much wire as the other systems.
- The SportDog system also includes lightning and surge protection built into the transmitter.
- It has four levels of static stimulation to match the intensity with your dog’s needs.
- The collar is waterproof and includes an anti-linger feature. The anti-linger feature ensures that your dog will not continuously receive the warning tone if he or she stays in the warning area that you set up. They will receive one warning tone and then they will not receive anything else unless they actually challenge the boundary. This anti-linger feature will save the battery life of the collar.
- The SportDog In-Ground system comes with a 14-gauge wire but other gauges are available so you can choose which one works best for you.
- It is only suitable for dogs that weigh ten pounds or more.
- The collar is bulky and weighs six ounces.
- The transmitter is wall-mountable and has a built-in surge protector to avoid damage from lightning or power surges.
- The transmitter also has a wire-break alarm that will alert you if something happens to break or cut your wire.
- The receiver collar has a low-battery light to alert you when it is time to change the battery.
- The waterproof collar weighs about 6 ounces.
- You can purchase a remote trainer that will also work with the same collar.
Conclusion
The SportDog 100-Acre In-Ground Fence is the best underground fence system for medium dogs because it is safe and reliable, but the bulky collar makes it too big for smaller dogs. It is full of wonderful safety features that make it a great value.
The Best In-ground Electric Fence for Large Dogs
1 The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence The Best In-ground Electric Fence for Large Dogs
This is another great product from the PetSafe company that specifically works great for large and stubborn dogs. This also happens to be the best underground shock fence for hearing-impaired dogs because the warning tone also has a vibration before the static correction is issued.
While the collar will fit dogs who weigh eight pounds or more, we recommend only using the Stubborn Dog system with dogs who weigh at least thirty pounds. The intensity of the static correction makes this a better option for larger dogs.
The MUST Know, True Facts about The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence
The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence has five shock intensities and claims to have the highest intensity available. It also has a training mode that only uses a sound and vibration instead of the shock. It also includes a Run Through Prevention feature that will train even the most stubborn dogs to not leave the yard.
The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence comes with 500 feet of wire. You may need to purchase extra wire if your yard is bigger than about a third of an acre. Remember that some places will need multiple layers of wire twisted or run together, so if your perimeter area is exactly 500 feet, you will need 25-50 extra feet of wire. You can use the PetSafe website to find out exactly how much wire you will need for your specific yard.
If the wire is not laid correctly, the boundary will be inconsistent. Be sure to follow the instructions and watch the instructional videos before you begin the installation. It might be necessary to purchase extra accessories like splicing lines that don’t come with the standard system.
The receiver collar is waterproof but it is not meant to be submerged underwater for long periods of time.
Make sure that you are ordering the entire system when you first begin. You can always buy extra collars, extra wire, and other accessories later, and there are several bundled buying options. But all of those options might confuse you into thinking you are buying the whole system when you are actually just buying an extra collar.
Crucial Tips
- The transmitter uses a 110-volt outlet. For this reason, this system is only recommended for use within the United States. International outlets use 220 volts and are not compatible with this system.
- You should lay the wire out on the ground and test it before actually digging the trenches. In some areas, you will need to lay multiple layers of wire, like the wire that goes to and from the transmitter, and the second layer could make that area a passing zone. You may need to splice the wire in some cases. It is best to figure out all of those details before begin digging.
- If you already have a traditional fence but your dog tends to jump over it or dig under it, you can use the PetSafe Stubborn Dog system without burying the wires. Simply attach the wire to your existing fence using staples or PVC pipe. Just make sure that the wires are protected from things like your lawn mower that could cut the wires and be sure that your dog does not chew through the wires.
- Make sure that you keep the collar snug, especially if you have a dog with a lot of fur or skin on their neck. If the collar moves around, it can interrupt the signal to the transmitter, and it will not work properly.
- The waterproof receiver collar has a low-battery light. It will fit dogs with necks up to 28 inches wide.
- It includes a tone plus vibration mode that warns your dog when it is nearing the boundary zone. The vibration makes this the best option for training a dog that is hearing-impaired.
- The Stubborn Dog system has the highest intensity of shock available.
- An unlimited number of dogs can be added to the same system with the purchase of extra collars.
- All of the PetSafe collars will work with any of the PetSafe in-ground transmitters. If you have multiple dogs, you can purchase the Stubborn Dog collar for your largest dog, and get the basic or Small Dog collars for your smaller dogs.
- This system cannot be used with smaller dogs who weigh less than 30 pounds.
- The collar is bulky and weighs six and a half ounces.
- The collar is made of a cheap material so some customers have reported that their dog easily broke the collar. However, if you prefer, you can connect the shock mechanism to another collar pretty easily.
- The high-intensity shocks might be too much for smaller, more sensitive dogs to handle.
- As with all in-ground fences, the receiver collar will issue the static correction once your dog enters the boundary zone, no matter which side of the boundary your dog is on. This means that your dog will get a correction for coming back into the property line. It is important that you train your dog to enter through the passing zones that you created when you set up the wire so that your dog will not get shocked for returning home.
- The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence covers up to ten acres with the purchase of additional wire.
- It has 5 intensity levels of static correction with the highest possible intensities.
- It has a training mode that uses only a sound and vibration to warn your dog that they are approaching the boundary. This feature is useful for dogs that are hearing-impaired.
- The receiver collar takes a 9-volt battery. The battery should last 2-3 months depending on how often your dog challenges the boundary.
- It has a Run Through Prevention feature. The intensity of the static correction will increase if your dog tries to run through the boundary zone.
- The Stubborn Dog system includes waterproof gel-filled capsules that can be used to repair damaged boundary wire or for splicing wires together.
- There is a built-in surge protector in the transmitter.
- There is also a Lightning Protection kit that is available for purchase but it will change the installation process. So if you live in an area that gets a lot of lightning, be sure to purchase the protection kit at the same time as you purchase your in-ground fence system and install them both simultaneously.
Conclusion
The PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence is the best fence for large dogs because it is strong enough to get their attention. The lower intensity on some of the other products might not be strong enough for large dogs. It is reliable, consistent, and safe, even though it has higher intensity shocks. The Run-Through Prevention feature ensures that the most stubborn dogs will respond to the training because the intensity of the shock will increase as they continue testing the boundary.
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Guide to finding the Best In-ground Fence for Dogs
As a dog-owner, your pet’s safety and happiness is your responsibility. This means allowing your dog some time to play or run around outside, but it also means keeping your dog safe when he is running around outside. Even though they are domesticated, dogs are still animals with instincts that make them run after other animals or anything else they find interesting. If you want to allow your dog to roam freely or almost freely around your yard, without allowing him to wander into possibly dangerous situations, an in-ground fence might be the best solution for you.
What Is an In-ground or Underground Dog Fence?
In-ground Fences, also called Underground Fences or Hidden Fences, are fences that use wires or cables buried just below the surface of the ground to set up the perimeter. You can use the buried wire to set up your fence in whatever shape or size that you want. You can even set up internal fences to keep your dog away from gardens, flower beds or pools.
How Does an Underground Shock Fence Work?
Why Should You Choose an Underground Dog Fence?
Underground fences can offer you more flexibility than wireless fence systems.If you have metal siding or a metal rooftop, most wireless fences will not work in your yard, so a wired fence will be a better alternative. Wireless fences also force you to create a circular boundary, so if you need a rectangular boundary or a boundary of different sizes and shapes, a customizable in-ground fence is the best option.
Advantages and Disadvantages of In-ground Fences
In-ground Fences offer a more customizable solution for many pet owners. They can be arranged in any shape so you can match it exactly to the shape of your yard. And they can be used for any size yard so long as you can buy enough wire. They are far more cost-effective than traditional fencing. Because they do not rely on radio frequencies they are far more reliable and accurate than wireless fences. In-ground fences can also be used with an unlimited number of dogs with the purchase of a separate receiver collar.
However, in-ground fences are not without their disadvantages. The most prominent disadvantage is that they will only issue the static correction when your dog is near the in-ground wires. This is a disadvantage for two major reasons. If your dog does leave the boundary, he or she will only receive the static correction as soon as they leave. If they keep moving away from the boundary, the static correction will stop. The second reason that this is an issue is that your dog will receive a second static correction when they come back to your yard. This can be very confusing for some dogs. So underground fences do little to convince your dog to come back to the boundary once he has escaped. Another disadvantage of wired fences is that they are not portable. If you are not planning to stay at your current home for a long time, this is not the best option for you.
What to Consider Before Buying an Underground Dog Fence
Before you begin the process of deciding which in-ground containment fence is the best option for you, there are a few things you should consider.
Good-to-Know Tips and Tricks
