Founded in 1940 with its first live trap, Havahart is the leading manufacturer of wildlife control products. Their promise is to offer products that enhance a clean and healthy environment, keeping the health of the animals in the forefront always.
Most of their products are:
- OMCI listed
- USDA approved
- Used for organic gardening
- Electronic repellents are
- Energy efficient
- Safe for the environment
Product Name
Havahart Custom Shape Wireless Dog Fence
Is a wireless fence that covers up to 25 acres. It is designed to keep your pets in a designated area without the use of a physical fence.
Why Should I Fence My Dog in My Yard?
Whether you live in the country or in a neighborhood keeping your dog behind a fence is the best thing to do. If you are in the country, keeping a dog contained to a certain area will keep him safe from danger. Dogs tend to run and get into unfamiliar things when large areas of land are available. They stand a chance of being injured or lost. Fencing them in and keeping them in your yard reduces the risk of anything bad happening.
City living with a dog poses a different set of problems. Neighbors don’t usually want another’s dog in their yard, pooping, digging holes, or tearing things up. Dogs can also wander into the street and stand a chance of being hurt or killed by vehicles. Pets can also get lost easily in the city because of the distractions and temptations a neighborhood or city. Adding fencing will deter this from happening and keep your pet safe and sound in his own yard.
What Type of Fencing Should You Choose?
Knowing that fencing your pet in is the best thing to do for his safety, you must decide if you should put up a traditional fence or install wireless fencing. There are pros and cons for both types of fencing. We will look at on specific wireless fence to help you make an educated decision.
Why is the Havahart Custom Wireless Dog Fence Here?
Specifications
The Havahart Custom Shape Wireless Dog Fence Is:
- Wireless- no burying wires or cables
- Covers up to a 25-acre area
- Customizable boundary
- Up to 4 exclusion zones that are digitally set
- Can be programmed for 5 static levels and one tone-only level
- Controller is compact with intuitive touch screen
- Interface is web-based for Windows PC’s
- Handles one or two dogs (additional collar required)
- Can use with any breed of dog 8 pounds or larger
- 10-year warranty on parts
- 12-month warranty on labor
- Measures 3.4 x 11.4 x 13.5 inches
- Weighs 3.5 pounds
How Does It Work
Performance
The idea behind the Havahart Custom Shape Dog Fence is a great one and contains some degree of accuracy. However, reviews seem to be less than impressive. Most of the reviews state that the fence is not what was expected and is hard to use. It appears obstructions such as trees and outbuildings tend to keep the signal from connecting with the dog’s collar. However, some reviews were glowing and explained how well the product worked and that it did exactly what was expected.
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Check Carefully Because
Check the specifications on the product to make sure it will work for you and your household. The warnings specifically state that metal siding can cause interference and cause the signal to be distorted. They also tell the buyer how to set it up to avoid interference from outside obstructions. Following the instructions exactly will greatly improve the usability of this product.
The MUST know, TRUE Facts about the Havahart Custom Shape Wireless Dog Fence
- This system works best for properties that are set 30-40 feet off the road. This will help elevate any road distractions.
- It is set up to cover a 25-acre area.
- Properties with large sloping hills make it difficult to get good signal strength in all areas.
- Heavily landscaped property will also cause an interference with the signal.
- Metal siding, aluminum siding and metal roofs will keep the system from working properly.
- During set up it is important to follow instructions very carefully or you will encounter problems when trying to use the system.
- Make sure that you don’t place the wireless fence in unsafe areas such as roadways, ponds or unfriendly neighboring yards.
- Set the warning system and static correction at the lowest level to begin with and move up from there. Too strong of a correction at first can scare your dog.
- This product is only good for one or two dogs. If you have more dogs than two dogs that need a fenced in boundary this product will not handle what you need.
- It only comes with one collar. If you have two dogs, you will need to purchase an additional collar.
- A wireless dog fence, when set up correctly, can increase your dog’s safety by keeping him out of places he does not need to be.
- This system can cost a lot less than traditional fencing.
- Stubborn dogs may run right through the static correction and learn that the freedom on the other side of the invisible fence is worth the discomfort.
What to Watch Out for With This Product
Taking the time to properly set up the system, making sure the signals are strong and all areas of the fence can receive the reception will ensure a successful experience for you and your pet. Without proper reception, your pet may be allowed to wander past the perimeter you have set with the fence and encounter danger. Testing the system in all areas is important in making sure it is working properly before turning your dog loose for the first time.
Learn the battery life of the collars. The transmission cannot control the collars for correction if the batteries are down. Recharge the batteries when necessary.
Crucial Tips
Once the system is set up successfully, carefully test it with your pet. Periodically check the system to ensure it is working correctly to keep your pet safe.
Introducing Your Dog to the Wireless Fence
Introducing your pet to the system so he knows what to expect is crucial as well. Make sure the collar fits snuggly, but not too tight. Walk your dog to the boundary so that the warning tone goes off, but no further. Once the tone goes off bring your dog back into the safe zone and praise him. Do this a few times so he associates the tone with retreating back into the safe zone. Set the static correction at the lowest level. When your dog ventures past the warning zone and activates the static correction, he should associate retreating back towards the center of the yard, and your previous praises for doing so, with relief from the warning signal and go back to safety. If this doesn’t happen, continue with the training regimen until he understands the process.
Benefits and Features of Using a Wireless Fencing System
- Cost- most traditional fencing is costly and involves a lot of labor to erect. Wireless fencing tends to be less expensive and does not require the physical labor that putting up a traditional fence requires.
- Adaptability- using wireless fences lets you adapt the area you wish to “fence” without cutting up your land with physical barriers. Where you might not want to put up real fencing and create small fenced in areas on your land, you can install the wireless fences and keep your dog contained in an area you choose without having to build a fence to do that.
- Convenience- wireless fencing can be put into place way more quickly than building a fence. It is also a lot easier to install the wireless system than digging holes, setting posts and stretching wire, or welding posts to build a fence.
- Reliability- traditional fencing may not be adequate to contain all dogs. Dogs can climb, jump over, dig under, and chew through fences. Whereas wireless fences, when working correctly tend to contain a dog that otherwise might escape.
- Aesthetics- Fencing can make a serene landscape look chopped up and interfere with the view that would otherwise be scenic and pleasurable to look at. Wireless fencing is invisible while still providing boundaries for your pets.
- Less chance of human error- we sometimes forget to latch gates allowing for our pets to escape. Wireless fencing takes this worry away. There is no gate to close so there is no worry of your pet escaping because of your negligence.
- Portability- most wireless fencing is portable, allowing you to take it with you when going on vacations or giving you the freedom to change the boundaries within your own land if needed. Be sure to use the provided flags when changing locations or changing the boundaries so your dog has a chance to learn the new boundaries.
- Protection– Passersby will not know the boundaries of the wireless fence and might be deterred by dogs that they think can get to them if they get too close to the property.
Problems Associated with Using a Wireless Fencing System
- Dog training– proper training is required for the wireless fence to be effective. Walking the parameters of the fence showing the dogs the flags is a great place to start. Let him experience the warning sound and then show him that retreating will stop it. Continued training is usually necessary until the dog learns its limits and how to stop the warning sound or the static corrections.
- Intruders- the wireless fence will keep your dog in as long as he has on the collar, but it will not keep other animals out. Animals that could harm your dog can enter the property through a wireless fence where they may not be able to with a physical fence.
- Frustration over the barrier- a physical fence doesn’t cause the frustration that an invisible one can cause a pet. Dogs learn to understand that they can’t get past a fence, but they may not understand not being able to get past the invisible barrier when another dog or person approaches and wants to play with or pet him.
- Some degree of discomfort- the dog learns to listen to the warning sound and corrects his behavior before the static correction in imparted. If he doesn’t respond to the warning signal and gets the static correction, it emits an uncomfortable, but not harmful shock if the collar is set correctly. This causes some discomfort but is not harmful.
- Reliability- the collar must have battery power and be able to receive the signal from the bases in the house. If either of those is not working correctly the collar will not be able to give the warning signal or the static correction, allowing the dog to venture past the set boundaries and into potential harm.
- Possible escape- some dogs may be able to withstand the static correction in order to get to what or where they want. Sometimes, dogs that would otherwise respond to the warning or static correction may be so excited about someone or something approaching that they run through the barrier to get to the reward.
Things to Consider Before Buying Long Range Wireless Dog Fencing System
- Weight- your dog’s weight can play an important role in the effectiveness of the wireless fencing system. It is suitable for dogs that weigh 8 pounds or more. Smaller dogs will not be able to properly support the collar needed for correct usage of the fence. Also, small dogs may have a hard time activating the device, allowing them to roam past the boundaries. Be sure to check this with your dog before turning them lose unsupervised.
- Neck Size- measure your dog’s neck size and look carefully at the specification of the collars in the wireless system. Most collars for a wireless fencing system will fit neck sizes from 6”-28”. Make sure the collar will fit properly. A correctly fitting collar will allow you to easily slide a finger between the collar and the dogs neck. If it fits tighter than that, it can cause discomfort and possibly swallowing or breathing hazards for you pet. If it fits too loosely, there may not be enough contact for the collar to work correctly, therefore deeming the whole system useless.
- Safety Features- make sure there are safety features that are applicable for your area of usage. Also, are there safety features built in such as low battery indicators and loss of signal indicators? These are important features. If the system or collar isn’t working properly, there should be some way of letting you know so your dog isn’t allowed to roam past his boundaries, potentially getting into harm’s way.
- Portability- is the wireless system easily moved? If this is an important feature for you then make sure that is can be moved. Changing the boundaries may be something you need to adjust from time to time. Is this going to be possible with this system? If so, then great, if not, you may want to consider other options.
- Set-up- be sure you understand the set-up requirements for the system before you purchase it. Will it work in your area? Do you have too many obstructions or metal siding or roofing? Ease of set-up is important to some. Will this be something that you can do, or will you need to call in a professional to help? Hiring someone to help you with set-up is an option, but it adds to the overall cost.
- Batteries- what type of batteries does the system use? Are they readily available for purchase? Are they rechargeable? If they recharge, how long does it take and how long do they hold a charge? You want to make sure the battery life is adequate for the amount of time your pet will be turned out within the fenced in area without supervision. The batteries must be able to run the collar so it can receive a signal from the base system, otherwise the whole operation is useless.
FAQ’s about the Havahart Custom Shape Wireless Dog Fence
Q: Will the static correction hurt my dog?
A: There is a warning signal that will sound before the static correction takes place. Eventually your dog will recognize that as a precursor and not push it to the point of correction. However, when the correction level is set correctly, it will get the attention of your pet, but will not be strong enough to cause harm. The 5 levels are there so you can choose the correct setting for the size and breed of your dog. Obviously the smaller and daintier the dog, the less static correction he will need, whereas a larger tougher breed will need a stronger pulse to get his attention.
Q: Are the flags that come with the system important and how long should I leave them in my yard?
A: The flags are a visual for your dog to associate with his boundaries. Eventually he will know the boundaries without the help of the flags. An adequate amount of time should be about 2-3 weeks. If you take them down and notice your dog is still having a difficult time recognizing the boundaries, you may have to put them back up for a while longer.
Q: How old should my dog be before I start using the wireless system with him?
A: A good rule of thumb is 6 months. A dog needs to be able to recognize training methods and right from wrong before he can be expected to understand the boundaries set forth with the wireless fencing system. Also, check the weight and collar specifications. A 6-month-old Chihuahua may not weigh 8 pounds yet where a larger breed will be well within the weight limits.
Q: What if the static correction does not affect my dog and he doesn’t respond?
A: Refer to the trainer’s manual the comes with the fencing system. You may have to experiment with the settings to see which level gets a response from your pet. Always start with the least amount of static correction and work up form there. Remember the goal is to get their attention, not harm them.
Q: How do I know if the wireless fence is the best choice for me?
A: If you do not want to put up stationary fencing, and your yard is relatively free from obstructions then a wireless fence is a great option for you. They are cost effective and portable and allow you the freedom to set the boundaries you feel are the most appropriate for your pet.
Recent Reviews for the Havahart Custom Shape Wireless Dog Fence
The most recent reviews for this system are rather mixed. Many of the reviews are negative, but there are some positive ones. Overall the product received 2.8 stars out of 5 stars. 67% of the people reviewing gave it 1 or 2 stars while only 29% gave it 4 or 5 stars.
The negative reviews focused on the following areas:
- Hard to install
- Poor signal strength
- Only good for flat terrain with no obstructions
- Short battery life making is costly to replace batteries
- Does not cover as large of an area as it states
- Poor quality of the product overall
The positive reviews focused on the fact that is did just what they expected IF all the procedures were followed and your yard and surrounding areas were in compliance with the specifications noted in details of the product.
