SportDog Brand In-Ground Wireless Dog Fence
What is a SportDOG in-ground, wireless fence system?
The SportDOG brand in-ground fence system is an in-ground, wireless dog fence. An in-ground wireless fencing system is a system that allows the user to bury a fence around their specified boundary and keep their dog inside the boundary with the use of a collar and receiver. The SportDOG in-ground fence system includes a waterproof collar that features a tone, vibration, and shock alert, along with the in-ground fencing, transmitter, and boundary flags. The system comes with one and one-third acres of fencing and has the ability to be expanded up to 100 acres. The system can support collars for one dog, or an unlimited number of dogs so long as you purchase the additional number of collars that you need separately. Additionally, there is an upgradeable remote trainer option.
Why choose the SportDOG Brand fence?
There are many reasons to choose this wireless, in-ground fence for your dog.
- Safety
- Convenience
- Ease
- Price
- Adjustable and Customizable
- Trainability
You are able to safely keep your pet in a predetermined, designated, safe area by setting up a wireless fencing system. There is no need for ropes or leashes, which means your dog will not get tangled or potentially hurt themselves.
The ready-to-install kit contains everything needed to get you started and does not require building of any kind. Simply follow the included instructions to install and setup your fence without having to waste time building a traditional fence.
The cost of a wireless, in-ground fence is drastically lower than that of a traditional, above ground fence. Wooden and metal above ground fences can cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars, whereas the SpordDOG fence can be purchased for a much lower cost.
The collar is adjustable to fit your dog based on its size, weight, and hair length. The collar is also adjustable in the way that it provides corrections when your dog reaches the warning area or boundary of your fence. The fencing can be specially customized to your specific area, and the fencing system can accommodate an unlimited number of dogs/collars. This allows you to set as large or small of an area for as many or as few dogs as you desire.
Dogs can be easily trained to avoid the boundary with the use of the training steps included in the safety and installation manual as well as the visual aid of the included boundary flags.
What specifications should I know about?
Check Carefully
There are many things that you should look for when purchasing an in-ground, wireless fence system to ensure safety and usability, including:
- Built-in safety features
- Ability to have passable areas
- Size and type compatibility
- Installability and proper coverage
- Expandability
This system is waterproof and features lightning protection. This is an important feature because you want to ensure that your fence system has this type of capability in order to protect your dog if it encounters moisture. A dog may encounter moisture for any number of reasons, but most notably are: rain, drinking water, pools, and ponds that are located on your property.
Upon setup the SportDOG in-ground fencing system allows for areas of the fence to be set up as passable so that the dog can move through a predetermined area of the fence that you set. You may want your dog to be able to enter your house, garage, or another section of land and during the setup process follow the steps to make designated areas that you select available to your dog.
Installation is easy, but carefully check to ensure that the fence is not interfering with any cables or wires that are already placed underground. An easy way to check for this if you are unsure is to call your electric company. Most electric companies will assist with a free check to ensure that you are digging in a safe place. Also check that the fence is working properly with the collar. This should be done after the fence has been installed, but before you start training your dog where the boundary is. Simply follow the instructions with the collar along the boundary line to check that the collar is responding properly to the fence boundary.
Honest Truth about In-Ground Wireless Dog Fences
Many people wonder about the pros and cons of an in-ground wireless dog fence. Truth be told, when used properly, a long range wireless in-ground dog fence can be very beneficial to both dogs and dog owners. A wireless, in-ground fence provides a cost-effective alternative to a wooden or metal fence. A SportDOG in-ground fencing system is just a fraction of the cost of installing a wooden or metal fence and it can be installed in just a fraction of the time, too. The fence can be easily buried around the perimeter of a yard or designated area. Once the fence has been buried, simply plug in the transmitter, test the boundary, and put the collar on your dog to begin training your dog where the boundary is and how to stay within the boundary. Dogs are then able to have free reign of the predetermined area without the need of their owners constant monitoring for hours if need be.
Again, follow the age and size guidelines and remove the collar from your dog’s neck at no more than twelve hours to ensure no harm is done to your dog. In rare cases irritation or contact burn is possible, but unlikely. Another way to ensure there is no irritation to your dog where the collar meets your dog’s neck is to ensure proper placement of the collar. Place the collar on the dog’s neck with the receiver on the area of the neck that is to the lower right or lower left of the neck, not directly in the middle of the neck where the throat is. Each time you fit the collar to your dog you can switch the side that the receiver rests on. Ensure that the collar is properly fit onto your dog’s neck by making sure it is snu enough for the prongs to be touching the dog’s neck, but not so snug that it restricts the airway or causes discomfort. A good rule of thumb for fitting a collar is to put the collar on the dog, tighten the collar, then make sure you can fit at least two fingers between the collar, not the receiver, and the dog’s neck. By following the safety instructions and properly fitting the collar to your dog you will reduce the risk of injury, increase their safety, and feel comfortable that they can go outside and remain safely inside the boundary.
What to look for when purchasing an in-ground dog fence.
When you have decided that an in-ground, wireless fence is right for you, make sure you look for the following features, benefits, and settings prior to making your purchase.
- Coverage area
- Amount of fencing needed
- Number of collars needed
- Collar features (tone, vibration, static stimulation)
- Collar safety (waterproof, lightning proof)
- Boundary flags
- Installation instructions
- Manufacturer’s warranty
- Customer reviews
When purchasing an in-ground, wireless dog fence look to make sure you have enough of the fencing material to cover the area that you want your dog to stay in, boundary flags to signal to you and the dog where the boundary lies, and the adjustable collar. Collars that offer options such as tone or vibration can put your mind at ease knowing that your dog is not being over-corrected via over stimulation. Ensure that the collar is waterproof and lightning proof, too. Use the boundary flags and follow the included safety instructions to properly train your dog on how to stay inside the set boundary and always remove the collar from the dog at the twelve hour mark.
Look to see what other customers are saying about the product. Simply by checking the reviews for the SportDOG brand in-ground fence system you will notice an overwhelming number of positive reviews and happy customers. This is because SportDOG delivers a quality, safe product that helps keep your dog where it needs to be and away from areas that it needs to stay away from all while keeping safety and the protection of your pet in mind.
Potential Problems
There are some known potential problems with in-ground, wireless fencing systems. These problems range from unlikely to probable, so keep the notable, potential problems in mind when choosing a system:
- Boundary wobble
- Wire break
- User error
- Battery failure
- Power outage
- Loose collar
- Removed collar
- Forgotten collar
One potential problem with any wireless, in-ground fence is boundary wobble. Boundary wobble may occur unknownling. Similar to a wireless phone signal, wireless fences are imperfect. The environmental landscape, such as thick trees, and nearby metal, such as a building with a metal room, can obstruct the signal. Boundary wobble the term for how the wireless signal can vary from time to time and in wireless fences it can cause the signal to vary up to eight feet in either direction from where the fence is placed. This is important to take note of because if you set up your fence near a street and the boundary wobble happens to wobble into a dangerous area the safety of your pet could be at risk. Boundary wobble can be reduced by selecting areas where the potential for environmental landscape interference is kept to a minimum.
Another problem that may occur is user error in setup. If the fence is not set up properly or the collar is not adjusted to correctly fit your dog then there is a potential for the system to fail. To prevent the system from failing simply follow the easy to use instructions that are included and test the system as needed to ensure functionality.
Battery failure could pose a risk to your dog, too. There is not a low battery indicator so you will have to check the batteries in the collar to make sure that everything is working properly with the fence. Replace batteries as needed to be sure that your dog is safe and cannot cross the boundary. If the batteries are completely dead then the collar is rendered inoperable which would not deliver the warning or stimulation to your dog if it entered the boundary warning area or crossed the boundary completely.
Power outages can also pose a problem because there is not a battery backup for the fencing system. If the power outage lasts only seconds, this will typically go unrecognized by the dog and it will remain safely inside the boundary; however, if the power outage lasts for more than just seconds the dog would not receive the signal that they are in the warning are or that they have crossed the boundary line. This could pose a potential safety risk to your dog as they could possibly move across the boundary.
If the collar is removed, either because it is too loose, someone removes it, or it isn’t put on in the first place the fencing system is useless. In order for the fence to work the collar must be properly attached to the dog. If the dog is able to get out of the collar they will be able to move across the boundary. If the collar is not fitted properly every time it is put on the dog and it is too loose the corrections from the receiver may not be noticed by the dog and again, the dog could cross the boundary unknowingly. If someone purposely removes the collar without your knowledge your dog could cross the boundary or even be taken from the boundary without your knowledge. Also, if the collar is not put on when the dog goes out then there is no way for the dog to receive the warning signs and stimulation that would let it know that they have crossed the boundary.
Features and Benefits
There are many features and benefits when choosing to instal the SportDOG in-ground, wireless fence. Some of these features and benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Collar is adjustable
- Receiver has tone and vibration options
- Receiver has varying levels of static stimulation
- Waterproof collar
- Lightning proof collar
- Battery operated collar
- Built in warning zone
- Hidden fence for a beautiful view
- Wire break alarm
- Coverage area
- Freedom and safety
The collar receiver offers a tone/vibration option, as well as four levels of static stimulation to match the needs of your dog. You are able to select the level of static stimulation when setting up the collar. Follow the instructions to carefully select the level of static stimulation that would best fit your dog. Training your dog is easy, too. Most owners report that their dog was trained within a few hours if not two days of being introduced to the wireless, in-ground fence. The collar will alert the dog with a warning signal if it is too close to the boundary. If the dog continues toward the boundary then it will feel a vibration. Only after that, if the dog continues in the warning area of the boundary will the collar follow through with the static stimulation correction.
The collar is battery operated and takes a standard 9-volt battery that can last anywhere from 6-12 months depending on how often the boundary is tested by your dog. The collar also has an anti-linger feature that prevents the dog from standing in the warning zone and draining the battery. This feature will help your dog make the decision to move away from the warning zone area and keep the collar charged.
There is no unsightly, above ground wiring and no need to block your view with a traditional fence. Simply bury the in-ground wire and enjoy a hidden fence for your dog that is invisible to both you and your neighbors.
The included fence transmitter features a wire break alarm that alerts you to potential boundary wire problems. This is a very helpful feature because if something damages the fence underground you may be unaware and your dog could leave the predetermined boundary. With the break alarm feature you can rest easy knowing that if anything were to happen to the in-ground boundary that you will be alerted.
The customizable coverage area allow you to select exactly where your want your dog to be allowed to go and where they are not allowed to go. This system does not have to be used for large areas of land, it can be used for small backyards, too. You can now keep your dog away from your garden, streets, sidewalks, your child’s play areas, swimming pools, streams, and so much more!
A wireless fence system allows your dog to stay safe from streets and other dangerous areas all while allowing them to roam free and explore. Once your dog learns where the boundary is they will be able to run and roam freely within the safety of the boundary that you have set for them. They will not have to be under constant supervision and are protected by the built in features of the collar, the collar’s receiver, and the fence’s transmitter.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an easy way to keep your dog safe without having to spend a lot of money on traditional fencing you should get and install a SportDOG in-ground wireless fencing system. It is much more cost effective to install a wireless, in-ground fence than it is to install an above ground wooden fence or metal fence. Traditional fences could also take a long time to install, whereas the SportDOG in-ground fencing system is easy to install and takes much less time to install when compared to traditional fences.
Dogs are easily trained to stay within the fencing system and remain safe and close to home without the constant monitoring of their owners. They are free to run around and enjoy the property you have within the boundaries you set for them.