Curb a Curious Canine with an Underground Dog Fence

It's a fact of life that dogs love to dig holes and love to jump. Some breeds have been, in fact, bred for these particular purposes. This is all well and good for a pooch in the wild (or on a fox hunt), but many a pet owner has had the unfortunate pleasure of finding out just how well suited their pup is in these capacities. An underground dog fence is a tried and true method of keeping your pet on your property and out of trouble.

How Electric Underground Dog Fences Work
An electric underground dog fence consists of two parts. The first is a small wire that is placed underground where an actual fence or barrier would generally go. This wire emits a radio signal around your property line.

The second part is a small receiver that is attached to your dog's collar. When wearing the receiver, a dog that approaches the property line (and the wire beneath it) will first hear a discouraging noise. If the dog crosses or keeps approaching the boundary, the transmitter produces a small electrical shock. It should be stated that this shock is not painful, but it will certainly be noticed. After a short period of trial and error, most dogs will learn where the wire lies and will not try to cross that boundary.

Invisible fencing works best when combined with good training habits that are formed when the dog is young. Not that this isn't an option for older pets, but dogs are much more receptive to learning something new while they are still puppies.

Installing an Underground Dog Fence
Those interested in buying an underground dog fence can either hire a professional to do the job or purchase a kit. When there are relatively few obstacles, most people should have little to no trouble doing the installation.

Installation on properties with concrete walkways and driveways will require special tools and techniques. Homeowners may still be able to do the installation themselves, but it will be more time consuming. Some of the necessary tools will probably need to be rented, as well.

Traditional Underground Fences
It is also possible to create a physical, rather than electrical, barrier that will keep even the best diggers and jumpers on the preferred side. Putting in a conventional underground fence is more labor intensive but is still a viable option.

Installing an underground fence of this nature is much like putting in any other fence, with the exception of making it extend several feet beneath the soil. When wood is left below ground, it is exposed to a lot of moisture, which can weaken it over time. This type of installation, therefore, works best with metal fencing such as chain link.

Creating a physical barrier below ground, however, is rendered pretty useless if the fence is not high enough. Make sure that the fence is higher than your dog can jump (or will be able to in the future).