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Dog Containment Fences Best Price Dog Containment Fences Dog fences have evolved over the past 25 years. The expensive and somewhat ugly chain link fences have fallen by the wayside in favor of the new electronic dog fences. Dogs have a habit of jumping over or digging under chain link or other solid barrier fences. The new dog containment systems have shown themselves to be not only effective but safe and humane as well. Pioneered by Innotek the newer pet containment systems feature run through prevention, a patent held only by Innotek, 24/7 battery back up, rechargeable and microline dog collars, and much much more. Pet containment systems are also available in contain and train combinations as well as wireless dog fence versions. It can be somewhat confusing when looking at electronic dog fences for the first time. Below is a helpful guide for the newcomer to electronic pet containment systems. We hope it will answer all of your questions and more. How do electronic pet containment fence systems work? The principle of these dog fences is simple, as is the installation. The basic dog fence systems can be divided into 3 parts. The containment system transmitter, the containment fence dog collar receiver, and the containment system wire. First, the containment system transmitter: The transmitter sends a radio signal (not electric current) through the dog fence wire. The containment system transmitter should be mounted in a protected place, as none of the transmitters are waterproof. The usual mounting place is on the wall of the garage. The containment system transmitter plugs into standard household current. Innotek offers more advanced interactive transmitters with their dog fences, which can even come with a battery back-up systems included. The battery back-up systems will continue to power the entire system for up to 40 hours in the case of a power outage. This is an excellent feature for a dog fence. Second, the containment fence dog collar receiver: The dog fence collar receiver communicates via the containment wire through the radio signal which the wire emits. Dog collar receivers refer to the box on the front of the collar which communicates with the wire and provides the static correction. All of the dog collar receivers come attached to a standard dog collar, but can be removed, if desired, and placed on a collar of your choice. Some receiver collars are basic, while others are more advanced. The most advanced collar receivers are made by Innotek. These dog collar receivers can calculate the distance from the wire and the speed which the dog is moving toward the wire. All dog collar receivers first emit a warning tone when the dog approaches the dog fence wire. If the dog moves past the warning zone and toward the dog fence wire as if to leave the containment zone the collar receiver will provide the dog with a static correction. The static correction is just that, a safe static shock correction, not an AC or DC current. There is no electrical current which passes through the dog. Some dog collar receivers offer different levels of static correction that you can adjust. The most advanced are those with ramping correction offered by Innotek. The ramping correction is the back bone of Innotek’s patented Run-Through-Prevention. Most containment fence dog collar receivers are operated by batteries, but the new advanced models offer rechargeable receivers with internal nickel metal hydride batteries. Third, the containment system wire: The containment system wire is used to create the boundary for your pet, the dog fence. The wire can create a boundary around your entire yard, or just the front, back or side of your yard. The containment wire can also be used to keep dogs out of specific areas such as swimming pools, or flower gardens. For all systems the containment wire must make a closed loop with the transmitter. That means that the wire starts at the transmitter, creates the boundary for your dog and then goes back to the transmitter. All dog fences require this closed loop set up. There are many different types of wire and gauges of wire which are offered, which is best? All of the wire used for dog containment systems has a copper core. But as copper has no significant tensile strength it will not matter which gauge of wire you use. The lower the gauge the thicker the wire, but from a practical point of view the wire is not significantly stronger, although the lower the gauge the more difficult it will be to bury. Some wire is a solid copper and some is a twisted copper. Here again there is no appreciable difference. The only significant factor when considering wire is the coating. Copper is easily degraded with moisture, so use a burial approved wire. Most burial approved wire has a polyurethane coating. Are electronic pet containment fence systems easy to install? Yes, most would consider an electronic dog fence very easy to install, especially those who have already installed one. Quality manufacturers, such as Innotek and PetSafe offer in depth manuals and even a video. An electronic dog fence has 3 parts; the containment system transmitter, the containment fence dog collar receiver, and the containment system wire.
The containment system transmitter should be mounted in a weather protected location, usually a garage. No manufacturer offers a waterproof transmitter. They are easily mounted to the wall with just 2 screws, and then plug into regular household current. The containment fence dog collar receiver is simply placed on your dog as is any other dog collar. The collar should be snug so that there is good contact between the probes on the collar receiver and the dog. Most dog containment fences will come with two sets of probes, one short and one long. If your dog has long hair or is a dog with a double coat use the longer probes. For dogs with an extremely thick coat some have recommended shaving that portion of the fur on the neck where the probes need to make contact. An alternative suggestion which we offer is to use a thinning shears and simply thin the fur, as opposed to shaving the fur. The containment system wire is placed around the boundary area of your home. It is important to note that the wire must make a closed loop. That means that the wire starts at the transmitter and ends at the transmitter. It is important to note that the wire does not need to be buried to work. The wire can be attached to a wood fence. The wire can just be laid upon the ground, or it can be buried. The only caution is with heavy chain link fences. Chain link fences are a poor barrier for a dog. Dogs often dig under them or jump over them. The metal of chain link fences can interfere with the radio signal of an electronic dog containment system, so do not place the wire directly on a chain link fence, instead place it a few feet away. There are a variety of tips which we can offer for installation of the wire. Dog fence - Placing dog containment wire underground: The wire only needs to be placed 1 ½” - 2” underground. It is the roots of the grass which will hold the wire in the ground. There are several ways to place the wire in the ground. Some people will use a heavy knife and make a shallow cut into the lawn, others will make a cut with a straight spade shovel. However most people do it the easy way, they use a powered edger (that which trims grass next to a driveway) and make a small slit in the ground. If you do not have one, you can borrow one or rent one very inexpensively. An expensive and larger trencher is not needed. Once the small trench is created, lay the wire in the trench, and then push the trench closed with your foot. The best wire to use is 20 gauge wire, heavier wire can become very difficult to install, most would advise against it. However be sure that your wire is burial approved. Dog Fence – Crossing Cement Driveways: If you are crossing a cement driveway, use the expansion joint. If there is no expansion joint, or the expansion joint is not in a convenient location use a skill saw with a masonry blade to create a cut approx. ½ inch deep. This should take approx 15 minutes on an average sized driveway. Next place the containment wire in the groove and cover with a waterproof outdoor caulking. Dog Fence – Crossing Blacktop Driveways: If you are crossing a blacktop driveway use a skill saw with a masonry blade to create a cut approx. ½ inch deep. This should take approx 15 minutes on an average sized driveway. Next place the containment wire in the groove and cover with blacktop sealer Which electronic pet containment system is right for me and my dog(s)? There are two premier manufacturers of pet containment systems in the United States; Innotek and PetSafe. Both these manufacturers utilize quality controlled manufacturing. Both Innotek and PetSafe products are represented by large numbers of quality retailers nationwide. Below is a breakdown of the systems which they offer. 7 Kilohertz Dog Fence Yes, dog containment systems can be used for cats. However, do so at your own risk. There is no manufacturer which has researched, manufactured and markets a system only for cats. However there could be retailers who represent systems for cats – Beware! There are a couple of concerns: There has been little research on containment systems for cats. Collar size and degree of static correction are another concern. It is doubtful if a containment collar will adequately and safely fit a cat under 15 lbs. The RF-3005V and the SD-2000 have standard sized collar receivers and are much too large for cats. In addition, the correction level of the RF-3005V is excessive. The RF-3006V, SD-2100 and SD-2200 offer lower correction levels. But the RF-3006V does not slowly increase its correction level as the cat approaches the boundary wire, hence it is not the best choice. The SD-2100 and SD-2200 have small collar receivers, low initial correction levels and slowly progress the correction level as needed. Yet as we stated there are no systems made just for cats, so if you do, you do at your own risk. It can be a difficult decision as to which containment system is right for your dog. We represent the two best manufacturers available. Innotek and PetSafe systems are sold throughout the United States and are both respected by consumers and retailers alike. We will present each system below and point out the features that you need to know to guide you to a decision. It needs to be mentioned that you should consider the temperament of your dog as well. SD-2000 Dog Fence: SD-2050 Dog Fence: SD-2100 Dog Fence: This system has progressive correction with Run Thru Prevention. Its top levels are higher than that of any other system. The big plus is that the system uses a rechargeable battery in the collar receiver, hence you never pay money for batteries. That essentially makes this system the least expensive system over time. Added features are potted collar receivers, field adjustment, tone and / or light alerts, etc. Perhaps the best feature is the 24/7 battery back up. Although just released this year, customers have already found this feature invaluable. SD-2200 Dog Fence: RF-3004V Dog Fence: RF-3006V Dog Fence: RF-3005V Dog Fence: These systems are growing in popularity. They allow owners to control their dogs from 150 to 300 yards. This remote control can be used to correct undesirable behavior, turning a bad dog into a good dog and great family member. Examples of bad dog behavior would include jumping, barking, digging, etc. Another great benefit of a remote trainer is that they can be used to control your dog off leash. This allows a dog the chance to be a dog, run in a park, field, open space, any wilderness area, etc. Unlike the PetSafe Contain and Train systems, Innotek models work outside the wire containment fence, so they can be taken anywhere, camping, in-laws, vacations, or just for a walk. SD-3000 Dog Fence: SD-3100 Dog Fence: Over the past few years, collar receivers have been getting smaller. Large receivers are approx: 2 ½ inches wide by 1 ¾ inches high by 1 ½ inches deep. That makes them a bit large for dogs under 20 Lbs. The microline collars are approx: 1 7/8 inches wide by 7/8 inches high by 7/8 inches deep. That makes them suitable for dogs as small as 15 Lbs. However, many people are looking for containment systems for dogs under 15 Lbs. It is not fair to say that these collars are suitable for dogs under 15 Lbs. That is a decision that only the owner can make. Will they work? Yes. Will the collar receiver be too big? That is a judgment issue for the owner. Hence, we recommend that you use those measurements in comparison to your dog or cat and then make your own decision. But remember, there are no other systems available with smaller collar receivers. Is the weight of the collar receiver important, in practicality? No. These collar receivers weigh between 1 ½ ounce and 3 ounces. They are extremely light, so light that you will commonly see your dog carrying toys, bones or sticks that weigh many times more. The best thing to ever happen to containment systems. Proprietary batteries can be a huge pain as they are not commonly available. Frankly, any battery replaceable system requires that you pay almost $30.00 extra per dog per year, plus the time to get them, and the hassle of replacement. In this day and age, almost all household battery operated systems are rechargeable. Now containment systems are as well. The internal rechargeable battery never needs replacement and lasts beyond the life of your dog. These rechargeable containment systems, the SD-2100 and SD-2200, use advanced Nickle Metal Hydride batteries (NiMH). NiMH batteries do not develop memory issues, and can be recharged as often as you want. The overall dollar savings are obvious, making these systems the most popular available, and least expensive, far outselling conventional battery replacement systems.
This is a patented technology by Innotek. If another system says it has Run Thru Prevention, ask again. All the Innotek models, SD-2000, SD-2100, SD-2200, SD-3100, SD-3100, have Run Thru Prevention. The RF-3004V does not. However, there is some run thru prevention built into the RF-3005V and RF-3006V systems. Both of these systems will jump from the selected correction level to the highest setting, yet the jump is quick, and does not ramp up as the Innotek systems do. Run Thru Prevention is as important for smaller dogs as it is for medium and large dogs. It offers the security that every pet owner wants. The SD-2000 and the SD-3000 can cover a maximum of 5 acres. All the other systems can cover up to 25 acres. This means that the systems have the power to cover and contain a dog in that maximum size. Is this important? Only if you are planning to contain more than 5 acres. All the systems come with 500 feet of wire, enough to do just under ½ acre. 24/7 Battery Back Up protection is only available on the SD-2100 and the SD-2200. It is powered by common AA batteries and can operate the system in the event of a power outage for up to 40 hours. Is it important? This feature was incorporated in these systems in early 2003, yet we have received numerous emails and calls from customers praising 24/7, stating how it helped contain their dogs in a power outage. It is one of those features that you only miss if you didn’t have it. From a safety perspective, you can never be too safe. Some PetSafe units do and others do not come with internal lightening protection. Internal lightening protection is basically a breaker inside the transmitter that is blown if the outside wire is struck by lightning, hence protecting your household wiring. We recommend that with the purchase of a PetSafe system you use an external lightening protector. The Innotek systems all have an internal lightening protector. In the vast majority of cases, the transmitter will be destroyed if struck by lightning, and you will need a new transmitter. Lightning strikes are not covered by the manufacture's warranty. Recommendation: Get a LP-2000, it is a quality external lightening protector. This is a separate unit which protects the transmitter from damage if the system is struck by lightening. It is included in the Innotek SD-2200, but needs to be purchased separately with all other systems. It is recommended for all PetSafe systems and for all systems which are installed in high lightening parts of the country. Twisted Wire Finally someone thought of offering twisted wire, a simple solution to a messy problem. Twisted wire is offered by Innotek and can be found on premier Internet retail sites as the BD-01. Twisted wire is simply two strands of wire twisted together. Twisted wire is used to go between the transmitter and the single strand wire used to surround the boundary area. All manufacturer warranties are the same. One full year of warranty and then lifetime on parts. Some of the Innotek Sport Collars have a 3 year full warranty. This refers to the electronic receiver box that is on the dog's collar. Potting refers to protecting the internal electronic components. This protection is done by injecting a soft foam when the collar is assembled. The soft foam then hardens, covering and "potting" the delicate internal components. This protects the internal components if the collars if dropped or heavily used. All Containment Systems operate on a citizen's band wavelength and therefore need to be FCC approved. All Innotek and PetSafe systems are FCC approved. Typical Yard Designs.
Wireless Dog Fences Currently the only wireless dog fence is the PetSafe PIF-300. It is a good unit used with the correct yard and dog. It is not reliable with slopped yards, a flat yard is needed. It offers a 180foot diameter containment area, that is a 90 foot or 30 yard radius from the transmitter. Yes, it creates a circular area. The problems are the size of the collar receiver; 2 ½ inches wide, 1 ½ inches high, and 1 1/3 inches deep. That is a relatively massive receiver for a small dog under 15 – 20 lbs. You should hold the measurements of this collar receiver up to your small dog before considering a purchase. For many small dogs this receiver can be larger than the small dogs head. For larger dogs there is also a problem. The system does not have any Run-Through-Prevention. It only offers a single level of static correction. If you have a larger dog spend a great deal of time on the training first, and be sure to put all of the flags around the perimeter, dogs do not understand circles. Overall this is a good system and known for being portable, yet for a stationary system use a wire system for best performance. |
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Containment Fences |
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Innotek SD-2000 |
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Innotek SD-2050 |
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Innotek SD-2100 |
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Innotek SD-2200 |
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Stubborn Dog Containment System More Info... |
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Innotek SD-3000 |
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Innotek SD-3100 |
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