Invisible Dog Fence recommendations?

[rtimgray]

First of all - has anybody seen my invisible dog?

Secondly - I'm sure that this has been discussed, but I couldn't find anything when I searched. If anyone can post a link to a previous discussion, I would be grateful.

Anyway, we are looking into installing an "invisible" fence for my wife's dog Molly. The dog is a 60 lb. retriever that has developed a propensity to wander off with another dog. (The other dog, Jake, is one that I refer to as "not my dog". He just showed up one day and comes and goes. He's generally good-natured, but I would have gotten rid of him except that my daughter really likes him - and he really likes her. So I can't just make him disappear...).

We have 140 acres with fence line all around it. I would like to fence off about 100 acres of it - there are existing border and cross-fences that already bound this area. Also, this would let Molly know, very clearly, where the boundaries are. My plan is to install 99% of the wire above ground by zip-tying it to the existing fencing that goes around the area. This seems to be fine with most fencing equipment.

Can anybody recommend a product for this? I've searched repeatedly, and I keep coming up with a SportDog SDF100 system as the most likely unit. I've had some communication with one supplier, and they say that I have to buy the wire (about 10,000 ft) from them. This take the cost up to about $2,000, with about $1600 of in wiring.

The thing is, I have access to wiring at a much reduced price through a local provider, so I would prefer to go this method.

Does anybody have any experience with a project/product like this? There are lots of units that do 10-25 acres, but the 100 acre seems to be minority product.

Any help or recommendations/experience will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Good luck and take care.

 

[forgeblast]

Check ebay they have cheaper kits with the wire etc all rolled into one. I set up a system to see if I would use it with my dog, then hit the wire with a weedwacker and we dont use it anymore. It was $30 shipped.

 

[scdeerslayer]

I don't know if they make them but if they do something that is based on a distance from a home base or a gps based system with a geofence may be less expensive for that much area.

 

[NoTrespassing]

First of all - has anybody seen my invisible dog?

Secondly - I'm sure that this has been discussed, but I couldn't find anything when I searched. If anyone can post a link to a previous discussion, I would be grateful.

Anyway, we are looking into installing an "invisible" fence for my wife's dog Molly. The dog is a 60 lb. retriever that has developed a propensity to wander off with another dog. (The other dog, Jake, is one that I refer to as "not my dog". He just showed up one day and comes and goes. He's generally good-natured, but I would have gotten rid of him except that my daughter really likes him - and he really likes her. So I can't just make him disappear...).

We have 140 acres with fence line all around it. I would like to fence off about 100 acres of it - there are existing border and cross-fences that already bound this area. Also, this would let Molly know, very clearly, where the boundaries are. My plan is to install 99% of the wire above ground by zip-tying it to the existing fencing that goes around the area. This seems to be fine with most fencing equipment.

Can anybody recommend a product for this? I've searched repeatedly, and I keep coming up with a SportDog SDF100 system as the most likely unit. I've had some communication with one supplier, and they say that I have to buy the wire (about 10,000 ft) from them. This take the cost up to about $2,000, with about $1600 of in wiring.

The thing is, I have access to wiring at a much reduced price through a local provider, so I would prefer to go this method.

Does anybody have any experience with a project/product like this? There are lots of units that do 10-25 acres, but the 100 acre seems to be minority product.

Any help or recommendations/experience will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Good luck and take care.

My neighbor and I both have Sportdog units. They claim to be able to expand up to 100 acres. The neighbor had a portion of his fence above ground when he first installed it but had a lot of problems with it breaking and something chewing on it, probably squirrels and mice. We love ours but it's only about 2 acres give or take.

Kevin

 

[TractorGuy]

I did a couple acres with the invisible fence brand once. Buried the wire. Had it two weeks and a lightning strike blew the controller and the gfi outlet it was plugged into out of the wall. Good thing I didn't have anything parked in the garage. Also good HD offered a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Should have seen the look on the face of thecsr when I plopped a roll of dirty wire and the charred remains of the controller on the counter.

 

[oosik]

My motorcycle riding buddy fenced in approximately 15 acres with buried invisible fencing. Worked good for his two huskies until they would see something they really wanted to chase. They would bridge the wire, endure the pain and off they would go. Upon return, they were always waiting, just outside the wire. He would have to turn the unit off before they would cross and come back inside.

super55 has hit upon another annoying point. One break and the entire system is down. 100 acres represents about two miles of wire that you would need to trace down to find the break. My friend buried his wire and the deer stepping on the "barely buried" wire would break it. After a couple years he just gave up on the system.

 

[super55]

I have had dogs on Invisible fence for the past 20 years. Different breeds and dog personalities will dictate whether the fence is effective or not. For the majority of dogs it works pretty well.

All these pet containment systems work off a similar functions. They transmit an radio frequency through the wire that the collar picks up and shocks when near. There is absolutely nothing special about the wire these units use. Stranded or solid wire both work.

For doing 100 AC you would probably to go with a larger gauge solid strand wire to reduce impedance. Honestly 100 acres is a lot to fence off and maintain. You get one break in the wire and the whole system goes down.

I have my dogs on about 5 acres of fence and the dogs only use about 3 of it. We flagged off the area the dogs know where the boundary is but just don't have any interest in certain areas. With 100 you might be dealing with porcupines and skunks more often then you care to.

 

[Zerk]

One concern is the dog will rush past it, and after being shocked, will be afraid to come back.

I live out of town, sounds like you do too. Live stock fence works pretty good.

 

[BoylermanCT]

One concern is the dog will rush past it, and after being shocked, will be afraid to come back.

When we trained our dog on the Dog Watch invisible fence, she would go past the wire, get shocked and pull a 180 and go back inside and get shocked on the way back. I hated to see it happen, but she is trained and won't go past the fence now.

Make sure the one you get has the correction level set by the collar. That way your dogs can have different levels of correction based on their temperament.

 

[Zerk]

I put up an old fashioned fence and have not needed to shock my dog.

One benefit of raising a dog without a chain, is I think when they do get loose they don't always bolt.