Things You'll Need
- Specifications and features lists for the brands of fencing you're considering purchasing
Instructions
Compare Basic Features
Compare prices. Systems range widely in cost, but more expensive doesn't necessarily mean "better." You may need certain features, but not others.
Compare warranties. Some systems will be guaranteed for the life of the equipment; others for only a year or two.
Check if additional collars are readily available. You may someday get a second dog, and you'll have to purchase a collar that is matched specifically to your transmitter.
Determine whether or not the manufacturers offer customer service 24/7. If your system is programmable and over time you lose track of the owner's manual, you may need some way of getting help quickly if you have to reprogram it or order a replacement part.
Compare the Wire
Make sure that the wire that comes with each system is shielded. The wire will be buried underground and has to resist rain, high temperatures and dry conditions in the summer and possibly frigid temperatures in the winter, depending upon where you live. Furthermore, if the wire has to cross buried phone or data lines, its effectiveness may be compromised if the wire is not well-shielded.
Find out if the wire is made of copper or some other material that resists corrosion. Some wires are made of one solid strand; others are a composite of twisted strands. Solid-strand wire is more expensive but more durable.
Look up the gauge of the wire. Is it at least a 14-gauge thickness? The wire has to be strong enough to resist attempts by moles and other destructive critters who might try to chew through it.
Compare the Transmitters
Ensure the transmitter can be grounded. Remember that when you are surrounding your property with an underground live electric wire, you are inviting lightning to strike your property, much in the same way that a lightning rod on a roof encourages lightning to hit it rather than some other unprotected portion of your house. You want to make sure that if lightning does strike the wire, the incredible power surge that will quickly head toward the transmitter in your house gets redirected to a ground point outside your house.
Find out how large an area the transmitter can handle. Most transmitters are powerful enough to cover 2 to 3 acres of land. If your property is larger, you might need to purchase a separate power booster or a stronger transmitter.
Make sure the transmitter has an adjustable range. Some transmitters can be set to allow dogs to come within inches of the wire before being corrected. Others can be set to send a correction when the dog approaches within 5 to 6 feet of the wire. Your property may have narrow walkways the dog has to traverse, in which case you need a transmitter that can be set to a very narrow range.
Determine if the transmitter has a battery backup. When the power goes out, you want to make sure your dog is still protected, at least long enough for you to get it back in the house or wherever you keep it.
Find out if the transmitter has an audible alarm that sounds when the wire has been cut or the power goes down. A spouse who gardens might unknowingly dig through a buried wire, making the fence ineffectual. Transmitters should have an alarm signal that lets you know that the integrity of the fence has been compromised.
Compare Receiver Collars
Find out how corrections work. Some receivers simply shock your dog when it gets close to the wire boundary. Some of the better receivers, though, give your dog an audible warning as it approaches the wire boundary but only shock the animal when it tries to cross the boundary.
Find out if the level of correction can be adjusted. Some dog breeds (toy dogs, for instance) have little tolerance for pain and need only a slight shock for correction. Other dogs (like hunting breeds) have high pain thresholds and need considerably more power to their corrections.
Ensure that the collar is adjustable. As your dog ages, it might get heavier or lighter, and the collar will need to be adjusted as necessary.
Check to see if there is an external "weak battery" light on the receiver. Some collars have a small red light-emitting diode (LED) light that starts to blink when the battery in it needs to be replaced.
Find out if replacement parts are readily available. Unexpected things always happen: A receiver can be damaged if it bumps up against a rock or tree, or another dog could chew it playfully.
Make sure the receiver comes with variable-length electrodes. Short-haired dogs require short prongs on the receiver. But thick-coated animals need longer prongs. A good receiver will come with both sizes.
Ensure that the receiver is waterproof. Not only are dogs sometimes out in the rain, but if there is a pond, lake or swimming pool nearby, the receiver can easily become submerged if your dog likes to swim.
Find out what type of battery the receiver uses, how long it lasts and how readily available it is. If you have to change the battery every month, then you need a steady supply of them. Some receiver batteries can last six to eight months.