Invisible Fence Keeps Dogs At Home

Invisible Fence Keeps Dogs At Home FARM HOME Miscellaneous 8-4-3 How about this ù a new way to keep roaming farm dogs confined to head-quarters without fences or chains. Called the "Invisible Fence", it's catching on fast with both rural and urban dog owners, says Mitch Schneider, Burnsville, Minn., who bought one of the unique systems to keep his four dogs confined near the house. He likes it so well he's become a distributor. Manufactured by the Invisible Fence Co., Wayne, Penn., the system works on dogs of all sizes. It consists of 3 basic parts ù a thin wire buried 1 to 3 in. in the ground, a small waterproof receiver on the dog's collar and the transmitter, which is commonly installed in the garage. The transmitter sends a radio signal through the buried wire which circles the yard or farmstead area. When the dog comes within a preset distance of the wire, (anywhere from about 5 to 30 ft.) the receiver attached to his collar picks up the radio signal and emits a high pitched beeping noise which warns the dog to step back. If he doesn't move back within 2 seconds, he receives a "correction" ù a small shock which, Schneider says, is about 4 to 7 watts, enough to get the animal's attention without hurting it. The dog continues to get the "correction" until it backs a few steps away from the "correction zone". Schneider points out that, since the buried wire isn't carrying electricity, it's harmless if accidently dug up by children. He says the Invisible Fence can be used on most any size farmyard area. For example, he has his set up around the yard of his suburban house; one of his customers has the Invisible Fence around a 5 acre area. You could also use the system to keep dogs out of certain areas, such as a garden. Key to the success of The Invisible Fence is training the dog, says Schneider. When you first install the system, you set up a string on stakes so the dog can visually see its boundaries and associate them with the warning sound and shock. Schneider stresses the importance of not rushing the training, noting that it takes about a week to successfully train a dog. Once dogs learn where the boundary line is, they won't run through it. In fact, if they're close and hear the warning, you can't even coax them over the line with a steak. Says Scheider, "The system is cheaper than putting up a cyclone fence which can blow down and has gates which can be left open by mistake, and which some dogs can jump over, especially in the winter with high snow drifts." At present, the manufacturer doesn't recommend the Invisible Fence for other animals, pending further research. Schneider notes that the system has been checked by veterinarians who, he says, conclude that the mild electric shock it produces won't hurt dogs, even with prolonged exposure. The transmitter, transformer, and receiver sell for $595. A do-it-yourself installation kit for a one acre area, including instructions and materials to install the wire across concrete driveways and sidewalks, sells for an additional $75. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Invisible Fence Co., 400 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, Penn. 19087 (ph 215 964-0600).

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