A Dog-Gone Good Idea And A Giveaway!

We have had a dickens of a time this winter with Annie and Oakley and Sam disappearing.
I blame it on cabin fever...


too much time spent indoors because of the bitter cold.


Even though I try to get these three out of the house for chores each day...


it's not enough exercise for such high energy dogs.


And so, they disappear...
on adventures....
for hours and hours....
while I sit at home and worry.....REALLY worry and fret!


If it weren't for the fact that we live in the country and there is so much room for them to run,
and roads that are barely travelled,
I would have to find a permanent solution to this problem.


If we lived anywhere but here the answer would be easy....
an underground electric dog fence!


I would not hesitate to install one of these if we lived in a less rural area.
It gives dogs freedom to be dogs, yet sets boundaries of safety...
humanely.


The following is a guest article for your consideration...
and a great idea for anyone who has had problems with dogs roaming,
or dogs going into areas in which they are not wanted....
like chicken yards, gardens, beehives...
the possibilities are limitless!

Now for the Giveaway!!
Share today's post on Facebook, or other social media...
or email it to fellow dog lovers...
leave me a comment in the comments section telling me how you shared this...
and you will be entered into a drawing for an $50 Amazon gift card.

Annie...stealing an egg from the henhouse

How to Keep Your Dog Out of Your Garden with an Electric Dog Fence
(or any other area in which they are not welcome)

You love gardening, and you love your pet dog, but the two don’t always mix well. Dogs that are “diggers,” such as terriers and huskies, can wreak havoc in your garden. Even if your dog hasn’t developed an interest in digging, they may still enjoy trampling through your garden or eating your growing vegetables. However, keeping your dog out of your garden can be a challenge. 

Installing a traditional fence isn’t always the ideal solution. Diggers can still tunnel underneath the fence, and other dogs may find another way over or through the fence. A fence also limits your access to your garden, and you have to worry about remembering to close the gate. You may not want to install a traditional fence simply because it would obstruct the view of the garden you care for so tirelessly. If a traditional fence isn’t your answer, an electric dog fence might be.

An electric dog fence is a versatile option for gardens or flower beds. With a few hours, you can even install your own electric fence around your garden. Your dog(s) will be unable to enter it, and you can rest assured that your plants are protected. Here are some tips and considerations for using a DIY electric dog fence to keep your dog out of your garden. 

Choosing the Right Fence
Choosing the right electric dog fence is very important. If you are going to install your own wired fence, online reviews will be very helpful in determining which fence to go with. The size of your garden is one key factor. If your “garden” is more of an entire farm, a wired fence is still a viable option, as fences like the SportDog SDF-100A can enclose up to 100 acres. For anything under 10 acres, the PetSafe YardMax is usually the most recommended fence, and it can cost as little as $300 total. For less than 5 acres, there are electronic fences as low as $120. 

The type of dog you have is also a very important consideration, because some dogs may require different types of e-collars. The PetSafe Little Dog, for example, is the right choice for dogs that are as small as 5lbs. The PetSafe Stubborn Dog, on the other hand, may be needed if your dog is very large or particularly, as the name suggests, stubborn. When choosing an electronic dog fence and e-collar, you should also consider what features are important to you, such as how many levels of correction a collar has, or if its battery is rechargeable.

Planning the Installation
Installing your own wired dog fence will save you hundreds of dollars, but you should set aside one weekend to do it. Anyone - especially gardeners who already have a very “hands-on” mindset - can install a dog fence, and detailed instructions will guide you through the entire process. The placement of your garden will determine how and where you install your dog fence, and you should also call 811 to get your utility company to mark the location of underground lines before you begin digging and laying the wire. Making a diagram of your yard and planning the layout before you begin is essential for efficient installation. 

There are many options for protecting your garden with a wired dog fence, but the location of your garden in relation to your power source will be a starting point. The transmitter box needs to be located near a power outlet and should be protected from the elements, such as in the garage. However, you can also purchase solar panels for about $100 each to power your electric fence if no outlet is nearby. The wire for your electric dog fence can go around the entire perimeter of your garden, or it can be laid to protect a single side, such as if your garden is against your house or if it takes up the outer half of your yard. There are many possible wire formations, so you can create a custom zone for your dog according to your preferences. 




Training Your Dog
The most important aspect of using an electronic dog fence to protect your garden is training your dog. You must be willing to thoroughly and consistently teach your dog to understand their new boundaries, and this requires about 15-30 minutes per day for two weeks. Reading and following the training instructions that come with your fence is paramount. Any dog can learn to use an invisible fence, and after training, they will not feel the corrective shock of their e-collar unless they disregard their boundaries and get too close to your garden. The only dogs that should not be trained on an electric fence are dogs younger than six-months-old, pregnant dogs, or very sick dogs. Otherwise, electric dog fences are suitable and effective for almost all dogs. 

Wireless Options
There are also wireless dog fence options. For small gardens, wireless dog fences can be a much simpler way of protecting your garden. Some wireless systems can protect up to 25 acres, but most are effective for areas less than 2.5 acres. Wireless dog fences create a circular boundary, so they can be placed to include the area of your garden or flower beds. However, these systems aren’t always as reliable as wired systems. They can work well and are quick to set up, but if you want precise and extremely reliable protection, it’s best to go with a wired dog fence for your garden. Wireless systems can be as inexpensive as $200 total, but for more features and size capacity, they can go up to about $800. 

There are many benefits to using an electric dog fence around your garden. If you choose to go this route, be sure to do the research and reading necessary to pick an electric dog fence that’s most suitable for your garden and to install it properly. Once it’s in place, an electric dog fence requires very little maintenance, and damages to an underground dog fence are rare. With boundaries in place, you and your dog will be happy, and your garden will be safe. 

Published in partnership with www.dogfencediy.com. We encourage you to share your experiences with a variety of dog containment systems in the comments section. Commenters and those who share the post in social media qualify for a drawing of a $50 Amazon gift card!


I had never thought of this idea in the past...
but what a great idea!  
I have always considered underground fences for keeping dogs in...
even better...
how to keep your dogs out of an unwanted area!!
Genius!!

Thank you to dogfencediy.com for offering this giveaway!


And thank you for considering this as a way to keep your precious
friends safe and out of trouble!

Comments

BassetMom Lisa said…
Great giveaway, Bev! Shared on Facebook.
daisy g said…
We have neighbors who have one of these (we live in suburbia) and it works like a charm. It is rather disconcerting though, the first time you see a charging, barking dog coming toward you before they stop dead in their tracks. I'll bet the cats in the neighborhood just love that invisible fence! ;0)
colleen said…
If we had a need for one of these fences I would surely look into purchasing one. Have seen them used before and it's the only way to go to keep Dogs safe from the road and what a great idea it is for the garden!! The short time it takes to train dogs to learn what it's all about would be well worth it in the end.
CarylAlys said…
If my dog disappeared for more than 5 or 10 minutes, I would absolutely freak out!
JudiB said…
We have a very busy road in front of the house and a busy rural road behind us..so this spring we are getting an electric fence. I feel so bad for Harry always on a leash. I have heard of hunters using detection devices on the dogs collars and that is a great way to know where you dog is all the time..but for me it will be an electric fence . Friends have them and they work great. I am always sharing your posts with email and Facebook and I will for this one also. Like you I would be so nervous when they disappear for any length of time.
jaz@octoberfarm said…
the pic of annie with the eggs is priceless! -3 here this morning. the coldest temperature ever recorded in march here.
Janet said…
I shared on Facebook!
NanaDiana said…
This is a DOGGONE GOOD post, Beverly...or Bev...do some people call you Bev?

You have some great pictures there. Great giveaway, too. xo Diana
Anonymous said…
Shared through email! =-)
~~~Ashley~~~
Shared on Facebook. Our 5 acres is completely fenced so our dogs are able to run and get the exercise they need (when the donkeys aren't out). Makes me crazy when I see loose dogs roaming down the road. Crazy!!! And angry!!!
Hi Bev, great post!
And of course the largest dog would be laying right on your chest... How funny!
Have a great day,
fondly,
Penny
Anonymous said…
We have Invisible Fence, a buried, electric fence and it is perfect for our dogs. They have the freedom but know their boundaries. Works as it should! Patty/NS
Unknown said…
My dog, Dash, has an electric fence as we live on a very busy road....and on 13 acres. It has worked out great. Love it...except for the gophers and voles that eat though the wires occasionally.
Jessica said…
We've known people who've had them. They are a great way to keep your dog safe. Not everyone loves looking at a fence.

Shared on Twitter and Google+!

Blessings, Jessica

Jenna Z said…
I tweeted your post! https://twitter.com/corgipants/status/573912367735664640
Anonymous said…
and they look so innocent!!!
a dog fence is a good idea. At least it will give you peace of mind.

My dog Lily( maltese) never went out (we have a big house!!! ), she used pads for her necessary duties!!!. This was the only solution, as we have an infestation of ticks and after having had Lyme disease so many times this was the only solution to still having a dog. She never missed the outdoors and even when the door was open she would stay right there. But we have an electric fence 10 ft tall to keep the deer out!!!

Annie v.
GrannyH said…
Enjoy your blog.......shared on facebook! great give away. Thanks!!
Candice said…
I used Dog Fence DIY when I was researching electric fences for our two young dogs last year. A great site with lots of helpful information. We chose a wired version that mounts on the wire fence around the 1/2 acre of the enclosed back yard. Took the dogs less than 10 minutes to figure out that where their boundaries were. Now, if we forget to put their fence collars on...they don't even realize it.
We have just moved recently into a smaller fenced yard and I am pretty sure our dogs miss the big, big yard we left behind. We're actually looking to moved later this year again, with that as part of the reason. When we have property again, I have wondered about options like this! I shared on Twitter. :)
hiwendyhi at yahoo dot com
Unknown said…
Shared on FB. We need one of these for our male dog. NOTHING can keep him contained. We even put him in a kennel and he dug his way out. :-)
I shared on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/138204282291326653/

I also told a friend who fosters German Shorthaired Pointers who could probably use this type of fence.
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Vunda Vall said…
at our current house we go out on leashes, but were moving soon to house with a fence!
dtdady at gmail dot com
Trish said…
A dog I had many years ago that used to run away and try to kill chickens, we had our hands full, wish electric fences were around then! Thankfully my dog now is content only if she is by my side..and I LOVE IT THAT WAY!! :)

I pinned on Pinterest (trishwill) ~ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246361042091967656/