image courtesy of Vlado at freedigitalphotos.net
We live in the “city limits” of a small-to-medium rural town. As such, we’re subject to certain city regulations people under county jurisdiction don’t have to worry about. Thankfully, backyard chickens are something our town allows (we really want to do that soon!), but free roaming dogs are something it doesn’t. Though this is probably a good thing given the abnormally high ratio of moving cars to dogs in a city environment, it does mean we have to take measures to keep our outside dog restrained.
The problem is, for a variety of reasons including lack of funds, our yard isn’t conducive to traditional fencing. So, right now, Dixie is restrained on a fairly long “run” in the back yard. While far better than a chain or even a 10 by 10 enclosure, this prevents her from being a true “guard dog” and even interacting with our family in ways we’d like for her to be able to.
When the folks at dogfencediy.com approached us about doing a sponsored blog post, they did so because they thought our readers would be a good “fit” for the customer base they are trying to reach. Kim and I immediately started talking with each other about how we really would like to try this product out at some point. After all, we’d be able to give Dixie access to most of the yard but keep her out of certain areas, such as the garden and mulched spaces.
We felt like their article would be an informative read, not to mention a great way for one of our readers to win an easy $50! So, please read on, then share the post or comment for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!
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Pet dogs may be considered members of the family, but that doesn’t mean they’re welcome in your garden. If you want to keep your dogs out of your garden, but still allow them the freedom to roam in the rest of the yard, what options do you have? There are many different types of fencing, but an invisible fence is sometimes preferable. Here are a few reasons why you might want to enclose your garden with an invisible dog fence.
Stop Dogs Who Love to Dig
Gardens are excellent playgrounds for dogs who love to dig. Unfortunately, gardeners aren’t usually so fond of their diggers’ pastime. If you want to keep your digger out of the garden, a traditional fence may not be enough. An electronic dog fence will reliably keep your pet dogs out, because they’ll be unable to get close enough to the wire to dig underneath it. A mild, annoying static shock from their e-collar will deter them from crossing the boundaries.
Protect Dogs from Ponds
A pond or fountain can be a beautiful addition to any garden. The open water, however, can pose a safety risk for pet dogs, especially if they’re small or don’t have practice swimming. An electric dog fence will keep your dogs safe without having to monitor them whenever they’re outside. It’s easy to create custom boundaries with invisible fencing, so that you can enclose your entire garden or just the pond itself, according to your preferences.
Maintain Easy Access
One of the advantages to invisible fencing is that it doesn’t block your access to your garden – only your dogs’. If you go in and out of your garden frequently, it can be a pain opening and remembering to close the gate of a traditional fence. When you’re bringing garden tools in and out, it’s even more of a hassle. An electric fence allows you to enter and exit your garden freely, but prevents your dogs from following at your heels.
Keep an Unobstructed View
If you want to use a traditional fence to keep your dogs out of your garden, it must be high enough to stop them from jumping over it and solid enough to prevent them from working their way through. In order to meet these requirements, a traditional fence will also obstruct the view of your garden from the outside. If you still want your beautiful plants and flowers to be visible, an underground dog fence is a great alternative.
Customize Boundaries
It’s easy to customize your pet dogs’ boundaries with an electric dog fence, because wire is much more malleable than wood, PVC, or chain-link. It’s also easier to move and change the boundaries of an invisible fence as needed. Circular perimeters can also be established with the use of a wireless invisible fence. No matter where your garden or flower beds are located, they can be enclosed using an electric dog fence, even when a traditional fence wouldn’t fit.
Save Money with Do-It-Yourself
Depending on the size of your garden and the type of fence, a traditional fence can easily cost thousands of dollars for materials and installation. The DIY invisible fence cost is significantly lower at around $300 or even less. You don’t need electrical experience to install your own fence, and it can be done in just a few hours as a weekend project, saving you hundreds of dollars. If you need to enclose your garden on a modest budget, an electric dog fence makes it possible.
Reinforce Traditional Fencing
If you already have a traditional fence in place, you could still benefit from the addition of an invisible fence. People with very stubborn dogs often find than an electric fence is the only thing that works to keep them contained. It doesn’t hurt to add an extra layer of protection around your garden, especially if your traditional fencing is largely decorative. Traditional fences are also exposed to the elements. An underground dog fence is a reliable way to ensure your dogs can’t suddenly access your garden after a storm damages your traditional fence, for example.
There are many different types of electric dog fences, so be sure to read online reviews and manufacturer instructions before choosing the right one for your garden. It’s also important to remember that while an invisible fence keeps your dogs out, it doesn’t prevent other critters from crossing its boundaries. With proper installation and thorough training, however, an electric dog fence is a reliable and versatile way to prevent your dogs from wreaking havoc in your garden.
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!