Electronic Dog Fence Recommendations
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Innotek UltraSmart IUC-4100 Dog Fence System
For most installations we recommend the Innotek IUC-4100. It is a good mix of value and features. We use the IUC-4100 most of our installation customers and it is by far the most popular system in our online store. The IUC-4100 dog fence system has proven to be extremely reliable and durable. The system has three levels of correction which are progressive, increasing as the dog stays in the correction zone. We particularly like the long-lasting rechargeable collar battery, slimline collar, collar-fit test, and indoor/outdoor zone compatibility.
The 4100 is best for dogs over 12lbs, and for containment areas under 25 acres.
The weakness of the 4100 is that it does not easily allow you to set different correction levels on each collar. So is not the best choice for containing two or more dogs of very different size, temperament or breed.
For a detailed review of the Innotek IUC -4100, including pictures and a video review, click here.
PetSafe Little Dog Fence System
For small dogs, (under 10lbs) the Petsafe Little Dog is the way to go. The collars on regular dog fence systems are too big to be comfortable on a small dog. The PetSafe Little Dog has the smallest lightest collar, and reduced correction levels making it the best choice for very small dogs.
The PetSafe Little Dog is also compatible with the other PetSafe in-ground dog fence collars. So you can use a full size, full strength collar such as the PetSafe Stubborn, or PetSafe Deluxe to contain other dogs using the same system.
The main disadvantage of the PetSafe Little Dog is that it uses a proprietary PetSafe battery. The battery costs around $10 and only lasts 2-3 months. But, if your dog is less than 10 lbs this is still the only good choice.
SportDog SDF-100 In-ground Fence System
For very large yards (over 25 acres), the SportDog SDF-100 is our recommendation. The SDF-100 has a range of up to 100 acres, unlike most regular strength systems which have a maximum range of 5-25 acres. So if you intend to have a boundary over 25 acres, used the SportDog SDF-100.
Built by the hunting dog company, SportDog, this system is one of the toughest and most durable systems, with particularly excellent waterproofing. The system also comes with 1,000 feet of boundary wire twice as much as you get standard with most systems.
The main drawback of this system is the collar is one of the biggest, and how should I put this … lacking in subtlety.
PetSafe Wireless PIF-300 Dog Fence System
For wireless or portable installations, the Petsafe PIF-300 Wireless is the best of two lackluster choices. Wireless systems like th PIF-300 do not require boundary wire, rather it projects a circular boundary wirelessly. That makes them convenient to set up. But, you pay for that convenience with a considerable drop in performance. Wireless systems have trouble getting through any physical barrier between them and the dog such as walls, trees, slopes, etc. The boundaries they create are also imprecise and move several feet second to second. They are also slow, often correcting the dog seconds too late and stopping the correction too late. This all makes them much less effective than wire based systems.
Of the two wireless units, the PetSafe Wireless is the least unimpressive. While older and cheaper than it’s new competitor, the Perimeter WiFi Fence, it gets our nod by being more reliable.
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{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
What system would be best for a Great Dane about 115 lbs. She is dog aggressive and we live in a small community where people are walking near our property with their dogs.
ADMIN – Hi Danny,
With a Great Dane I would probably go with a PetSafe Stubborn Dog system. I would however, caution you against using an electric dog fence with an aggressive dog. Not only is there the danger of your dog escaping, there is also a risk that someone will unknowingly enter your property. I would err toward using two modes of containment when their is a risk of causing a dangerous situation. (e.g. physical fence + electronic fence)
we have a mastiff (200 lb), chihuahua (5 lb), minature schnauzer (20 lb) and australian shepard (70 lb) . 5 acres of property would appreciate ideas on a system that would suffic for all.
ADMIN – Hi Lynn,
You have the United Nations of Dogs! PetSafe Stubborn collar for the Mastiff, Petsafe Little Dog collar for the Chihuahua, and the PetSafe Deluxe collar (or you could do another Stubborn collar if you are on a budget or don’t want to be locked into the PetSafe brand batteries) for the Aussie.
The cheapest way to do this would be to get the PetSafe Stubborn system, and get the extra collar for the other types.
We have a Jack Russell Terrier (18 lbs) and a German Shepherd (95 lbs) on approximately 1 acre. Both are well mannered and obedient, but would require different correctional levels due to size. Which system or combination of systems would work best? Thank you.
ADMIN – Hi Micah, a PetSafe stubborn system (the collar for the German Shepherd), and an extra PetSafe Deluxe collar for the Jack Russell would be a good fit.
We have three dogs (German Shepherd – 90 lbs)(German Wirehaired Pointer – 70 lbs)(German Shorthaired Pointer – 45 lbs). We have had the Innotek IUC 1500 installed for many years (approximately 5 Acre boundry) and used it with great success. The German Shepherd cries like a baby when he gets into the fence boundry and we have had no problems with the Wirehaired Pointer crossing the boundry. The Shorthaired Pointer is still a pup (1 year old). We cannot keep him in the fence. All three of the collars and the system is working fine. He does get shocked but just goes on through. I am concerned with him getting hit on the road, or getting into the pasture with the horses and getting hurt, or with him just running off (he likes to think that he is a great hunter). The underground system doesn’t get his attention well enough to keep him contained. We have remote training collars (Tritronics) that we use when we hunt with the dogs. Because of the higher levels of stimulation I can use this to keep track of him outside but I have to stay out with him in order to make the corrections. Would the PetSafe Stubborn Collar provide a higher level of stimulation than the Innotek IUC 1500? Is there something else that you can recommend for him?
ADMIN – Hi James,
How odd, pups are usually easy when you have two already contained dogs, because they just follow the lead of the older dogs. That must be one rebelious teenager you have there!
(1) I would check to make sure he is getting the correction. (use the collar fit feature on the 5100) You would be suprised how often that is the culprit.
(2) increase the boundary width at the control box
(3) Spend a week retraining him on a leash to retreat when he gets the correction. (week two fo the training protocol on the website).
Only if you are sure the dog is getting the correction, knows they are supposed to retreat, and is still willfully ignoring it would I increase the correction level. I would not think you need any higher correction level when the dog is only 45lbs.
The PetSafe stubborn is much stronger and your could try that, a cheaper way might be to add a second 4100 or 5100 collar to the pointer at least while you are training him, Sounds like you already have three IUC-5100 collars so that might be the way to do it.
We have taken in a 5 year old labrador as a rescue dog. We live on 5 acres. We want her to be able to run yet stay on our property. She has been allowed to run all her life all over, that is why we have her now she ended getting very injured and almost died. What system would be the best? Also 2.5 acres of our land is used for alfafa ( so we don’t have to mow it). Any suggestion how we could either make the wire obvious or something so it doesn’t get dug up with plowing. I figure an inground system would be best to give her more room to run, but we are concerned with the working of the field that the wire may get dug up.
ADMIN: Hi Rhonda,
We strongly suggest an in-ground system such as the Innotek 4100 or 5100. To ensure the boundary is visible you can mow/shred the boundary line and keep the training flags in place. A few options regarding working the field. 1. Just use ground staples to secure the wire and pull back the wire when working the field. 2. Elevate the boundary on stakes or fencing to avoid the digging and keeping it visible. 3. attempt to bury the wire below any danger of digging (this may be very time consuming.
I would like to enclose about 2 acres and after reading your questions and answers section, I’m guessing the PetSafe Stubborn system or IUC 1500 system would work. Agree? Another question: Does either of these systems have an optional remote control to help control behavior inside the wire?
ADMIN – Hi Greg,
The remote control is included with the Innotek IUC-5100. It is not included (nor available) with the PetSafe Stubborn. Both would do fine on 2 acres. Hard to say if these are good choices without knowing more about your dog, but generally these are suited for a dog over 40lb in the case of the PetSafe, and over 20 lbs in the case of the Innotek.
We have 4 dogs: an older male blue heeler/basset former stray, a 10+ yo male Westy Terrier, a 3 yo female blue heeler (soon to be fixed), and a 4mo female blue heeler/brown dog. We live on 5 acres in the country with fences completely surrounding our place except at the gate with a gravel drive way. Our dogs are very easy going other than barking and besides chasing cows next door, being adventurous at the neighbors ‘creek, or chasing the occasional bike rider/runner on the road, we don’t worry a lot about them and the neighbors have had no concerns. But we’ve had a couple stolen and don’t want them to get run over. Conveniently, there is an outlet at the gate. Love the site. What would be your suggestions for a boundary system? Thanks in advance.
ADMIN – Hi Frank,
It depends on the size of the Westie. If he is within 10lbs of the blue heeeler, I would go with an Innotek IUC-4100. If he isn’t you are going ot want somethign with independent correction levels. The Dogtra is good if you want something rechargeable, otherwise the SportDog (cheaper, regular 9V battery, and more boundary wire included in the kit) or Perimeter (proprietary battery) or PetSafe Deluxe (proprietary battery) systems would be good choices.
Sorry to hear you had dogs stolen in the past. One thing to note is that electronic fences don’t help at all in this regard.
Thanks for all the reviews. I have a toy fox terrier and she is about 15lbs. What do you recommend for her?
ADMIN – Hi Arbob,
There are two ways you could go. The PetSafe small dog would be a good choice, and the Innotek IUC-4100 would be a good choice. The PetSafe will have the smaller collar but has a proprietary PetSafe battery. The IUC-4100 is a little bigger, but has a rechargeable collar battery. I would lean toward the Innotek.
I have three German Shepherds – they are friendly with people but very dog aggressive. I normally take them out together and they are fine unless they see another dog. I live on a 60 acre farm and have room to run them to get some of the steam off, but have a neighbor who allows their dog to run loose. Big Problem! Will any of your systems work with high drive dogs?
ADMIN – Hi Donna,
The key is to consistently do the training for the first two weeks, then test them with a couple of the things that are really tempting. (e.g. borrow the neighbors dogs for a couple of the training sessions) With the training, containment is rarely a problem.
I usually go with a PetSafe Stubborn with German Shepherds. Some of them have very low pain sensitivity and will not feel the correction at all on lower powered systems. The stock transmitter with the PetSafe Stubborn does 10 acres. If you need more area, another good choice would be the SportDog SDF-100 which will do 100 acres.
I have two very different dogs and no clue what fence to get. The first and easiest of our two is a pug. He has a short attention span, but has never gone far. It is usually not too hard to get him to come back. He is dog and people aggresive when they ‘encroach’ on his territory. He is stubborn about the stop command when there are people or dogs near his yard. The second is a mix (shar-pei/red heeler) and fits none of the descriptions for either breed. She is an adopted pet and very scared of everything. She is why we need the fence, though. She will dart at any given chance and you can’t catch her because she is scared she will be in trouble. It takes hours to get her back in. Reading through the descriptions of these fences is very educating, but we have two different types of dogs, in personality and size, and I see no recommended fence for this. The pug is 23 pounds and the mix is 60 pounds. Could you please help me??
ADMIN – Hi Lisa,
You are going to want something with independent correction levels, so you can set the level of correction for each dog separately. If you want something rechargeable, the Dogtra EF-3000 would be a good choice, although the collars are on the bigger side. Otherwise, the PetSafe Deluxe, or Perimeter Technologies inground system would be good choices (although both have proprietary collars).
We have 2 puppies (sisters) 10 months old, border collie golden retriever cross. We live in the country on 45 acres, mostly fields and some woods, but lots of woods all around us. The dogs have started running off, and we need to figure something out quickly. We don’t have fences around our land so there isn’t anything to attach the wire too. We wouldn’t need to have all of the acreage in a containment area, but it would be nice to have 10-2o acres. We have about a foot of snow on the ground now, and we’ll probably have snow cover for another month or two. It looks like most of the systems come with 500 ft of wire, which would only fence in about 1/2 acre, so we’d not a lot more. Is the wire expensive and where would we get it? What would you recommend?
ADMIN – Hi Ann,
For the winter, just lay the wire along the ground, secured in a few spots either with a rock or a lawn staple. The Innotek IUC-4100 would be a good choice for a collie/retriever mix but can only do up to 25 acres. The SportDog SDF-100 is also a good choice and can do 100 acres.
Wire is cheap. The cost to increase the yard size is very small, although a lot more labor is involved. The wire kits we sell cost $30 per 500 feet (including wire, splices and flags). You can also get wire from most local hardware stores or electrical supply houses.
Hi! I have 3 dogs: Matzo Ball (standard poodle 65 lbs), Challah (miniature poodle 11 lbs) and Kugel (shih tzu 8 lbs). I simply want to contain them in our front yard, as our back yard is fenced. I would like them to be able to play there with us without worrying they will suddenly run into the street when they see someone walking by or they see another dog. What system would you recommend, since there is such a discrepancy in size? Our front yard is not large at all as our entire property is only 2/3 acre and the majority is in the back. Thanks!
ADMIN – Hi Rebecca,
Where you have that much variation in size between the dogs, the PetSafe systems are a good bet, because you can use different collars with the same system to get a good fit for each dog.
I would get a PetSafe Deluxe system for the poodle or if you want to save a little, get the PetSafe Stubborn system (just keep it turned down, you will not need it turned up high for a poodle). Get two extra petsafe little dog collars for the shih tzu and the miniature poodle.
I have a 10 week old Walker puppy. We’re thinking of putting in an underground fence around the farmstead (2 – 3 acres). What system do you recommend, and at what age can I start training. We would put in the system when the ground allows, probably about a month.
ADMIN – Hi Tim,
With a Walker Coonhound, I would either go with an Innotek IUC-4100 or a PetSafe stubborn. The Innotek is a smaller, more streamline, rechargeable collar. The PetSafe stubborn is bigger and uses a disposable 9V battery, and has a stronger correction.
Try and figure out the Walker’s pain sensitivity. If you think they are likely to have a low sensitivity go with the PetSafe, otherwise the Innotek.
You want to wait until the dog is six months old, or can confidently do a sit/stay/come. That makes the dog a lot easier to train, too much earlier and they just don’t have the attention span to be easily trained on the system.
I have 3 dogs: Pitbull, 1 year old about 75 lbs; 2 maltepoos, one about 8lbs and the other about 12lbs. I need a system that would keep them out of the back lawn since they are digging it up (mainly the 2 small dogs). The opening to the back yard is about 25′ wide. What would you recommend? I would like something reliable and a system which i would not have to constantly charge or change the batteries on the collars. Thanks.
ADMIN – Hi Ismael,
A good choice where the dogs are such different sizes is the PetSafe systems that let you mix the collars. Use the PetSafe Stubborn for the Pitbull (you want that extra correction strength). Use the PetSafe Little Dog for the Maltepoos (you want that small collar and lower correction strength).
They are both reliable systems. The Stubborn uses a standard 9V battery that lasts about 3 months. The PetSafe Little uses a special PetSafe Little Dog battery which is less desirable. It lasts about 2 months and costs about $10 (you can get an extra month out of them if you remember to switch off the collars every night). But, it really is the only good choice with a small dog.
I have two boxers. One is 55 lbs and the other is still growing. He is 3 and a half months and 30 lbs. The 55 lb one is very hyper and stubborn. What fence would be best to use? I really wanted the wireless because I will be moving in 6 months and really like the idea of run through protection, but after reading the reviews I’m indifferent. I live on the top of a ridge so the yard is very big, but all hills.
ADMIN – Hi Jessi,
For a boxer, there are lot of good choices. They tend to be pretty easy to train. The Innotek IUC-4100 would be my top choice. It is rechargeable, very reliable, and has a nice slim collar. Another good choice which is cheaper but a bit bulkier is the PetSafe Stubborn (you won’t need the full strength, but you can keep it turned down)
For the younger dog, I would wait until they are six months, or can confidently do a sit/stay/come to start the training. Before six months, they tend to be big puppy dopes – and don’t have the attention span for training.
Avoid the wireless. They really don’t work well, especially in hilly terrain. If you aren’t going to be there long, just lay the wire along the surface and don’t bother with burying until you get to your permanent location.
I have 2 Shih Tzu’s around 15 lbs each. What is the best in ground system for them? We live in a subdivision with a very small yard. Would prefer to get a collar that does not need a brand-specific battery replacement every 2-3 months for $10 if possible. Thank you!
Hi Kristin,
For dogs over 12lbs, I would use the Innotek IUC-4100. It fully rechargeable and will free you from the curse of the proprietary battery. When you get the collars, put them uncharged on the dogs for a day or two to check if they are comfortable. You should be fine, but if it turns out to be too big, we can swap it out for a PetSafe Little … but then of course you have the proprietary battery to contend with.
We have two Australian Shepherds who have justed celebrated their first birthday. With 3 1/2 acres, you’d think they’d be satisfied on the property but they do wander off. Carson (75lb) is a bit more stubborn than his sister Leia (55 lb). The perimeter on three sides is woods, the last side is curbing in front of the house. We regularly take them off-property for hiking trips so collar durability is important unless it can be easily removed. We live in Northeast PA which has been getting slammed with snow this year and our property gets a lot of water run-off, sitting at the bottom of a hill. What system would you recommend?
ADMIN – Hi Joanne,
With a pair of Aussies, I would use the Innotek IUC-4100 or the SportDog SDF-100. The innotek is a smaller collar and is rechargeable. The SportDog is a little bulkier (but no big deal on an Aussie), and uses a disposable 9V battery. Both are very reliable and are waterproof.
When it snows, you will turn up the boundary width to compensate for the accumulated snow. And in the spring you will turn it back down as the snow melts.
I would take off the collars when I take them outside. You can’t use it to attatch a leash (since it has prongs), so you are better off swapping it for a regular collar.
We have a new Golden Retriever puppy. 13 weeks old now. We live on a farm, but are right next to a busy county road. We need to keep him off the road, but the area he could roam in the other direction is rather large. From what I have read, it seems that it is not possible to just make a boundary on one side and that we would need to decide on a certain containment area. Is that right?
ADMIN – Hi Mary,
You do need to have a complete loop, but that does not mean you need to contain the entire area. One option is to run a long length of wire along the road, then double back on yourself six feet apart (so you have a very long thin loop).
my name is Heather Waite and i have a purebred collie, and he is about 65-70 lbs. i have a tight budget and need a good electric fence that uses wire. my dog has recently killed one of my neighbors chickens, and we must keep him contained. he also gets very excited to see other dogs in the street and will run off to go say hello. this is not such a great thing for him to be doing. with my tight budget, i need something cheap, but reliable and i need a good collar with rechargeable batteries. i dont have very much money to spend, only about $150. i have about 3 acres of land to cover. what do you recommend?
ADMIN – Hi Heather,
A rechargeable system, capable of containing a Border Collie and covering 3 acres, that is a toughie. The least expensive rechargeable system is the Innotek IUC-2100 which is $200 which is already over your budget. We will also need to add 1,500 feet of boundary wire kit to the system (to make a total of 2,000 feet which is enough for 3 acres) which is an additional $90.
The least expensive system which would make sense on a Collie is the PetSafe Stubborn which is $185, and again we will need an additional 1,500 feet of wire so I am afraid we are still well over your budget. Realistically, I think you are going to need to increase your budget. Another option might be to ask around and see if anyone has an old system then no longer use. If you can pick up a used system at a reasonable price you just need to get the wire and may be able to squeeze it in under budget.
Hello, we are getting a beagle puppy in June and I’d like to know what you recommend for an electric fence. I own a very small townhome (30 feet by 100 feet lot) and would like to put a perimeter around the front yard and also at the back gate. Our beagle will obviously be very small (3 lbs?) when we get him, but will get up to around 20 lbs I beleive. So does that mean I can use the IUC-4100, but only after he is full grown or can I get it while he’s still growing? Also, I’d like to only keep him downstairs in the house. Is there any way to run one of these along the bottom of the stairs? Thanks for your help!
Curtis
ADMIN – Hi Curtis,
A plot that narrow is really tough, because if you have the boundaries on either side it really reduces the area the dog can play in. If you set the boundary width at say 3 feet (the minimum I would recommend), and factor in that the dog will not get close to the boundary, the area available to the dog will only be 20×90.
You can use an IUC-4100 comfortably on a beagle. You want to wait till they are six months old before you start the electric dog fence training. They are usually too immature to be trained when they are much younger. To keep the dog off the stairs, I would use one of the wireless innotek indoor pods. They work with the collar to keep them out of an indoor area, and are pretty cheap ($40). That will be much easier that trying to run the wire indoors.
I have a chocolate lab and my property includes a small strip pit that he loves! Can he get in the water with his collar on without damaging it and the effectiveness?
ADMIN – Hi Jean,
Most of the systems are waterproof. If the collar is going to be fully immersed, the collars I would recommend are the Innotek IUC-4100/5100 and the SportDog SDF-100. They have the best waterproofing.
I have two german shorthaired pointers, a one year old female who is very free spirited and wants to run, and a seven year old male who is extremely people friendly but very dog aggressive. I am thinking iuc-4100 but would like your opinion. what do you suggest? both dogs under 60lbs.and lot size less than 1 acre. Thanks!
ADMIN – Hi Mr. Daugherty,
I concur. The 4100 is what I would pick a good choice for a German Shorthair Pointer.
Thank you for all of your information. I have an 8 month old Akita who is already 80 pounds. She will likely end up at over 100 pounds. We are moving to a neighborhood and want to start off by training her with this type of fencing. Please give me your recommendation and input….I SO appreciate it!
ADMIN – Hi Chandra,
With an Akita, I would use the PetSafe Stubborn. You may not need the full strength when training, but if she is typical size and temperament for an Akita it is good to have in reserve. As you know with an Akita you really do need to be firm in the training and cannot be as wishy washy as you might be with a less powerful or less strong willed dog.
I have a female Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, 70 lbs, who loves to hunt. My backyard is about 1/2 acre with a four foot fence which the dog jumps easily. I would prefer not to bury any lines, but attach them to the existing fence. Which system would you suggest? Are there any systems that do not punish the dog for ‘coming home’? My dog will chase deer and small animals out of the yard (and over the fence), but jumps back over the fence to come home. Thanks very much for your help.
ADMIN – Hi Ellen,
Attaching the boundary line wire to the fence works great if you already have a physical fence. A good choice of system for a Rhodesian Ridgeback would be the Innotek IUC-4100. While very strong dogs, they don’t need a great deal of correction and you are probably going to want to use the medium correction level on the Innotek at least as a starting point.
All systems will correct the dog when both exiting and reentering the yard, that is why it is so important to do the training when you first start so that the dogs do not realize they can run through and learn to always retreat from the correction rather than run through.
Just wondering if the SportDog SDF 100 would be the appropriate fence for us. We would be using it with a chocolate lab (about 65 pounds), a Rhodesian Ridgeback (90lbs) and a Wheaten Terrier (30lbs). It would span across two properties (ours and parents) for approximately 1.5 acres. Would prefer the look and low profile of the Innotek but worried about the one setting fits all approach. Also liked that you get 1000ft with the SportDog and the reviews on other websites seemed to be really good. Not too concerned about the “ugly” orange collar…just making sure we’re getting the right system for multiple dogs of somewhat different sizes.
ADMIN – Hi Sarah,
The SDF-100 would be a good choice for you, because you can adjust the correction/shock strength for each dog separately, something you cannot do on any of the Innotek systems. The collar is appropriate for all three of the dogs. Also note that if you ever get a smaller dog, you can also use the PetSafe collars with this system (e.g. the PetSafe Little Dog)
I have 2 Newfies, 10 and 15 months. They have that puppy energy, are intact, and they are already ~100lbs. I worry about them jumping over the fence. I sometime use a shock collar, but unless I make the power level high and tight aroung their necks (because of all the extra skin/fur under their heads) they don’t work. What type of fence to recommend for me? Thanks
ADMIN – Hi Lauren,
From your experience with Shock Collars, I would guess you are going to want to use the PetSafe Stubborn. Usually with a New Finland, I would recommend an Innotek IUC-4100, they are usually pretty responsive even on low correction levels. But if your dogs were not responsive on the correction collar at low levels, I think it would be good to have the extra levels of correction that you get on the Stubborn. As always, start conservatively and use say the medium setting and only work your way up if the dogs are unresponsive to the lower levels.
Is there a system whose collars work for inground (backyard) and for inside the home? We have a 75 lbs lab and a 25 lbs havenese. What do you recommend for the indoor system (just want to keep the dogs out of the kitchen and from going up the stairs.
ADMIN – Hi Grant,
Some systems have indoor pods you can use to keep the dogs out of certain parts of your home. A good choice for a Labrador and a Havenese would be a PetSafe system because you will want a different correction level for each dog. I would use a PetSafe Stubborn or PetSafe Deluxe collar for the lab (either will work, the Stubborn is bulkier but cheaper) and an extra PetSafe Deluxe collar for the Havanese. For the indoor part, use the PetSafe Indoor Zones.
I just have a few questions my master would like to know. How deep can the wired be placed to avoid the yard aireation he likes to do.? Are there units with power back up in case of power outages.? How does the system handle deep snow of 2 ft or so where it drifts.? He’s happy to put in the best system for me so I can run and enjoy the outside. But we just needed a couple answers. Thanks, and looking forward to a great summer. Jessey
Hi Jessey (& Master)
The maximum depth you can put the wire is about a foot, but note that if you do you will need to crank up the boundary width, which may cause problems in other parts of the installation where the wire is not buried. The Innotek IUC 4100/5100 has battery backup.
The systems can handle snow up to about 3 feet of snow (if it is light fluffy snow, less if it is hard packed almost ice snow), again you just turn up the boundary width to compensate for the snow, then turn the boundary width back down after the thaw. I suspect however if you both bury the wire very deep and have the snow you could be in for problems with not being able to turn the boundary width up enought to compensate for all that depth. I would try to get a system that is rated to do a lot more area than you need so that you have plenty of power in reserve. If you are doing up to two acres, the Innotek IUC-4100 would be a good choice (it is rated for 25 acres). If you are doing more, go with the SportDog SDF-100, it is rated for 100 acres.
I have a soon to be 6 month old Beagle and have plenty of area around my home. Problem is my home is way out in the country with nothing around but deer, rabbits, racoons and all sorts of other wildlife. What system would be a good choice for me?
Hi Dale,
Having lots of room is great, because it means you can turn the boundary width up, which makes training much easier (it is very hard for a dog to run through a wide boundary). Overcoming distractions like wildlife not a big deal, but do try and incorporate some of these temptations into the last week of the training. (Do the training at times of the day when you are likely to run into critters, and perhaps even leave some food out to encourage the squirrels)
Two good systems for a beagle would be the Innotek IUC-4100 and the SportDog SDF-100. The Innotek is smaller, lighter and rechargeable, but will only do 25 acres. The SportDog is a bigger collar and uses a disposable 9V battery, but will do 100 acres and is a bit cheaper.
We have two Cocker Spaniel, 10 year old 30# female and 10 month old 20# male.
They are not bad if you stay out with them, but if you go to another part of the yard
or in the house, one or both of them might wonder off. Our property is not quite an
acre, what unit would you recommend. And, do you recommend using a heavier
gage wire. THANK YOU
ADMIN – Hi Joe,
With a pair of Cocker Spaniels, I would use one of the smaller collars. One good options would be the Innotek IUC-4100 – it is rechargeable and has a nice slimline collar. Another good option would be the Perimeter Ultra, it has an even smaller collar and is a bit cheaper but uses a proprietary battery.
I have two seven year old mixed terriers (11 lb female miniature pinscher/yokie mix and a 20lbs male cairn/border terrier) which I rescued when they were both younger. Since I’ve had them, they have had a nice big fenced in yard in which to roam around. But I’m now moving to the Boston area, and while I’m in transition, I plan on living with my parents for about a year. My parents aren’t open to a traditional fence but will go for an invisable fence. While I’m very happy that they will permitted the invisable fence, I’m am concerned that since they are such active and fast little dogs, that they will go right through the invisable fence. Living next to a school with lots of school buses coming and going, I worry that they get out and get hurt. Mini Pins are known as little “Houdini’s” and I know for a fact that I’m my little mini pins 3rd owner as she’s is an escape artist. Which, if any, of the invisable fences do you think would be the best option for my dogs?
Many Thanks in advance!
Brooke
ADMIN – Hi Brooke,
Our clients get great result even with notorious escape artists like huskies and miniature pinschers – the key is really the training. If you consistently follow the training routine for two weeks you will be in great shape even with a Miniature Pinscher in full run.
With the Pinscher cross, I would use a PetSafe Little Dog – with dogs under 12lbs this tends to be a nicer fit and have more appropriate correction levels. You have a few more options with the Border Terrier, but I would get a second PetSafe Little Dog collar — because having two of the same collar is generally much easier. But you could also use a PetSafe Deluxe collar.
Thanks in advice for your advice and this great site. I have a rescued great dane at around 130 lbs, and an Anatolian Shepherd puppy we also rescued. Our yard area that I want to fence is about 3 to 4 acres. One end of the yard stays wet and swampy through a good portion of the year, and I would not be able to bury the wire. The yard is also surrounded on three sides by woods with mature trees so burial of the wire is a little bit of a concern there too. I was also thinking about the size of the box on the sport god and the stubborn dog systems and was thinking that after the dogs were trained for the yard it might be possible to move them down to smaller, less bulky collars for looks and subtlety. We may add other rescue dogs in the future also, and don’t know what size they would be. Hopefully mastiff size or danes, but may be smaller and the smaller collars would be necessary. What are your recommendations?
Also, can other collars be modified to take the buzzer boxes, or are you restricted to the collars that come with the system?
ADMIN – Hi Dwight,
Appreciate the compliment.
If these areas are not mowed, I would just staple the wire down in place rather than trying to bury.
We have only done a half dozen or so Anatolians, and at least from that small sample they seemed to have quite a low sensitivity to the correction – perhaps due to their breeding as guardian dogs – so I would recommend using the PetSafe Stubborn when you work with the Anatolian. Great Danes tend to be a lot easier, but they are a larger dog so the PetSafe Stubborn would also be a good choice.
The PetSafe inground systems can be used with any PetSafe or SportDog collar. You could get something smaller after the initial training, but I think these dogs are so big that the size of the collars will be a non-issue for them.
You can remove the correction collar band and make something custom to replace it. Unfortunately there are no off the shelf collars that I am aware of that. But we have seen lots of custom sewn collars that people have made the replace the original.
PS – you mentioned the Anatolian was a pup, I like to see you start at six months, dogs often don’t have enough attention span for training before that.
I have a chocolate lab about 50 to 60 pounds and pound dog who is about 15 to 20. I have 2 acres that I want to contain. I did this about 12 years ago with one I bought at Kmart. It worked but found out that the TV was activating the collar on inside/outside Miniature Schneazer(sp) and lighting was triggering our border collie collar. That collie loved my kids and if the left the yard, she was going no matter what. She would hit at fast as possible and you could see her dip when it hit, but she made it. Oh it was so much fun to get her back across, take off collar pick her up and bring her back across. Anyway which system do i need to buy and do I need to worry about the tv or lightning with the new system.
ADMIN – Hi Ellis,
Training is the most important part of the installation and with the two weeks of training we should be able to stop your dogs crossing even when there is major temptation.
There are a couple of good choices for your situation. You are going to want something with independent correction levels for each dog. If you want something rechargeable, the Dogtra EF-3000 would be a good choice. If you are ok with a disposable battery, then the PetSafe Deluxe would be a good choice.
The interference with TVs and lightning is a thing of the past. But, if you are concerned you should always test them out before you put the collar on the dog.
Hope that helps
I have an 85lb Golden and a small yard of 7000 sq. ft. The problem is him running off out the front yard that is small. What system would you recommend?
ADMIN – Hi Dave,
The Innotek IUC-4100 would be a good choice for a golden. It is rechargeable, has a smaller collar, and has a collar fit feature that helps you make sure the collar is fitted right. Another good choice woudl be the PetSafe stubborn with the optional long prongs, which is larger and has a disposable battery but is also a lot cheaper. (if you go the stubborn route, you won’t need al lthe power of the system, so keep it turned down to medium or below)
Training Golden Retreivers is usually pretty easy, the only thing to watch for is that the collra is fitted right. It is a bit tricky with all that fur. Just use your fingers to make sure that the probes are actually contacting the skin.
we have a 200lb mastiff, 4 shih-tzu ranging from 13lbs-16lbs and a mutt that is only 3months old right now. we are going to be fencing off about an acre. what would be the best system to get for our dogs?……i was thinkin about an underground system but have heard that you have to buy a special collar for large breed dogs…..is that true? also at the bottom of our yard it gets kinda swampy and i read on one of the petsafe boxes that its smart to waterproof the wiring in that case…..what kind of waterproofer should i get? thank you so much
ashlie
ADMIN – Hi Ashlie,
We definately want to use a different collar on a dog like a Mastiff that is large and can have low pain sensitivity than we would on a smaller dog. A good choice would be a PetSafe system, because they have a few different types of collars you can use on the same system. I woudl get a PetSafe Stubborn system for the Mastiff, then add a couple of PetSafe Little Dog collars for the Shih Tzus.
I don’t usually run the wire through any waterproofing, it is fine even being completely immersed in water. Where a client really wants waterproofing, I will run the wire through an old hose pipe, or that flexible black tubing used for inground sprinkler systems.
Let us know if you need any further assistance!
Hi,
We have a smaller German Shepherd mutt mix that weighs about 40 lbs and then a half Shepherd/Husky mix that weighs about 60 lbs. The smaller dog respects our current fences now, but the bigger one jumps 6 ft fence and digs under them. She has taught the smaller one to dig as well. Our yard is perimeter is about 3/4 acre. Which system would be best for these two? I am leaning toward the Sport Dog system as it states it is very durable. These dogs are strictly outdoor dogs 24/7 with a garage for shelter.
Appreciate all your insight!
ADMIN – Hi Julie,
Since the dogs are fairly different in size and breed, I would go with a system that has independently adjustable correction levels. The SportDog would be a good choice. The Dogtra would be another good choice if you wanted something rechargeable. The PetSafe Stubborn would also be worth considering, although with those dogs you are unlikely to need the higher correction levels.
Hi, I’m looking at getting into breeding malamutes. Any recommendations for a system that would work for containing 5 malamutes (up to 130 lbs in size)? I have about 2 acres of fenced property. Would it be best to attach the wire to the fence or to bury it? Thanks much! Mike
ADMIN – Hi Mike,
Malamutes tend to be easy in terms of correction strength. They tend to be sensitive to the correction and so we don’t have to worry much about having a powerful system. Fitting the collar correctly can be a problem the first few times, because there is definitely an art to getting the collar on right so that the probes actually contact the skin given that beautiful thick coat that they have. The Innotek IUC-5100 and IUC-4100 are particularly well suited to the task because they have a feature that beeps to help you figure out if the collar is fitted correctly. But, there are a lot of other good options. The PetSafe Stubborn (with he optional long prongs) and the SportDog would be good cheaper choices.
I would attach the wire to the fence. The main reason people bury wire is to avoid lawnmowers, but if it is fence mounted that is a non-issue.
Hi,
I have two Bloodhound-Plott mixes, one male and one female, both are spayed/neutered, siblings. Both are about 50-60lbs, 1 and 1/2 years old. They have had some formal training and the female does much better on a leash and listening in general than the male. The male still likes to run out the front door and will not listen when he is tracking. We have had a dog die this way. I think the invisible fence would be great training though, boundary-wise.
I am interested in the Innotek 5100. Especially because of the rechargeable battery with indicator, the slim collar, and the remote. I would like for them to be able to go on hikes with us without a leash. So far they have not been without a physical fence, but our new house does not have one. Our new property is about an acre, with trees all along the borders except the driveway. I am concerned about whether the correction would be high enough for the male, but he does respond to correction when tugging his collar. I’d like to keep the cost less than $400-500 if possible.
What do you recommend?
Thanks,
Andrea
ADMIN – Hi Andrea,
I am most interested in what the older one’s pain tolerance is like. If you accidentally stood on a paw or tail, would you hear a yelp or the dog not particularly bothered. With a bloodhound, the 5100 is usually going to be plenty. I would give it a try, but if there is a problem, we are happy to swap it out for a more powerful system like the PetSafe Stubborn (and refund the difference) within the first 30 days – but of course with another system you will not be to have remote correction.
Hi – Our 4 year old English Setter easily jumps our 4 foot fence so we need to upgrade to an electric fence (much cheaper than replacing with a 6 foot fence!). Is there a collar that would tell us where he is IF he were to get out of the electric fence? Kind of like a tracking device? He is a Champion show dog and not neutered, so this is entirely possible if there is a dog in season within a few miles of our house. Thanks.
ADMIN – Hi Melissa,
Unfortunately there is no dog fence with in built tracking. There are separate GPS units used for hunting dogs that you could put on him for tracking.
We are moving to a house on 5 acres with our three dogs. Two are Brittney Spaniels (29 and 37 lbs). These girls love to run, so the acreage is a plus. But without proper fencing, they will escape immediately. We also have a male English Mastiff (150 lbs, but only 11 months so he’s still growing). The property has pipe fencing and we’re considering installing no climb to keep them contained but that is cost prohibitive. What type of in-ground fence would you recommend? Ideally we prefer a collar with rechargeable batteries, and remote for the Brittneys so we can later train them outside our property. Can we mix/match the systems? Are there compatible systems that will work with all the dogs? Your help is appreciated!!! THANKS!
ADMIN – Hi Nikki,
With dogs of such different sizes, I would use a PetSafe system where you can mix/match collars. I would get a PetSafe Stubborn system, and use the stubborn collar for the Mastiff due to his size. For the two Brittneys, I would get some extra PetSafe Deluxe collars. Afraid they are going to be neither rechargeable, nor have the remote trainer – but, there are no good options with these features when you have such a large size disparity between dogs!
I have a 10 month old siberian husky weighing about 65 pounds and a 22 lb 10 yr old miniature schnauzer. The schnauzer is well behaved and has never given us any trouble tearing up the landscaping. the husky is ruining the back yard digging up plants. Is it feasible to use a system with just the husky to prevent her from entering the flower beds and stop digging in the planters? would we need to use the system with both dogs? If so, what system would work for both dogs?
Thank you.
Dayna
ADMIN – Hi Dayna,
You can use the system on just one dog, the other dog just does not wear one of the receiver collars. The easiest way to stop a dog from digging up a garden is to use one or more of the outdoor pods. They are great for keeping the dogs out of areas and are quicker and cheaper than a full fence system.
I’m on 2 acres and have a 15lb Terrier who likes to run into the road and a 80lb Cur who loves to hunt. As soon as he’s let off his chain he bolts for the woods and is gone for hours so I’m not even sure I can hold him with an electronic fence. Most importantly I’m looking for separate correction levels with separate remote training capabilities. Is that possible? What would you suggest? Thanks….
ADMIN – Hi Troy,
I’m afraid where there is that big a difference in size between the two dogs, you cannot use any of the dog fences with remote training (e.g. Innotek IUC-5100 or Innotek SD-3000) because these systems do not have independent correction in fence mode. You would need to get a separate training collar if you wanted to use it for remote correction.
Your best bet would be a PetSafe Stubborn system for the big dog, and an extra PetSafe Little Dog collar or a PetSafe Deluxe collar.
We have a beagle mix (she weighs about 25 lbs, and we are guessing that she is about 1 1/2 yrs old), who was sent to an adoption agency from a family that did not treat her well. She spent almost all of her time crated, and now we are struggling to train her properly. She also has those natural hunting instincts that means she can be difficult to rein in when we’re walking sometimes. That being said, we are moving to a new house with no fence around the yard. We already have a PetSafe Stubborn system. Would a PetSafe Stubborn be too much for her? If so, is it possible to use this system and get one of the other collars for it?
Thanks!
Tambra
ADMIN – Hi Tambra,
The correction strength on a PetSafe Stubborn is going to be more than you want for a beagle, you will really only be able to use one, maybe two of the correction levels. This is particularly true for a timid dog. The collar is also a little on the big side for a 20lb dog. I would prefer to see you use a different PetSafe collar with your existing system, a PetSafe deluxe collar would be a much better choice for the beagle.
We live on 10 acres in an orchard and would like to teach our dog not to roam around the neighborhood, yet have the freedom to roam in the orchard. I was reluctant about the wired fences, because since our orchard is a working farm, I did not want the wire to be damaged. Also, since it is a large area, my husband is not looking forward to burying the thousands of feet of wire. But, I understand that the wireless systems are not as reliable. Which system would you recommend for our 7 mo old Lab? Also, how much wire would we need?
ADMIN – Hi Kerry,
There are two great fences I’d recommend: the Innotek IUC 4100 and the SportDog SDF 100. The 4100 would work well and has a capacity of 25 acres, but we like this fence cause it has a rechargeable collar. The SportDog system, while not rechargeable, does take a regular 9v battery. We like the SportDog because the system and collar is extremely durable and is better suited for large installs and large breed dogs like your lab. The SportDog has a very strong transmitter and can cover up to 100 acres.
I think you can’t go wrong with either of these two systems. I do believe though that the SportDog is much more durable than the 4100 and may be a better fit for your dog and land.
hi, i have a shepherd mix 25-30 pounds, medium size dog. She is 11 months still in the puppy stage i was wondering what type of wireless fencing would be the best for her we have 1.6acres.
thank you
jennifer
ADMIN – Hi Jennifer,
With your shepherd mix, I’d recommend either the Innotek IUC 4100 or the PetSafe Stubborn Dog. Both are great systems. With the 4100 you get a rechargeable collar. With the Stubborn Dog, you get a fence that can deliver higher levels of correction if you need it. The Stubborn Dog takes a regular 9v battery. I think either of these will work well with your dog.
As for wire, 500 feet comes with either system and you’d need an additional 1,000 feet to cover your 1.6 acres.
Hello! We are looking to get an in-ground fence for our two dogs – 35lb beagle mix (2 yrs old) and a 35+lb english bulldog pup (6mos), who we expect to be about 50lbs. They are good overall about staying in the yard and have trained them based on natural yard boundaries, but the bulldog is a little more ‘confident’ and when she sees someone walking by she immediately wants to leave the yard to check things out. The beagle is not nearly as bold, but is always happy to follow. I have read through most of your above responses, and still am not sure if I have figured out what would be the best choice for us. They are neither people or dog aggressive (so far) but the bulldog is definitely ‘large and in charge’ and wants to check everything and everyone out, along with signs of typical bulldog protective behavior. Your suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
ADMIN – Hi Rebekah,
Bulldogs tend to have a much lower pain sensitivity to Beagles, than plus the size difference make me think they will probably need pretty different correction levels. I would go with a PetSafe Stubborn system for the Bulldog and get one extra PetSafe deluxe collar for the Beagle. The stubborn collar has more power (only if you need it) for the Bulldog, and the Deluxe collar is going to be a bit smaller and a more comfortable fit on the Beagle.
i have twn 65lb boxers and a ‘C’ shaped yard, what would be the best the best system?
ADMIN – Hi Jamie,
With boxers, the IUC-4100 is a good choice. But, boxers are generally pretty easy to train so you have a lot of other options too. With twin dogs, one thing to remember is to train the dogs separately. If you try training them together they often focus too much on one-another and don’t focus on the task at hand.
Hi. I have a lab/hound mix. She LOVES squirrels and went she get a scent, she’s GONE. I need a fence she will not run through even with the excitement of a squirrel. Any suggestions?
ADMIN – Hi Kimberly,
With a lab/hound mix the IUC-4100 is always a good choice. The trick with dogs that have that strong tracking or chasing drive, is to try and get a bit of the squirrel temptations to test the dog toward the end of the training period. With squirrels one good way to get this is to lay out food just before doing the training in the early morning or later afternoon when they are active. (with hounds, laying down a scent trail through the fence boundary also works well) Then test the dog while they are still on leash to see if they go through. If they don’t go through – reward them. If they do go through, let them get the correction and pull them back with the leash – they will quickly learn that they need to obey the boundary rules even when tempted.
I am planning on installing a system around my 3 acre field. It already has existing field fencing that does not contain our dogs. Can I just attach the wire to the existing fence to avoid digging? Most of it is 4X4 wire, but I do have about 300 ft of wooden corral type fence. I would like to have it off the ground about 12 inches if possible. We have wild pigs that might tear it up if the wire was simply laid on the ground.
ADMIN – Hi Denise,
You can indeed mount the dog fence wire on the existing fence to avoid digging. The wire does not have to be at ground level. Elevating the wire a bit to avoid lawn mowers, weed whackers, or wild hogs is a good idea.
I’d like to get a system for an 18lb Jack Russell and an 8lb Yorkshire Terrier. I really don’t want to use the non-rechargeable batteries. Is there any chance the Innotek’s would work with the 8lb dog? What other choices do I have?
ADMIN – Hi Rich,
For a dog at 8lbs, the rechargeable systems, the PetSafe IUC-4100, the IUC-5100, and the EF-3000 collars are all going to be too big. The only good choice would be the PetSafe Little Dog. I would add a PetSafe Deluxe collar for the Jack Russell. The only other option would be to start a round of steroids on the Yorkie.
I have a female blonde lab 5yrs, male red heeler 2 yrs, female blue heeler 10 yrs, female 6 yrs jack russell, and female 3 yrs jack russel, live on five acres but only want to keep them in side three acres. I want the best equipment possible.
ADMIN – Hi Sherry,
For that menagerie, you want a system that can work well with dogs of different sizes. I would suggest a PetSafe Deluxe system. Use the PetSafe Deluxe collars for the Labrador, and the two Heelers. For the two Jack Russell’s I would get PetSafe Little Dog collars – they will work with your PetSafe Deluxe system, but are smaller than the regular collars and will be much more comfortable on the dogs.
I appreciate your responses to these different questions and have learned quite a bit by reading through them all. At this point, I feel we have sufficient information to make purchasing decisions for our two dogs. One issue remains that doesn’t seem to be addressed by a dog fence and I’m hoping you might give us your opinion. We live in an area frequented by coyotes. Even if our dogs are contained by wire fences and physical fences, they are really interested in “playing with” all their coyote friends who call to them regularly. Are there ways to keep the coyotes OUT that can combine with using appropriate dog fences to keep our dogs in? [I know that a very tall –like an 8-foot–fence would do it, but that’s not an option for us. Thanks for your help.
ADMIN – Hi Nannette,
Unfortunately, unless you can put collars on the coyotes, there’s not much you can do to keep them out. I’d suggest really working hard at training your dogs to avoid as many distractions as possible. If you dogs are contained, you don’t have to worry about them leaving the boundary to play with wild neighbors.
Please help – I have an appoximately 20 lb male cocker spaniel 6 month old puppy along with a 6 month ago 60 lb golden doodle puppy- which have ran away from our house – 2 nights in a row
what system would go best for these 2 vey active non listening puppites to keep them safe?
thanks
carol
ADMIN – Carol,
With that much difference in weight between the two dos, you want something with independent correction (that gives you the option of setting unique correction level for each dog) I’d recommend going with the PetSafe Deluxe.
Is there a “no go zone” wireless system for in the house (to keep the dog out of the garbage area for example) that is compatible with the collar that comes with the inotek or other wired perimiter system? If It matters, we have one 37# french bulldog named “booboo”. We may get a 2nd, bigger dog in the (somewhat distant) future who we will call “fang”
Thanks,
Bill
ADMIN – Hi Bill,
Yes, the indoor zone is compatible with the Innotek 4100 and 5100. It looks like a smoke detector and is wireless. Here’s where you can find it:
Also, if you do not have a fence system, you can buy the indoor zone and collar set:
I have a 10y/o lab and a 1 y/o basset hound and have a partly wooded acre of land. My lab is very good about staying around but as you can imagine the basset being a hound, gets on a scent and wants to go. What fence would be best for us?
ADMIN – Hi Roberta,
A basset hound and a lab are going to be on pretty similar correction levels. If you wanted something rechargeable a PetSafe IUC-4100 would be a good choice. If you were after something with a disposable battery – the new SportDog SDF-100 or the PetSafe Deluxe would work well.
I have a 40 pound 4 month old Doberman, what system will work. 4000 sq ft yard. Thanks
ADMIN – Hi Mike,
You would want to wait till the pup is 6 months old if that is possible, I would only start younger if he can confidently do a sit/stay/come sequence. At 4 months most dogs don’t have the attention span to learn and training is longer and more difficult than if you wait a few months more.
Two good systems for a doberman and that size yard would be an Innotek IUC-4100 if you want something rechargeable or a PetSafe Stubborn if you wanted something with a disposable battery that is a little cheaper.