All About Portable Pet Fences

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Electronic fences (sometimes called electronic pet containment systems) keep a pet safe without the installation of a fence. Combined with training, these systems strive to teach a pet the limits of its territory humanely and safely. Training times can take from two weeks to several months, but the goal is to encourage the animal to stay in predetermined areas and discourage it from entering restricted zones.

With a portable system, the dog learns to stay within a specified distance of its owner and begins to recognize a set of simple visual clues that tell it to stop. Consisting of a transmitter and a receiver unit, these portable systems can be installed without digging any trenches for underground wires.

New tricks?

The base unit (or transmitter) plugs into a household power outlet anywhere in your home, garage, or tool shed, although it should sit atop a level surface. The transmitter emits a constant radio signal that will define the containment boundary for your pet. The dog wears a lightweight receiver collar that "listens" for the signal. While the collar is receiving the signal, the dog is free to run and play in your yard. When your pet approaches the boundary of the area, it receives a warning signal or beep. If your dog does not retreat from the boundary, a correction results. With a little simple training, your dog will quickly learn his boundaries.

Installation made easy

Setting up a portable electronic fence takes only a few minutes. The transmitter plugs into any standard household outlet. Since the signal will transmit reliably through walls and other obstructions, it can be placed in any convenient and discreet location. The base station can be set to control the radius of the containment zone, as well as the number and severity of warnings the dog receives. Some units can accommodate more than one collar, with settings customizable for each pet.

In order to help the animal learn the limits of its territory, mark the boundary by placing a set of included training flags at the edge of the signal. Whenever the animal sees the flag, in whatever setting, it will recognize the edge of its boundary. Power converters can be installed to run the system from a portable power source, such as a car power outlet.

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