How Much Does an Invisible Fence Cost?
Last Updated: January 14, 2022
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An invisible fence for pets is a safe and humane way to keep your four legged friends from straying outside of the yard. In this buying guide you'll learn how invisible pet fences work, why you should consider installing one, and how much an invisible fence costs.
How Invisible Fences Work #
The basic components of invisible pet fencing are the wiring, the transmitter, and the receiver. Below is a breakdown of how they work together to keep your pet contained.
- The wire is concealed (usually underground) around the perimeter of the property, but you can also use wire to enclose smaller areas (such as gardens or pools) that you want to keep pets out of.
- A transmitter is plugged into an electric outlet on the property (usually in a basement, garage or other dry, out of the way place). The range of the transmitter depends on whether it is standard or deluxe.
- The battery-powered receiver is worn on your pet's collar.
- The transmitter sends a radio signal through the wire that is picked up by the receiver. A pet wearing a receiver collar will hear a warning sound when approaching the wire boundary and fell a light electrical shock if it crosses the threshold.
The Benefits of Invisible Pet Fencing #
There are a number of advantages to using an invisible fence to contain your pet, including:
- Unobstructed view: A pet containment fence made of wood or metal can not only be unsightly, but also block your view of the neighborhood or countryside you live in. By using an invisible fence, you'll improve the appearance of your property and enjoy an unblocked view of the area beyond your yard.
- Better Training: Invisible fences produce more social and better behaved pets. A physical barrier such as a solid wooden fence can make pets feel threatened and frustrated because they can't identify passersby and other neighborhood pets. By letting them become accustomed to everyday human and pet traffic, they should bark less.
- Simple to install and maintain: Creating an enclosure with an invisible fence is comparatively simpler and less costly compared to a traditional wooden privacy or chain link fence. And once it's installed, the only maintenance you'll have to perform is changing the batteries on the collar.
Invisible Fence Average Costs #
The cost of an invisible fence is primarily affected by the size of your property, the size of the pet(s) to be contained, and whether components such as lightning protection, an additional (or more powerful) receiver, higher-quality wire, and battery backup are included.
Invisible fencing cost for a basic prepackaged kit is approximately $100 to $350. A kit at this price should include 500 feet of linear wire (enough for about ΒΌ acre), flags, 1 transmitter, and a collar. For additional components you can expect to pay:
$40 to $60 for an expansion kit (enough flags and wire for an acre)
$50 to 75 for lightning protection
$60 to $80 for an extra collar
$100 to $300 for an extra transmitter
The total cost for professional invisible fence installation (materials and labor) might be around $750 to $1,500 or more.
Additional costs include:
- You have to replace batteries every three or four months, which comes at an average cost between $60 and $90 per year.
- Electronic pet fence systems also require a charger, which costs anywhere between $50 and $300.
- It is recommended to get a voltage meter to test the charge of the system, which has an average cost between $5 and $30.
How Effective Are Electronic Pet Fences? #
The effectiveness of an electronic pet fence is largely determined by training. Since there is no physical boundary, your pet must be trained to stay within the fence. Underground fencing systems typically come with instructions for training your pet to stay within the set boundaries.
First, you must train your pet to recognize physical cues that determine the boundary lines, such as flags or posts. During this stage of training, your pet stays on the leash and is rewarded with praise or treats when they stay within the fence. After this, electronic correction is established whenever the pet goes outside the fence. The collars can be set to different levels, with different dogs requiring different levels of correction.
It is important to note that electronic fences can only be used with pets that weigh at least eight pounds; any less and they are too small to support the collar's weight. If you are training a puppy, it should be at least eight weeks old.
Pros and Cons of Electronic Pet Fences #
Like any other type of fence, electronic pet fences come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that an electronic fence installs faster than a traditional one, since trenching and laying wire take less time than other fencing methods. They also match your property's overall aesthetic and design, since they're invisible. Electronic pet fences also allow you to block your pet's access to certain areas of your landscaping without the hassle (and look) of surrounding forbidden areas with a physical fence. Finally, the cost of an electronic fence is significantly lower than a metal or wood fence, as is the cost of installation.
However, unlike a regular fence, electronic pet fences require you to train your pet to understand the boundary lines. While a physical barrier automatically keeps them in check, an invisible one means they need to learn to respect unseen boundaries. And though they keep pets from getting out, they don't keep other animals from getting in. It must also be noted that, even with all the proper training, your pet can get out. If something scares or entices it enough, the electronic correction becomes nothing more than a suggestion.
As with any other purchase, it is important that you weigh all the pros and cons of an electronic fence before making your final decision. Some yards and pets are better suited to an invisible fence than others, so you need to consider all the factors.