Invisible fence costs and recommendations

[Hutch]

I may soon be the owner of a small-but-growing dog-poop factory.

Does anyone have any reasonably current knowledge of the "per-linear-foot" cost of invisible fencing?  My lot is such that I am unwilling to put up a standard hurricane fence, and I want my dog in the yard.  I would guesstimate my fence would stretch ~1500 feet or so.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a brand or manufacturer of such kit?

TIA

Hutch

[roo_ster]

"Invisible fence" is an old Apache word that, translated into English, means "dog soon lost."

I'd suggest some sort of fence appropriate to your lot and then use a hot wire 6" off the ground & offset inwards at the top. 

Or a dog run.

I can't count the number of, "My dog got out of the invisible fence by means of <fill in means of failure>," threads on APS, THR, & elsewhere. 

[BlueStarLizzard]

Depends on the dog and the training.

I'd advise that the dog not be allowed out unsupervised, even with the invisable fence, but like I said depends on the dog. Some dogs never bother to test it, others are through it as soon as possible.

One thing to remember, if the dog goes through it ONCE its done. Pack up and go home, cause you can't ever trust it again.

That said, I know nothing about costs.

[Hutch]

The lot just won't support a sufficiently large chain-link fence, as it sits on a small lake, and we bought it for the view.  If we can't responsibly raise a dog without a sho-'nuff fence, we'll have to re-visit the decision to do so.

Damn.

[GigaBuist]

The "invisible fence" should be re-named "slight suggestion to the dog to stay in the yard."

They don't work all that well.

We've got one.  The dogs are contained by physical fences on 3 sides of the back yard.  The rearmost line is a horse fence with electric lines every 1' or so in height.  They're not live.  Still, the whole perimeter is lined with the radio fence. When the dogs get excited they'll jump right through that horse fence and get shocked by their collars as they go through.

Basic rule in our house is that the dogs don't go out unless we're watching them.  They WILL run off if you give them enough time.  

My parents also had one when I was a kid.  We had a beagle/terrier mix (ugly as sin but smart!) that'd run through the fence chasing a rabbit, and then walk back to the line until the collar started to beep.  She'd sit there until the collar's battery died and walk on through.  Smart freaking dog.  Fence was useless on her though.

[BlueStarLizzard]

The lot just won't support a sufficiently large chain-link fence, as it sits on a small lake, and we bought it for the view.  If we can't responsibly raise a dog without a sho-'nuff fence, we'll have to re-visit the decision to do so.

Damn.

Any way you could do something with board fence and wire fence? Looks nice and the wire can be practiacally invisable from a distance.

[zxcvbob]

Use a real electric fence; preferably with a charger that is UL-listed, or the old 6V electromechanical type.  The dog can see it and that acts as a deterrent, and perhaps more importantly it keeps other stray dogs *out*. 

[charby]

I have a wireless dog fence and it does a great job of keeping an 80# weimeraner contained. I need to get longer probes for my lab because she will cross the boundary and go take a dump in the neighbors yard. If I put her collar on tight, she gets zapped and comes back in the yard.

I have a pet safe wireless instant fence and I spent $279 for the unit (comes with one collar) and $125 for a second collar.

[Bigjake]

I have a wireless dog fence and it does a great job of keeping an 80# weimeraner contained. I need to get longer probes for my lab because she will cross the boundary and go take a dump in the neighbors yard. If I put her collar on tight, she gets zapped and comes back in the yard.

I have a pet safe wireless instant fence and I spent $279 for the unit (comes with one collar) and $125 for a second collar.

What he said.  We also have the Petsafe kit,  covering nearly 1500 feet. 

Ours keeps 2 labs and a GSD in.  The trick is good training and the longer probes.  Most fence systems have a control that adjusts how "wide"  the line is.  Turn it up, and the dog gets hit with a tone, then a shock.  Wider the line,  the sooner the correction.  Problems solved.   

They also make collars that run on 9v batteries that give a stronger shock.  Had to get one of those for our GSD,  he's stubborn and didn't have the learning curve of the labs.

Since we've had the invisible fence,  the dogs haven't run off.  And that was an annoyingly consistent occurrence before then.  Now,  the dogs can go out without the collar and they don't go near the boundary.  Even with the random cat or neighbors chickens taunting them from the other side 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

many but not all of the invisible fence failures i've seen were due to a lack of training the dog. you shouldn't just install it and turn em loose.  some hounds will take the hit to go give chase though. i went field fence with hot wire about 10 inches off ground   second hot wire aboyt 6 inches above fence top.

one thing to consider is thunderstorms.  lightening strikes close by activate the collar.  i found out by napping on top of the spare collar during a thunderstorm.  the manufacturer claims it won't go off but it did, its unmistakable . now if i'm napping and a thunderstorm is coming the kids try to find the collar to hear daddy yelp

[CNYCacher]

When I was a teenager, my parents got a great deal on a used invisible fence transmitter, and so my dad set about installing it. Not wanting to pay someone to install it, or buy the tool normally used to install the wire, he put two old blades on an old craftsman circular saw, and crawled around the house, sawing a 1/4" trench into the yard.  The neighbors drove by real slow that day. 

[Nick1911]

My parents fought with those for years.

They had at varying points both invisible fence and radio fence.

They never worked real well.  I will say this, though - almost all of the value of the system is in good training.  If they figure out that they can bolt through it and be gone, then your done.