How Much Is An Electric Fence For Dogs?

Electric fences are designed to keep your dog within the confines of your backyard. 

If you’re interested in installing an electric fence for dogs, you might be wondering: How much is an electric fence for dogs?

In this article, I will cover some key information on electric fences for dogs, including the average price to install an electric fence.

Let’s get into it.

What Is An Electric Fence For Dogs?

An electric fence uses electricity to shock an animal if it tries to cross an invisible boundary.

So, how does an electric fence for dogs work? Unlike a physical fence, an electric fence uses an underground wire that you place around the perimeter of your backyard or an area that you want to fence.

The majority of electric fences include a battery-operated collar, an antenna, and a wireless transmitter. The fence has two parts: the ground wire and the high voltage wire.

The ground wire runs along the bottom of the fence and connects to the house power supply. 

This wire provides a path for current to flow through the fence. The high voltage wire runs above the ground wire and is connected to a transformer.

When your pet approaches the fence, the receiver will send a signal to the collar, giving your pet a mild shock. If your dog doesn’t turn back at this point, a static correction is administered by the collar.

You are able to adjust the signal strength according to the size of your dog.

In addition to this, some electric fence systems administer a warning sound instead of a small shock before it delivers a static correction to your pet.

How Much Is An Electric Fence For Dogs?

The exact cost of an electric fence for dogs can vary depending on the brand that you opt for. However, typically speaking, you can expect to pay around $15 to $50 per foot.

Electric fences for dogs are actually a less expensive alternative to traditional fences.

However, there are significant drawbacks to installing an electric fence including that there are better ways to train your dog to remain within your backyard.

However, I will go further into this later on in the article.

What About The Installation Costs?

How much it costs to get your electric fence for dogs installed depends! Generally speaking, hiring a professional company to install an electric fence can set you back $850 up to $1500.

Alternatively, you can install your electric fence yourself for about $100 to $300.

That being said, if you don’t feel confident doing so, it’s best to leave this up to a professional or seek advice from someone that has experience in installing fences.

You will also need to consider that the size of your yard and the number of pets you have can affect how costly this is.

If you have more than one dog, you will need to account for the cost of more collars, which can cost you $55 to $125 each.

Lastly, you should also consider the cost of batteries. Typically speaking, you can expect a collar battery to last from 3 months to around a year before you need to replace them.

However, if you live somewhere that experiences frequent thunderstorms, then it’s a good investment to buy a lightning protector to prevent power surges.

These products can cost around $40 to $50, but can vary depending on the retailer.

Benefits Of Installing An Electric Fence For Dogs

There are many benefits to having an electric fence for dogs. Some of these benefits include but are not limited to:

It Prevents Your Pet From Escaping The Yard 

If your pet escapes outside of the yard, they could potentially harm themselves or other people. Having an electric fence prevents them from leaving the yard.

It Provides A Sense Of Security From Predators 

By keeping your dog inside the yard, It keeps them safe from predators like coyotes or foxes.

Doesn’t Affect Your Yard’s Aesthetic 

Electric fences are invisible. This means that you can enjoy your backyard without having your view blocked by a large fence.

Affordable Alternative To Traditional Fences 

Electric fences cost a fraction of the price of a traditional fence, meaning that you can spend that money on other areas in your backyard.

Negatives Of Installing An Electric Fence For Dogs

However, alongside the benefits, there are a variety of negatives that you should be aware of before buying an electric fence for dogs.

Some of these negative aspects include:

Often Considered Inhumane 

Many people consider electric fences cruel because they administer a shock to animals.

As other training methods that aren’t harmful are known to be more effective, this is something to bear in mind when making your choice on installing an electric fence.

Can Damage The Trust & Bond You Have With Your Dog 

There are no two ways about it. A collar that administers a shock to your dog’s neck is not going to be as effective as training your dog with positive reinforcement.

Significant research suggests that dogs learn much better when positive reinforcement is used. 

As a result, when using a shock collar, your dog might become avoidant and distrusting of you as fear and pain is instilled in them.

Invisible Fences Don’t Provide A Physical Barrier 

If you have a very ambitious pet who gets used to the shock, your dog will be able to cross the invisible boundary and escape when you’re not expecting it.

Power Outages 

If your power is turned off or the batteries on the collar, your pet can escape from your backyard.

A Note On Electric Fences & The Risks Associated With Them

If you’re thinking that an electric fence is the answer to all of your training issues, you are sorely mistaken. Electric fences with shock collars are in no way shape or form a shortcut that you can take without consequences.

There’s a reason why shock collars are banned in multiple countries! If you’re looking at purchasing an electric fence for dogs, make sure that you heavily research them before making the choice.

While they might seem like a better option in terms of price, the trade-off that you make is often losing the bond between you and your dog.

You never know how an animal is going to react when they’re in pain or discomfort, and your dog might even become aggressive as a result of you using an electric fence.

As your dog’s owner, you are responsible for the risks of owning an electric fence that administers a shock to your dog when they step over the invisible boundary.

While many people see the good in these shock collars, many people don’t realize the impact they can have on your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Your relationship with your dog is built on a foundation of trust. This trust is nurtured as you dedicate the time to training your dog through positive reinforcement.

That being said, if you resort to methods that only instill fear into your dog, you risk losing the bond and trust that you have built with them.

The best way to train your dog is through positive reinforcement.

Using treats and toys to reward your dog for doing what you want them to do is the most effective method to keeping them safe in the confines of your backyard.

I suggest you look into training your dog with positive reinforcement before you resort to installing an electric fence in your backyard.

In Summary

If you want to keep your dog confined in your backyard, then installing an electric fence is a relatively inexpensive option.

That being said, that doesn’t mean that electric fences don’t come without significant drawbacks. 

There is a reason why shock collars have the reputation that they do, and there are plenty of other positive reinforcement techniques that you can try before resorting to an electric fence.

I hope this article has given you a better understanding of electric fences for dogs. Make sure that you do your research before committing to installing an electric fence to keep your dog in your backyard.

Good luck choosing the right fence for you and your family!