GET MORE THAN ONE BID! Many people choose Invisible Fence® simply because they see the brochure in their vet office. However there are other options, and if you’re online reading this blog, then you can search online for other pet fence providers.

1. How large is the receiver, and how heavy is it? Did the rep bring a receiver to the sales call? Your dog has to wear this equipment for the rest of its life – I would consider it a negative if the rep fails to show you the collar. 
2. What do the prongs look like, and are there options? Dogs differ in size and thickness in coat, so having different options for prongs is important. Again, your dog will wear this the rest of its life – so find the most comfortable (yet still effective!) prong. Pet Stop® has optional patented Comfort Contact® probes with rubber contacts that feel softer for the dog’s skin. (I am a Pet Stop® customer, and this feature is why I chose that brand of fence.)
3. What are the shock levels on the Collar-Receiver? Many collar receivers have only a few shock levels and settings to contain your dog. This makes it difficult to customize the collar/receiver to match your dog’s personality. Some collar-receivers have very sophisticated features such as progressive correction (correction levels are increased as the dog gets closer to the boundary), anti-run through (correction follows the dog out of the zone), and anti-linger technology (receiver calculates the time your pet stays in the warning field and gradually increase the correction level until they retreat). While it is most important that your dog stay in the yard – there may be a more humane and gentle method to employ to accomplish that.
4. Is there an indicator to show low battery? With many systems, you can’t tell if the battery needs to be changed unless you take the collar out to the line and test it. Find a product that has a low battery indicator. There are two methods currently in use to show a battery is working. Both have pros and cons. 1. Flashing light to indicate the collar needs to be changed. Pro – Collar tells you when to change the battery. Pet Stop® has a collar that does this – the battery light flashes for up to 3 days before it goes dead (the collar still works while flashing). The Pro of this is that you only change batteries when you NEED it. The Con of this is if you miss the light flashing you may miss the chance to change the battery before it dies. 2. Power light on the collar stays on until the battery is dead. Pro- you can see that the collar is working. Invisible Fence® 800 series collars have this feature. The Con of this is that you are constantly using battery power to keep that light on which can make the batteries burn out faster.
5. Is this system Analog or Digital? Digital is always better. It has a more clear consistent signal, so there is less chance of interference from other signals. Interference can cause “holes” in the fence, and can also cause the dog to be corrected in the “safe” zones.

What Training Methodology Is Used? Some companies have different training methods. These methods can vary, so here are some things you can ask to understand what the differences are.

1. Who will be training my dog? Will I meet my trainer before the fence is installed? What if I don’t like my trainer?
2. How do you decide what shock level is best for my dog? If the answer to that question is we consider breed and weight, then I would consider this a negative. Some 85 pound labs can be contained on a low setting. It is never a good idea to over-correct a dog.
3. How long is the training period?What is the average time it takes for my breed of dog to be contained?
4. How many training sessions are included? What is the cost if I need more training?
5. What is the methodology used? There are two popular training methods used to flag/fence train dogs.

• The method that is primarily used by Invisible Fence® dealerships I refer to as the tone method. For a period of time your dog will be introduced to the flags with the collar set to beep but not correct. After a period of time the correction will be introduced. While effective, this method is rigid and locks you into a training time frame set by the dog trainer’s schedule. In addition, the first time a dog is introduced to the static shock correction, it is usually on the standard fence setting. This may over stimulate the dog and cause him/her to be afraid of the yard. The better trainers will have the collars hang a bit loose to lessen the correction until the dog is more comfortable with the correction.
• A more modern method of training involves the introduction of low levels of correction when the fence is installed. This can be accomplished with a remote trainer. The advantage of this method is that the dog experiences a consequence (albeit a small one) early on in the process, so it is clear that you don’t want him/her near the flags. The consequence is then reinforced with fun play and/or yummy treats in the middle of the yard which helps to gently change the dog’s psychology to want to be in the yard as opposed to outside of it. While all dogs are different, a good trainer of this method will give you a “plan” for your dog based on how they do with the initial training. Many dogs are acclimated to the fence at a faster pace than with the tone-training method. Pet Stop® has taken this training method a step further by introducing this method into their electronics package. They call the feature(s) GentleSteps™ and owners can gradually increase correction levels while the dogs learn their boundaries. It is an excellent way to start training puppies at a younger age.

What is the total cost of my fence?