Underground Dog Fences in Massachusetts

It depends on your yard and is based on several factors. The main drivers are how much perimeter you want covered, how many dogs you have, and obstacles like driveways, walkways, gardens, stone walls and hills. A Dog Guard Local Pro evaluates the property and gives you an estimate. Professional installation and training come with it, and there's no monthly subscription.

Digging in Massachusetts requires a Dig Safe notice first. Dig Safe is the free one-call center for Massachusetts and four other New England states, and the law requires at least 72 hours notice, not counting weekends and legal holidays. Ask your Local Pro how they handle the request for your install. Dig Safe doesn't mark private lines like sprinkler systems, so point those out to your Local Pro during route planning.

Dog Guard is designed around LIMA principles: Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive. Before any correction, your dog hears ultrasonic and audible warning tones. The correction is meant to be unpleasant enough to deter your dog from leaving, but it is not harmful, it only activates if your dog tries to cross, and Turn Detection stops it when your dog turns back. Your Local Pro adjusts settings for each dog.

Absolutely, Boston Terriers are a great fit. Massachusetts named the Boston Terrier its state dog in 1979, and the breed is known for being smart, lively and eager to please, which helps during training. The Dog Guard receiver weighs under 2 ounces and works for dogs from about 4 pounds and up, so a compact dog wears it comfortably. Your Local Pro sets the correction level to suit your dog.

Sandy Cape yards are very workable for a buried-wire fence. Most of Cape Cod sits on glacial outwash plains made of sand and gravel, which is a different job than the stony till found farther inland in Massachusetts. Your Local Pro looks at dunes, beach grass, shell driveways, and irrigation lines and plans the boundary around them.

Often, but only your association can say for sure. Massachusetts has about 11,700 community associations, and many restrict visible fences in shared or common-view areas. Because the wire is buried, an underground dog fence doesn't change the look of the yard, which is why many boards are comfortable with it. Check your covenants and ask whether you need architectural approval before the install.

Plan for snow season when the boundary is designed. The wire is buried, so everyday shoveling and snowblowing are on the surface, but plow blades, edging and new landscaping can be a different story. Show your Local Pro where your plow service piles snow and where the driveway gets scraped. If a line is ever cut, the transmitter's lights and audible alarm let you know so it can be repaired.

No. The terms "invisible", "invisible fence" and "invisible fencing" are registered and considered trademarks by Invisible Fence, Inc. Electronic pet fences with a buried wire are often referred to as "invisible fences", but Dog Guard® should not be confused with the Invisible Fence, Inc. Dog Guard® is not affiliated in any way with the Invisible Fence, Inc. Dog Guard® and Out of Sight Fencing® are registered trademarks of Sunward Electronics, Inc.