Underground Dog Fences in Virginia

No two Virginia yards price the same. A Fairfax County townhome, a Richmond suburban lot, and a few Shenandoah Valley acres need different wire runs and different amounts of planning. Your Local Pro considers yard size and layout, number of dogs, terrain, and obstacles such as driveways, sidewalks, and gardens, then gives you an estimate. Installation and training by a local expert are part of it, and there are no monthly fees.

A locate request should be in before any digging, and it is generally the digger's responsibility. VA811 asks for at least 3 working days' notice, not counting weekends and legal holidays. Ask your Local Pro how they handle it for your install. Keep in mind that private lines between the meter and the house won't be marked, so point out any sprinkler lines, landscape lighting, or buried cables you know about.

Your transmitter will tell you. It has status lights and an audible alarm that sounds for problems like a line break or a power surge, so a nicked wire from aeration or edging doesn't go unnoticed. Call your Local Pro to find and repair the break. Until it's fixed, keep your dog supervised or leashed outside, since the boundary won't be active where the loop is broken.

It can help, especially when it's paired with plenty of exercise. Virginia named the American Foxhound its state dog in 1966, and this colonial hunting breed needs lots of activity and can get into trouble when bored. A hound on a fresh scent is a real test for any boundary. Your Local Pro trains your dog on the boundary, and Turn Detection stops the correction the moment your hound turns back toward the yard.

No, and it isn't meant to. An underground fence trains your dog to stay in, but it does nothing to keep wildlife out. Virginia DWR notes coyotes live throughout the state, suburbs included, and advises extra supervision of larger dogs from January to June. Keep small dogs close when they're outside, bring pet food in at night, and don't leave your dog out alone for long stretches.

Many do, but it's your covenants that decide. Virginia has about 9,300 community associations home to more than two million residents, and a lot of them restrict physical fences, particularly in townhome and front-yard settings. A buried-wire fence leaves the view untouched, so it often fits where a visible fence can't. Check your covenants and your architectural review board before you book an install.

For many large properties, a buried wire has the edge. Dog Guard can cover 50+ acres, and the boundary follows the wire, so it doesn't drift the way GPS boundaries can, which may vary by up to 10 feet. Rechargeable Dog Guard collars last up to about a month per charge, while GPS collars typically need a daily recharge. There are no monthly subscription fees either. Your Local Pro can map the layout.

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.