PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence – Detailed Review

With PetSafe, products like the PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence are pretty common. That is, the brand majorly produces electronic equipment for pet training. And since its creation in 1991, its products have come to be synonymous with effectiveness.

PetSafe actually considers the PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence an entry level fence containment and that is probably due to the coverage you can get with the thing. We’ll get to the components of this kit in a bit. But before that, there’s something we need to find out.

Who Is The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence For?

PetSafe recommends that this kit only be worn by dogs who are, at least, 8 pounds heavy. Because this tool makes use of static shocks as a mode of correction, it is important that it not be used on puppies and generally dogs who are not of optimal health.

Also, you want to bear in mind that the collar adjusts between 6 and 28 inches and there is just that one.

What Are The Features Of The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence?

• The transmitter with its power adpater.
• Collar receiver.
• Wire and waterproof splice capsules.
• Training flags.
• Adjustable collar.
• Test light.
• Training manual.

The Transmitter With Its Power Adapter

The transmitter that this one comes with is pretty basic; that is, there is much sophistication with it and it is the kind you will find with a good number of fence containment systems.

The idea of the transmitter is to kinda be the processor. So, connected to the wire buried beneath, it is responsible for detecting when your dog (who will be wearing the receiver) is getting close to the boundaries you’ve set.

After having detected this, the transmitter then sends the appropriate correction mode to the receiver and the rest is magic (just kidding).

Anyway, because of all these, the positioning if the transmitter is pretty important. You might want to place the transmitter right there with you in the room so that you can make changes swiftly.

The transmitter is where you determine the reach or boundary width of the fence containment. For making this adjustments, there is a control knob on the transmitter.

Finally, the transmitter has to be plugged to a power outlet when it is in use which is why it comes with a power adapter.

Collar Receiver

Next, we look at that thing that is responsible for administering the correction modes to the wearer which is the collar receiver. This is really important because, irrespective of how effective this kit is, if your dog isn’t wearing the collar receiver, you might as well not dig up your yard in the first place.

This fence containment system has 4 adjustable levels of shock sensitivity and tone warning. So, you could either decide to go with the shock intensity that is suitable for you or go with tonal warning instead.

That said, if this collar receiver will do its work, it has to fit snugly against your dog’s skin with the contact points reaching his skin directly.

This is why this kit comes with two pairs of contact points; one long pair and one short pair. The short pair should be good enough for a short haired dog. But if your dog is long furred, the long pair would be a better idea, unless you intend to cut your dog’s fur.

Unlike the transmitter, the receiver uses one replaceable battery and comes with one. However, bear in mind that the battery is a PetSafe custom made battery so, it might not be the easiest thing to come by.

Finally, that you are trying to keep your dog contained does not mean they should wear the collar receiver. Consider allowing your dog in the house every once in a while because it is recommended that your dog wear this for 10 hours max every day.

Wire And Waterproof Splice Capsules

This fence containment system comes with its own wire. The wire is a 20 gauge and can stretch for up to 500 yards.

However, the kit also comes with waterproof splice capsules just in case you want more than a 1/3-acre coverage (which is what the wire that comes with the kit can afford).

Using the splice capsules, you can connect even more wire for even more reach. However, bear in mind that the transmitter can only reach up to 5 acres.

Finally, because your dog cannot (or will not want to) get close enough to the fence to dig it up, you do not need to bury it six feet deep. In fact, some people decide to just place the wire right there on the ground. There are wire nuts for holding down either side of the wire.

Training Flags

There are fifty (50) flags with this one which should be good enough to cover the grounds. Because your dog cannot see the fence, they need visual markers to be able to understand where they should or should not go. And this is what the training flags are for.

Some people decide to leave the training flags there even after their dogs have gone through the training process. There are no rules to that; it is basically up to you to decide whether or whether not to leave the flags there.

Adjustable Collar

This one is also pretty important because it is what allows the receiver do its work. The adjustable collar is made of nylon and so can be washed. We should also point out that the collar receiver itself is water resistant.

That said, the collar features a plastic tri glide for adjustments and a plastic buckle for a clasp.

Test Light

There is a small plastic thing that comes with the kit. Inside the plastic thing is a small light bulb. So, how do you work this thing?

Basically, you place the test light over the contact points (which should be on the receiver) and go close to the fence. If the thing works, the light bulb will light up.

Training Manual

The training manual is written in English and is pretty easy to understand. If you haven’t handled a fence containment kit before, you probably want to pay attention to this one.

Is The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence User Friendly?

The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence is user friendly. We don’t consider this system a difficult thing to get around, especially if you actually read the training manual.

However, because of the sensitivity of the thing, we recommend that you get your dog’s trainer or veterinarian on board your getting it. In fact, you probably want a professional to handle the training phase while you learn a thing or two.

Pros Of The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence

1. One thing we should have mentioned is that this kit allows you connect multiple receivers to that one transmitter. However, bear in mind that the kit comes with only one receiver.
2. A good number of the tools are water resistant/water proof which is pretty impressive.

What Are The Cons Of The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence?

The receiver uses a PetSafe custom made battery which isn’t the easiest thing to come by. However, we do concede that the batteries do not cost so much.

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Alternatives To The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence

If the PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence isn’t what you are looking for, check out these other fence systems:

• Wireless Option: PetSafe Wireless Dog And Cat Containment System.
• Rechargeable Option: PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence For Stubborn Dogs.
• Option Without Wire: PetSafe Stubborn Dog Fence Without Wire.

Wireless Option

PetSafe Wireless Dog And Cat Containment System

If you would rather not dig up your yard or spoil the aesthetics in any way, you might want to consider getting this wireless pet containment system. However bear in mind that this one costs a bit more than our featured product.

Rechargeable Option

PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence For Stubborn Dogs

If you would rather have both the receiver be rechargeable, consider getting this PetSafe Stay & Play. The reciever comes with its own charger.

Option Without Wire

PetSafe Stubborn Dog Fence Without Wire

This is different from the wireless kind in that it needs the wire to function but doesn’t come with its own. You could consider getting something like this if you already have the wire for some reason. Find out more about this one here.

Comparison Table

	PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence   Click here to get this for your dog!	PetSafe Wireless Dog And Cat Containment System   Click here to get this for your dog!	PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence For Stubborn Dogs   Click here to get this for your dog!	PetSafe Stubborn Dog Fence Without Wire   Click here to get this for your dog!
Maximum Expandable Coverage	5 acres	½ acre	¾ acre	10 acres
Wireless	No	Yes	Yes	No

What People Think About The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence

Many people are actually satisfied with this one despite the fact that PetSafe calls it entry-level. That this PetSafe fence containment is one of the affordable ones is one of the reasons people like it.

However, customers also seem to be of the opinion that the fence containment does what it is supposed to do and does a good job of it.

Nonetheless, a few people have complained about the battery being custom made. Some of those people seem to be consoled by the fact that the batteries do not cost much.

Our Opinion

Finally, we consider the PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence a pretty decent equipment. It goes for a decent price and has a decent enough reach.

However, we cannot but end by reminding you to get your dog’s trainer and/or veterinarian in the loop of things even before you decide to get this as a safety net.

PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence — FAQs

Does This Fence Work On A Hilly Terrain?

The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence works just fine on a hilly terrain and any other kind of terrain for that matter. Just make sure that the wire is secure by either burying it or attaching it to the ground using staples.

Does The PetSafe Transmitter Have To Be Inside?

The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence transmitter does not necessarily have to be inside. The reason it is recommended that the transmitter be kept indoors is because the transmitter isn’t waterproof.

So, if you can find a way to keep thr transmitter in a waterproof case, you might be able to keep it outside.

Does The PetSafe In-Ground Fence Work In Winter?

The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence works just fine in winter and basically any other season. It is in no way affected by the seasons or even weather conditions.

That said, if you leave in an area where things the weather gets really windy, you need to properly secure the wire to the ground using staples if you want to just put the wire on the floor.

Does The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence Work On Golden Retrievers?

The PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence does work on Golden Retrievers.

However, because they usually have really thick fur, you might have to shave the part of their neck where the collar will go. You don’t have to shave it off completely, just cut it short.

Also, the pair of long prongs is definitely what you want to use for a Golden Retriever.

Do I Need To Remove The Collar To Get My Dog Back Into The Boundary?

You certainly need to remove the collar to get your dog back into the boundary. Either that or you unplug the transmitter.

When your dog managed to run through, it was probably too high on adrenaline to notice the shock. But coming back, it is certainly calm enough to notice. So, you’ll need to remove its collar if you don’t want it getting shocked.

Can One PetSafe In-Ground Fence Work On Two Different Sized Dogs?

One PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence can work on two different sized dogs. Just make sure to buy an extra collar and set each collar to the specification of each dog’s size.