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A '''pet fence''' or '''fenceless boundary''' is an electronic system designed to keep a [[pet]] or other domestic animal within a set of predefined boundaries without the use of a physical barrier. A mild electric shock is delivered by an electronic collar if its warning sound is ignored. The system was first invented and patented by Richard Peck in 1973.<ref name="whitma">{{cite web|last1=Whittman|first1=Bob|title=Stay The Late Richard Peck's Invisible Fence Keeps Pets Confined|url=httphttps://articleswww.mcall.com/1997-/11-/30/business/3170365_1_invisiblestay-fencethe-petlate-srichard-collarpecks-peckinvisible-fence-keeps-pets-confined/|website=The Morning Call|publisher=Tribune Publishing|accessdateaccess-date=13 July 2015}}</ref>
==History==
The pet fence was created in 1973 by Richard Peck. Peck was a traveling salesman and through his travels, he saw enough dogs hit by cars that it led to him creating the pet fence system.<ref name="hstpsml">{{cite web |title=A Quick History of the Pet Fence |url=https://www.petstreetmall.com/articles/a-quick-history-of-the-pet-fence.aspx |website=Pet Street Mall |publisher=Pet Street Mall |accessdate=9 September 2019}}</ref>. In 1976, salesman John Purtell bought the rights to the pet fence and rebranded it as "Invisible Fence" which offered a different option for pet owners in terms of pet containment.<ref name="hstpsml">{{cite web |title=A Quick History of the Pet Fence |url=https://www.petstreetmall.com/articles/a-quick-history-of-the-pet-fence.aspx |website=Pet Street Mall |publisher=Pet Street Mall |accessdate=9 September 2019}}</ref>.In 1990, Invisible Fence Co became [[Invisible Fence Inc]].<ref name="whitma" />
==Technology==
A typical invisible fence transmits a radio signal that takes the geometric shape of the area that is enclosed by the system. The pet wears a lightweight [[Dog collar|collar]] whichthat emits a sensory cue, such as a warning sound, when the pet nears the boundary.<ref name="ptsmlla">{{cite web |title=How Wireless Pet Fences Work |url=https://www.petstreetmall.com/articles/how-wireless-pet-fences-work.aspx |website=Pet Street Mall |publisher=Pet Street Mall |accessdate=9 September 2019}}</ref> If the warning is ignored and the pet crosses beyond the boundary of the fence, the pet receives an additional signal, such as a mild [[electric shock]], fromor thea collar..<refcombination name="ptsmlla">{{citeof websignals |title=Howthat Wirelesscauses Petthe Fencesanimal Workto |url=https://www.petstreetmall.com/articles/how-wireless-pet-fences-work.aspxadapt |website=Petits Streetbehavior Malland |publisher=Petremain Street Mall |accessdate=9 September 2019}}</ref> The stimulus delivered towithin the petboundary. may beOnly appliedanimals morethat frequentlywear andequipment atthat greater strength ascaptures the animalsystem's approachessignals theare boundary.affected Theby petthe soondefined learnsboundaries to avoidof the invisible fence location, making it an effective virtual barriersystem.<ref name=tracking>{{cite Animalsbook (including|title=Tracking humans)animals notwith wearingGPS the|date=2001 collar|publisher=Macaulay areInstitute unaffected|location=Aberdeen byScotland the|isbn=9780708406434 defined|page=86 boundaries|url=https://macaulay.webarchive.hutton.ac.uk/gps/gps_abstract_2001.pdf}}</ref>
Although called "fences", these fence less boundary systems are more accurately termed electronic pet containment systems. Similar Incontainment costsystems analysismay they have shownbe to becontain much cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing than physical fences.[[livestock]]<ref name="Electric_fence_for_dog"tracking/>{{cite webin |url=http://electricfencefordog.org/circumstances |title=Electricwhere Fenceordinary For[[agricultural Dogsfencing]] -is Guidesnot forconvenient Electricor petlegal, containmentsuch systemsas |author=Joseon A.British Yates |date=2014-08-31}}</ref>[[common land]].
Pet fences are also used sometimes to contain [[livestock]] in circumstances where ordinary [[agricultural fencing]] is not convenient or legal, such as on British [[common land]].
===Variants===
InAn some pet''underground fence'' systems,is therean iselectronic asystem wireto (whichprevent maypets befrom leaving a yard. A buried) thatwire around the containment area emits a [[radio wave|radio]] signal to activate the receiver collar. OtherA pet[[shock fencescollar]] areon wireless.the pet Ratherreceives thanthese usingsignals. anWhen undergroundthe wire,pet theyapproaches emitthe aburied radiofence signalline, fromthe collar makes a centralwarning unit,sound and activatethen whengives the pet travels beyond a certainharmless [[radius]] from theelectric unitshock.
Other pet fences are wireless. Rather than using an underground wire, they emit a radio signal from a central unit, and activate when the pet travels beyond a certain [[radius]] from the unit.
In another type, the collar uses [[GPS]] signals to determine proximity to a predetermined "virtual fence", without the need for any physical installation at all. This system allows some additional flexibility, such as simpler inclusion of "islands" within the containment area, and easier changes to the boundary, although location of the boundary is not as precise due to GPS tolerances.
In addition, some collars have multiple settings, allowing owners to have a collar emit a tone only, or one of several levels of static shock, with higher levels used to contain bigger, stronger dogs.
===Underground fence===
An ''underground fence'' is an electronic system to prevent pets from leaving a yard. A buried wire around the area to be used is energized with coded signals. A [[shock collar]] on the pet receives these signals. When the pet approaches the buried fence line, the collar makes a warning sound and then gives the pet a harmless electric shock. One popular brand claims more than three million installations.
The first commercial underground fencing system to contain house pets within a predetermined area was patented by Richard Peck, owner of Invisible Fence Company in 1974. Peck’s underground fence was also the first borderless containment system used to contain livestock. In 1987 Peck successfully contained domestic goats to a limited area using [[Radio Frequency|RF]] receiving collars intended for household dogs.<ref name="Range Management Tools">{{cite conference| last=Anderson|first=D.M.| title=Virtual fencing - a prescription range animal management tool for the 21st century| url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291805805_Virtual_fencing_-_A_prescription_range_animal_management_tool_for_the_21st_century| p=86| conference=Tracking animals with GPS : an international conference held at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, 12-13 March 2001| publisher=Macaulay Institute| location=Aberdeen| isbn=0-7084-0643-2| accessdate=2018-12-16}}</ref> Invisible Fence, Inc. is currently owned by Radio Systems Corporation. Further advances in technology have ensured that the safety of both dogs and cats is assured. Using a new FM digital technology [[DogFence https://dogfence.co.uk/use-fm-radio-frequencies/|DogFence Ltd]] are able to guarantee no false activation on the pets computer collar.
==Downsides==
Underground fences cannot exclude other animals from the predetermined boundary.<ref name="healthy pet"healthypet>{{cite webbook |lastlast1=Marder |firstfirst1=Amy |title=HealthyYour healthy pet : a practical guide to choosing and raising happier, healthier dogs and cats Pet|urldate=http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=136adb21-0a21-4716-a187-f259e74f77c7%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=21240411994 |publisher=AcademicRodale SearchPress Premier|accessdateisbn=Dec0875961851 5,|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/yourhealthypetpr00mard_0 2011}}</ref> A dog contained within an underground fence can still fall prey to a larger dog or coyote, or even a person looking to harass or steal animals. This type of fencing does not have a warning mechanism to humans who might inadvertently wander inside the perimeter, making them more susceptible to dog bites/attacks. This type of containment is also not maintenance free; this system can only operate if the batteries in the animal’sanimal's collar are properly working. Finally underground fencing is not effectively accepted by every animal. Some pets become too afraid to wander into their yards out of fear of being shocked.<ref name="healthyhealthypet pet"/> If a pet is afraid to leave the yard it is usually a training issue. In August 2018 the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British Government]] announced that all containment fences should be professionally installed to ensure the safety and security of both cats and dogs.[https://dogfence.co.uk/dogfence-installation/]
AccordingElectronic tofences attorneymay Kennethnot Phillips,prevent electronic fencesdog havebite downsidesincidents because children or other persons may still be able to approach dogs or other animals that are confined by such a fence, and the fence may cause the behavior of a confined animal to appear better than it actually is. In additionAlso, an electronic fence may not bebecomes effectiveineffective if an animal crosses a boundary while in a state of excitement.<ref name="kenneth_phillips_electronic_containment">{{cite web |url=http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/fence.htm |title=DOG BITE LAW - Electronic Pet Containment and Liability for Dog Bites |author=Phillips, Kenneth |date=2006-12-05 |accessdate=2010-10-24}}</ref>
== Upsides ==
Underground fences can be used on terrains or properties where it is not possible to traditionally fence. Modern systems are also suitable for cats and each year hundreds of thousands of cats go missing and are either killed or injured on the road. The underground fence can be used to secure driveways and open areas. Since the innovation of new training protocols for cats the underground fence has become a viable option for cat owners as well.
A 2016 [[University of Lincoln]] study that looked at the use of cat containment using electronic fences; reportingfound "Nono evidence of long-term welfare problems with electronic containment of cats". <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/news/2016/09/1265.asp|title=No evidence of long-term welfare problems with electronic containment of cats|last=Lincoln|first=University of|website=University of Lincoln Press Office|language=en|access-date=2018-09-10}}</ref>
==See also==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/pet-fence.htm Pet Fences] at [[HowStuffWorks]]
*[http://www.caninejournal.com/invisible-fence-collar/ Pros and Cons of an Invisible Fence]
*[http://www.k9ofmine.com/invisible-dog-fence/ An Owner's Guide to Dog Fences]
*[https://www.catfence.co.uk/ Cat Containment using electronic fence]
*[https://dogfence.co.uk/uncategorized/are-electric-dog-fences-illegal/ Are dog fences illegal?]
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