Electronic dog fences offer pet parents an easy way to keep their pooches safely in the yard. These types of containment systems are highly debated in the pet industry, so you really need to do your research before deciding if an electronic system is a good option for your dog. When used properly, the cordless PetSafe YardMax In Ground Dog Fence is completely safe and won't cause him any injury.
As with any electronic dog training tool, you need to be sure that you read the instructions thoroughly before using this in ground fence with your dog. You need to understand how it works, how to train your pet to use it properly and how to test the system to ensure that it is working properly before you use it with your dog.
I've been happily using a wireless pet containment fence from PetSafe for many years, but wireless systems are much more expensive than their in ground counterparts. I have been told that the PetSafe YardMax In Ground Dog Fence is a great budget friendly option for dog owners looking for an electronic containment system, but I wanted to test it out for myself before recommending it.
Did it live up to my standards? Would I use it with my dogs on a regular basis? Does it safely and consistently correct the dog? I'll answer all of these questions and give you the details on the advantages and disadvantages of this fence system in this product review.
Cordless PetSafe YardMax In Ground Dog Fence Review
I need to start out by saying that this electronic fence model is just as reliable as the wireless one that I have been using for the past few years. Unfortunately, it does have a physical wire that needs to be buried underground. I much prefer the simplicity of the wireless version, but this one definitely has a few advantages over that option as well.
With the wireless version, you can only cover 3/4 of an acre of land. In order to cover more, you'd need to buy multiple wireless systems and overlap them. The biggest benefit of an in-ground fence is that you can buy additional wire to cover a much larger space! In the case of the cordless PetSafe YardMax In Ground Dog Fence, it comes with enough wire to cover 1/3 of an acre, and you can buy additional wire to expand it up to 1.4 acres!
Now, you may be wondering why this is referred to as a “cordless” in ground. It's not a wireless fence. You still need to bury the wire underground, but the transmitter runs on batteries instead of having to be plugged into an electrical outlet.
The biggest drawback to this electric dog fence is that the transmitter requires 10 D-Cell batteries (not included).
The transmitter is 100% waterproof, so you can place it anywhere in your yard. I demonstrate how easy it is to set up the transmitter in my video review above. There are lights on the side of the transmitter that alert you when there is a problem, and easy-to-use buttons make it a cinch to set up.
One of the biggest benefits of in ground fences is that you can customize the area that you want to enclose. For example, if you have a garden, pond or other space in your yard that you don't want your dog to have access to, you can set up a perimeter around it with underground fencing. You don't have this option with a wireless fence system.
This system allows you to not only contain your dog inside your yard, but also keep him out of unwanted areas. It's ideal for homeowners with canine hazards in their yard or dog owners who only want their pet to have access to part of the yard.
The rechargeable collar receiver is waterproof, which is great for rainy days or dogs that like to swim. The battery should last about 2-3 months, depending on use and charges fully in less than 3 hours. The collar is also equipped with a low battery indicator.
You can purchase and sync an unlimited number of collars to the PetSafe YardMax In Ground Dog Fence. The collars fit dogs weighing more than 5 pounds. The collar also features 5 levels of static correction and a tone-only mode for training.
The biggest drawback to this electronic fence from PetSafe is that you'll need to bury the wire that marks the boundary. It's a tedious, time consuming task, especially if you're planning to cover over an acre of land. And, once you get the fence buried, there is always the chance of the wire breaking, meaning you'd have to dig it all up again to find the break.
However, if you're on a budget this option is much more affordable than wireless systems that can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000+ depending on the size of the area that you need to cover. You can purchase the Cordless PetSafe YardMax In Ground Dog Fence on Amazon for $349.95 and additional collars can be purchased for about $75.
READ NEXT: Electronic Dog Training Collars – How To Use Them Safely
