The short answer
Draw your yard first. The wire must form a complete loop back to the transmitter; use twisted wire for sections your dog can cross (such as from the house to the yard), and keep parallel runs several feet apart so signals don't cancel. Kits include about 500 ft of wire for 1/3 acre; larger yards need more spools.
Layout basics
- A full loop around the area, starting and ending at the transmitter.
- Twisted pairs cancel the signal where you don't want a boundary.
- Keep wire runs a few feet apart.
- Cross driveways in a saw-cut groove or under the joint.
How much wire
| Kit | Included / maximum |
|---|---|
| PetSafe Basic In-Ground | 500 ft wire for 1/3 acre; up to 5 acres |
| PetSafe Rechargeable In-Ground | 1/3 acre included; up to 25 acres (4,500 ft wire) |
| SportDOG SDF-100C | 1.33 acres included; up to 100 acres |
After install
- Test the field width with the collar's test tool.
- Put flags every few feet along the boundary.
- Keep a spare spool and splice kit for breaks.
SafetyCall your utility locator before digging.
Products mentioned
Questions readers ask
How deep should the wire be?
Follow your kit's instructions; most suggest a shallow trench of a few inches.
Why doesn't my boundary work in one area?
Parallel wires too close together can cancel the signal; separate them.