After having a...n Innotek in-ground fence for almost 10 years, our collars died and we were looking to replace the system. There was nothing out there comparable, except for SportDog. I've had it set up for about 4-5 days. So far, it's great. I have the 'contain and train' with remote trainer, and it's a bit more complicated than our Innotek, which did not have the remote. It works great: It gives a warning vibration and sound prior to a shock. Our dog knows the routine, so he stops at the beeping sound. It hooked right up to our current in-ground copper wire ( about 5 acres worth) and works great. No need to replace in ground wire. Potential Cons: The 'box' on the collar is about twice the size and weight of the Innotek. It's really big and heavy. I thought the Innotek one was more than I wanted to leave on my dog, but this SportDog is MUCH bigger and seems like it would be uncomfortable and annoying. Our dogs are about 40-45 pounds and they are ok for that size, but a smaller dog it would just be way too big. For the record, our dog doesn't seem like it bothers him, but I would still like it about half the size and weight it is now. The manual says to only leave on for 12 hours at a time, but that's not practical. The dog knows he can run off when the collar is not on, sooooo.... what's the point if your dog is not protected 24/7? I leave it on all the time and just make sure to leave it loose enough that it doesn't poke him. As long as it's on, he doesn't go near the boundary. Compared to our straightforward Innotek collars, this system is like a camera that has a LOT of bells and whistles. There are so many options that it makes it difficult and more time consuming to set up (even for someone extremely familiar with and experienced with systems like this) , and there are features you may not use. That said, it IS nice to have those features and options. You just have to read through the manual, which is kind of lengthy, and it was hard to find what I was looking for for basic set up. So be prepared to have a highlighter on hand and highlight those areas that you will use a lot for basic operation, so you can find them again easily.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
First off, the fence does exactly what they say it... does, however...... if self installing, without a ditch witch you will hate even thinking of this as a DIY project and may abandon. I checked craig's list before purchase and lined up an installer who had the equipment to do the job right. The rental companies did not have the self powered ditch witch...what they had required pulling it ... very heavy. Second, the wire provided is too thin a gauge for machine installation and prone to breaking and is better replaced with heavier gauge wire. Third, with this particular model of fence, I also purchased a second collar made by PetSafe that starts out at a less intense shock based on my installer's suggestions because it's quite a bit smaller, lighter and has a web rather than plastic collar material. I was instructed to start with the PetSafe collar and work up to the highest shock (if needed). The dog's a whippet and they can be prone to just running right through these wireless fences, but if started young enough with enough training, the the less shock should take hold. If not, the collar that came in the box can be used to raise the challenge to the dog. So far, so good and the dog is at 6 months and clearly the equivalent of lightning when off leash. My recommendation:...if you find an installer with the equipment, he'll most likely have two or three things you will benefit from...1. experience and 2. the same fence product for the same price ... or less. The third....training! It takes longer than the manual says and if someone else is doing it that knows how...it goes faster and sticks! Good luck.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Works great BUT! If you have a dog that likes to run after ...critters or just likes to run full blast they will run through the boundary wire so fast it will not do anything, it does not have a chance to work. Now their on the other side of the boundary wire and can't cross it to get back in your yard. You really have to take the time on working them around the flags or the boundary if you want the system to work well for you.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The system works well as long as you take the time to do the... steps in the manual to train your dog. So far we haven't had any issues with it. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to keep your pets in your yard. I built an installer to pull behind my mower which made installation so easy.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This fence is awsome. It has been over 6 months and has gone t...hrough a wisconsin winter. The upgraded wired is holding up great and the fence was easy to install. It took me about 6 hours to install around my 2 acre yard and 5 1/2 was digging. I would recommend this fence to anyone looking for a containment system.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
