Living with more than one dog usually means living with more than one personality. One may be perfectly happy staying near the house. Another wants to make a lap around the entire yard every time the door opens. One picks up a new routine almost immediately, while the other takes a little longer. Questions we hear often from families with multiple dogs include:
Can one hidden dog fence really work for all of them?
A DogWatch® Hidden Fence can work with multiple dogs on the same property. The dogs share the same yard boundary, but each one wears their own receiver collar, which can be adjusted for that individual dog. That means your dogs don’t have to be the same size, age, breed, or personality to use the same system.
How does one Hidden Fence work for multiple dogs?
The boundary is installed around the part of the yard where you want your dogs to have room to play and spend time outside. Each dog wears their own DogWatch receiver collar and learns that same boundary. You don’t need a separate underground fence for every dog. What can be different is the receiver setting for each dog and the way each one responds during training. So if one dog is smaller or more sensitive than another, the system can be set up with that in mind.
Does each dog need their own receiver collar?
Yes. Each dog needs their own receiver collar. That’s what allows the system to work for dogs who may be very different from each other. One dog may respond well at one setting, while another needs something different. And size isn’t the only factor. Two dogs that weigh about the same can have completely different personalities and respond differently when they are learning the boundary. A separate receiver makes it possible to set things up for the dog wearing it.
Can small and large dogs use the same Hidden Fence?
Absolutely. A small dog and a much larger dog can share the same hidden fence boundary. So can an older dog and a younger dog with a lot more energy. They don’t need separate areas of the yard just because they are different. Each dog has their own receiver, so the settings can be adjusted individually while both dogs learn where the yard boundary is.
Why it helps to train dogs one at a time
Even dogs that do almost everything together usually benefit from learning the hidden fence boundary separately. There are fewer distractions, and you can see how each dog is responding. One dog may understand the flags and warning signal very quickly. Another may need a few more sessions before the boundary becomes familiar. That’s perfectly normal. The important thing is that each dog understands the boundary for themselves rather than simply following what the other dog is doing. Once they’ve both learned it, they can enjoy the yard together.
What if you bring home another dog later?
A lot can change after a hidden fence is installed. Maybe you started with one dog and later decided to adopt another. Or maybe a puppy has recently joined a household where the older dog has been using the DogWatch system for years. You generally don’t need another underground fence. A receiver can be added for the new dog, and the new dog can be introduced to the boundary that is already there. Even if the other dog knows the yard inside and out, the newcomer still needs their own training. They need time to learn what the flags and warning signal mean.
Does having more than one dog affect the cost?
There is still one main hidden fence system, but every dog needs their own receiver collar, so the number of dogs can affect the overall price. The yard itself also plays a role. Property size and layout, driveway crossings, and any areas you want your dogs to stay out of can all affect the installation. That’s why it helps to look at the actual property and talk about the dogs who will be using the system instead of trying to come up with a price based on yard size alone.
Is a Hidden Fence a Good Fit for a Multi-Dog Home?
For many families with more than one dog, a hidden fence is a simple way to give everyone more room outside. The dogs can share the same yard and learn the same boundary without having to use exactly the same receiver settings or learn at exactly the same pace. If you have two dogs, three dogs, or another one may be joining the family soon, Metro-East DogWatch can help you determine the right setup for your property and your pets. We install and service DogWatch Hidden Fence systems throughout the Metro East Illinois area.
Call Metro-East DogWatch at 618-692-9131 to learn more or request a free in-yard estimate.