Invisible Fences refers to a specific brand of electric dog fence.  A radio fence is a specific type of buried fencing that utilizes a radio transmitter and receiver to encourage your dog to remain within the property.  Using an electric fence will prevent your animal from running out to the street or getting away and ensure that they remain within the boundaries you set.

An Invisible fence is set up by representatives of the parent company.  They will come to your home and discuss the parameters you intend to set for your animal.  Using these boundaries they will implant a transmitter wire below ground, about six inches deep.  The wire is connected to a power source and it begins sending a radio signal.  The radio signal is specific to your receiver unit.  The receiver is set upon a collar that your dog wears.  The collar contains a device that will deliver a small electric shock to your animal if it passes the boundaries of the invisible fence.

Once the wire is set into the ground and then activated, the technician will set up a series of flags that mimic the perimeter of the wire.  With the system activated the company will send out a trainer to help you train your dog.  You will be taught how to bring the animal within an appropriate distance and let them sense a small shock.  The training sessions must be short, so as not to overtax your dog.  Expect that it will take your dogs several weeks to associate the flags on the ground with the shock and further learn that they should not pass the line of flags.  Eventually you should be able to remove the flags as well.

The key advantage to installing the Invisible fence is that once it is installed there will be no sign of fencing.  You can be confident in the knowledge that your dog is safe on your property but still there is nothing to see of the fencing.  Other than the collar that your dog wears there is no sign that fencing is present at all. 

The collar your dog wears is specifically designed to work with the implanted wire.  As your dog approaches the wire they receive a small shock.  If they get closer the shock increases in intensity.  The goal is to discourage your animal from going beyond the designated line you have set.  Some collars increase the level of shock with each warning and set themselves to start again at just one level below the final shock of the previous.  The goal is to more quickly discourage the dog from approaching the fence.

While an invisible fence will not keep other animals from entering your yard it will keep your dog within your preset parameters.  It also is no guarantee of keeping other intruders, such as children from entering your yard.  None the less, you will find that an invisible fence will help protect your best friend without affecting the appearance of your home. If all else fails you can always use a spacious dog kennel.