An Innovation in Electronic Dog Fencing

Posted on April 9, 2012 by acornpet

This Wireless Pet Fence Was Engineered With Toy Breeds and Cats In Mind

PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds

As they are electrically powered components, each pet fence transmitter sold in our online pet store must be protected from the weather. Obviously it cannot be exposed to moisture and should be positioned in a dry, well-ventilated location on the ground level of your home where temperatures are unlikely to go below freezing although, according to the owner’s manual, the PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-13210 Transmitter is safe to position in an area where the temperature falls as low as -10° F. The owner’s manual for the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence Transmitter IF-100 only says that it should be positioned in an area where temperatures do not fall below freezing. These transmitters should also be located at least 3 feet away from any large metal objects (as these items may reduce the size and shape of your pet’s containment area) and 2 to 4 feet above the ground.

In terms of a wireless installation, most smaller yards will be fine with only one transmitter but, over the years, many customers have approached us inquiring into the feasibility of a wireless pet fence system for a larger property. Generally speaking though, if a property is larger than about an acre, we try to steer that prospective customer toward a wired system purchase for 2 essential reasons:

1. Expense is a concern for most customers and a pet fence installation on a larger property which would require a number of wireless pet fence transmitters to create a viable containment area of intersecting circles will become prohibitively expensive and soon double or triple the cost of installing a wired system. This is because the PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-13210 Transmitter (the black object pictured to the right in the system’s graphic on the right side of this page) which comes bundled with the PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-12917 For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds allows for a containment field range of up to a 105′ radius (for a 210′ diameter maximum or about a 3/4 acre containment zone) and the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence Transmitter IF-100 which comes bundled with the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds allows for a containment field range of up to a 90′ radius (for a 180′ diameter maximum or about a 1/2 acre containment zone) so it becomes easy to see just from a monetary viewpoint that a wireless installation on a large property is impractical.

2. Even where expense is not a factor, as a practical matter, given that as mentioned above, the transmitters are electrically powered components such that their location must meet certain criteria such as being dry, there is usually no way to position the transmitters the required number of feet apart unless conveniently there are already existing heated, insulated structures on the property ideally appointed to facilitate such a set up. Otherwise one would need to consider the complications involved with erecting small weather proof structures with access to the household electrical supply for each transmitter and, more often than not, such an undertaking would make it more trouble than it would be worth.

For these reasons, we recommend our wireless pet fences for smaller yards and not large ones.

It is also worth reminding prospective wireless pet fence owners as well as folks who already own one or the other of these 2 wireless systems that these 2 systems and their components are compatible with one another so that, for example, owners of the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds system which has been on the market for years will be happy to learn that they now have the option of ordering a Stay and Play Wireless Fence Receiver Collar PIF00-12918 for that very small dog or even for a cat without needing to swap out transmitters.

Of course, as with every item in our online pet store, the Stay And Play does come with a money back guarantee so a customer may ship it back to the warehouse if it does not meet his or her expectations and only be responsible for the cost of shipping back and forth. For more information, please leave us a voice mail at (800) 318-9039 or send an e-mail to help@acornpetco.com. We’re here to help.

Dog Fencing to Keep Your Cat in Your Yard

Posted on January 9, 2012 by acornpet

PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds

Finally a Wireless Pet Fence for Cats

On each of PetSafe’s wireless pet fence transmitters, the range of the invisible signal field can be adjusted at the Boundary Dial anywhere from just a few feet radius from the transmitter to a much larger coverage area for safe roaming of pets. As we all remember learning in our high school geometry days, the diameter of a circle is double its radius. Everyone remembers that, right?

The PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-13210 Transmitter (the black object pictured to the right in the system’s graphic on the right side of this page) which comes bundled with the PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-12917 For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds allows for a containment field range of a 17′ radius (for a 34′ diameter minimum containment zone) up to a 105′ radius (for a 210′ diameter maximum or about 3/4 acre containment zone) – somewhat wider than the 15′ (for a 30′ diameter minimum containment zone) up to a 90′ radius (for a 180′ diameter maximum or about 1/2 acre containment zone) available with the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence Transmitter IF-100 which comes bundled with the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds – the only wireless pet fence we had available for outdoor use in our online pet store until the recent release of the new PetSafe Stay And Play.

The shape of the signal emanating from any one transmitter is always a perfect circle (actually a globe) and that shape is unalterable but, with either system, multiple base stations (transmitters) can be combined and overlapped to create larger containment areas of multiple overlapping intersecting circles. Of course, one can’t see the invisible field as it is invisible but the shape of the boundary created by any 2 coupled transmitters could be visualized as being similar to that of the MasterCard™ logo. The signal is cancelled where the circles intersect allowing your pet access to the entire containment area created by the intersecting circles. Each transmitter can be set for a different range.

The shape of the boundary created by any 2 coupled transmitters could be visualized as being similar to that of the MasterCard™ logo.

The range of either the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds or the PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-12917 For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds can be increased by the addition of transmitters regardless of which transmitter is used with which system which is to say that these two systems and their respective components are compatible and interchangeable such that you can mix and match. The advantage of this is that anyone who already owns the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds (and there are many) could use any number of Stay and Play Wireless Fence Receiver Collars PIF00-12918 to contain any number of pets within the same boundary already up and running with a PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence Transmitter IF-100 and the sleeker design of the newer collar makes it ideal for smaller dogs and even cats. Likewise as the PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence Transmitter IF-100 is far less expensive than the PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-12917 For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds, it is a viable substitute as the difference in the size of the boundary ranges is marginal.

Pet Fence for Safe, Convenient, Portable Containment of Cats And Small Dogs

Posted on January 6, 2012 by acornpet

PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds

Finally a Wireless Pet Fence for Cats

When cat owners come to us looking for a solution to the problem of their cat or cats straying from their yard, our first recommendation is always our PetSafe Premium Fence for Cats PIG00-11007 which has been engineered specifically for cats. This is a ‘wired’ system which means that it utilizes a combination of underground or above ground boundary wire and a collar/receiver to safely contain your pet. Your pet responds to a mild static shock through 2 contact points (otherwise known as probes) on the receiver which is attached to the collar worn around your pet’s neck. The 2 contact points make contact with the pet’s neck and, when your pet approaches the boundary, a radio signal sent through the boundary wire from an electrically powered transmitter causes the collar/receiver to warn him or her with a beeping alert. If the warning is ignored, a mild stimulus (static shock) follows the warning.

Wireless systems, on the other hand, work by transmitting a radio signal in all directions from a base station transmitter. A boundary control dial allows you to adjust the distance from the transmitter to the boundary zone, that is, to increase or decrease the boundary radius. As with a wired system, your pet wears a collar/receiver with contact points that touch his or her neck and, once trained, is allowed to roam freely in the containment area. When your pet reaches the boundary zone – the perimeter of the containment area, the collar/receiver emits a warning tone before delivering a safe static correction through the contact points on the collar/receiver to get your pet’s attention and compel him or her to retreat from the boundary. As with wired systems, you temporarily define the containment area with boundary flags for a visual aid in training your pet.

Of course in either case, an electronic pet fence is NOT a solid barrier. The system is designed to act as a deterrent to remind pets by static correction to remain in the boundary established.

The approximate weight of the PetSafe Premium Cat Fence Collar/Receiver PIG00-11006 which comes with our PetSafe Premium Fence for Cats PIG00-11007 is only a super light 1.8 ounces including batteries and probes with collar strap and the dimensions of the receiver box on the collar according to PetSafe are 2.25″ width x 1″ length x 1″ height without the collar strap and its flexible adjustable collar provides a comfortable fit for neck sizes 6″ to 11.5″.

Now that PetSafe has introduced the new PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-12917 For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds, we can offer a wireless dog fencing option which has been proven safe, comfortable and effective for pets over 5 pounds and that includes cats.

Although a wide selection of Indoor Wireless Fence Systems for Dogs and Cats has been available at our online pet store for the longest time, the only wireless pet fence we had available for outdoor use was our PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds which has been proven safe, comfortable and effective for pets over 8 pounds.

Although the Instant Fence is a popular and reliable legacy system, one drawback has always been that the bulkiness of its PIF-275-19 collar/receivers kept us from being able to recommend it to owners of cats. The good news is that the new PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-12917 For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds has been ordered by several cat owners who are successfully using it to contain their cats. There may well be cats somewhere out there wearing the PIF-275-19 and there probably are particularly if they are exceptionally large older cats. We’ve sold hundreds of PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds over the years as well as PIF-275-19s independently of the rest of the system to folks who already own(ed) it without ever having any way of knowing the species, age, weight or breed of the animal(s) for which it was being ordered.

The weight recommendation for the collars is based on the fit of the collar and not necessarily the weight of the collar device itself. On the Instant Fence collar, the distance between the contact probes was further apart, requiring the dog or cat to be bigger to effectively accommodate the fit of the collar as both probes have to touch the neck simultaneously for the stimulation to be received.

The weight recommendation for the newer collar is less because there is less distance between the contact probes on the collar which means a smaller pet can accommodate the fit of the smaller collar. Even though the newer collar is somewhat heavier, due to the rechargeable battery, the overall size of the device is smaller and designed to accommodate a smaller pet.

Our reliable liaison at PetSafe Customer Service explains it this way:
‘The weight recommendation for the Stay And Play collars (5 pounds and up versus 8 pounds and up for the Instant Fence collars) is based on the fit of the collar and not necessarily the weight of the collar device itself. On the Instant Fence Wireless Fence Collar/Receiver PIF-275-19, the distance between the contact probes was further apart, requiring the dog/cat to be bigger to effectively accommodate the fit of the collar as both probes have to touch the neck simultaneously for the stimulation to be received.

The weight recommendation for our new Stay and Play Wireless Fence Receiver Collar PIF00-12918 is lower because there is less distance between the contact probes on the collar which means a smaller pet can accommodate the fit of the smaller collar. Even though the newer collar is somewhat heavier due to the rechargeable battery, the overall size of the device is smaller and designed to accommodate a smaller pet.

The weight of the collar should be fine for a cat weighing at least 5 pounds. If you have a customer that is concerned about the weight, we recommend that he/she speak with a vet and address those concerns and ensure that the pet is able to support the weight of the device.’

As owners of cats have been ordering the system and not returning it under our money back guarantee, this suggests of course that it must be working out for them although it should be understood that there are those who believe that a cat should be a little larger than 5 pounds given that, although the new collar is smaller than the older model, it is still going to appear somewhat large on most cats.

Wireless Pet Fence For Cats And Small Dogs

Posted on December 22, 2011 by acornpet

PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds

Finally a Wireless Pet Fence for Cats

The recent introduction of the new PetSafe Stay And Play Wireless Pet Fence PIF00-12917 For Dogs And Cats Over 5 Pounds offers a wireless dog fencing option which has been proven safe, comfortable and effective for pets over 5 pounds and that includes cats.

Although wired systems are less costly for outdoor pet containment, we understand that many pet owners long for the portability and ease of set up of a wireless pet fence. Until the recent release of the new PetSafe Stay And Play however, the only outdoor use system offering these advantages had been our PetSafe Instant Fence Wireless Fence PIF-300 For Dogs Over 8 Pounds which has been proven safe, comfortable and effective for pets over 8 pounds.

Each of these systems offers the convenience of not having to lay out or bury boundary wire as is the case with our wired systems. Many prospective pet fence buyers are afraid that installing a wired system will be too time and labor intensive and of course there is no understating the convenience of the ‘plug and play’ functionality of a wireless system, of being able to just pick it up and carry it with you when traveling for example and bring your dog(s) or cat(s) with you. You can set one up almost anywhere including in the wilderness by using a DC to AC Inverter which plugs into the cigarette lighter of your RV, etc. effectively turning it into a powerful wall outlet.

The Instant Fence Collar PIF-275-19 weight is approximately 2.5 ounces with strap, batteries and probes which is of course super light but its drawback has always been that it was considered to be too bulky for a cat to carry around so we never felt comfortable recommending the Instant Fence for cats. We have had many inquires over the years from cat owners looking for a wireless solution and we always wished we had a pet fence to offer to cat owners who would really rather order a wireless system. Now though, with the release of the Stay And Play, we feel confident that we can offer a great outdoor wireless pet fence option for smaller dogs and even cats because the Stay and Play collar is designed for pets that weigh as little as 5 pounds and have a neck size as narrow as 6 inches. It is 21% smaller than the Instant Fence collar with a sleeker design which compensates for its weighing in at a slightly heavier 3.1 ounces. The Stay And Play collar is completely waterproof and equipped with a rechargeable lithium ion battery that can be fully recharged in 2 to 3 hours by opening a port under the collar strap and the charge lasts around 2 weeks. A charger is included with the kit. The Instant Fence collar’s batteries need to be replaced periodically.

We have cat owners ordering and keeping the Stay And Play so, if the circumference of a cat’s neck measures 6? or less and the cat weighs at least 5 pounds, then that cat should be a good candidate for this system.

Of course, as with every item in our online pet store, the Stay And Play does come with a money back guarantee so a customer may ship it back to the warehouse if it does not meet his or her expectations and only be responsible for the cost of shipping back and forth. For more information, please call (800) 318-9039 or send an e-mail to help@acornpetco.com.