When you move to a new home there are so many things to think about and keep track of.
You may wonder how you’ll keep your dogs at home in the new yard, especially if you’re using an invisible fence.
Can you take an invisible fence with you when you move?
Read on to find out the answer to this and more, and get some great tips for moving your dog’s invisible containment system with you.
Can You Take an Invisible Fence With You When You Move?
Luckily for you, yes you can, and it’s relatively easy.
There are many different options when it comes to invisible fence systems, and all of the options are able to be moved wherever you go.
If you have an in-ground invisible fence you may choose to leave the wire buried in the old yard and install new wire in the new yard.
You can save a bundle of money by bringing the transmitter and collar with you.
A wireless system is easy to move because the only components are the transmitter and the receiver collar. They can be moved anywhere you like and set up quickly.
No matter which system you have, you’ll need to flag the new boundary and go through the full training process with your dog so it learns where the new boundaries are to stay safe in the new yard.
How Easy is it to Move an Invisible Fence System?
If you purchased your invisible fence through a local dealer, call to see if you can get them to move the fence to your new home.
Some Invisible Fence dealers may offer a discount on the new setup.
If you’ve purchased a DIY invisible fence, you can move it yourself to your new yard, but how easy this is depends on what type of fence you purchased.
- In-ground invisible fences – will likely require new boundary wire for the new yard.
- Wireless invisible fences – the entire system is easily moved and reset.
- GPS invisible fences – are completely self-contained and easy to move.
Any type of invisible fence that you’ve purchased can be moved.
The only type of fence that may require a bit more money to reinstall is the in-ground fence, depending on how much of it you take with you.
Read More: Can Underground Wire Be Used Above Ground? If you move around a lot, it may be easier to install your underground fence above ground. But is it safe? Here’s what you need to consider!
How to Move an In-ground Invisible Fence
The in-ground invisible fences are the fences that require you to have a wire placed underground, which determines the “fence” barrier.
These fences are definitely a great option and can be moved, though, it will take a little more effort to move and reinstall in your new yard.
With an in-ground invisible fence, there are 3 components that will need to be taken with you.
- The wiring that goes underground to form the perimeter
- Transmitter unit that sends the electrical signal through the wire
- The collar your pet wears with a receiver on it
With this option, you would have to remove the wire from the ground, store it in a safe place while traveling, and reinstall it around your new yard.
The easier option is to leave the old wire in the old yard and buy new wire to install in your new yard.
The cost of wire is relatively inexpensive and it doesn’t take much effort to bury the new wire.
Then you’ll hook it up to the old transmitter, flag the boundary, and train your dog to the new yard.
Read More: How Deep is Invisible Fence Buried? Here’s how deep you should bury your fence for the strongest signal.
How to Move a Wireless Invisible Fence
If you have a wireless invisible fence then you’re in luck.
This is by far the easiest and simplest option out there when it comes to moving, and has fewer components to take with you on your move.
- A radio transmitter that sets the invisible boundary
- The collar your pet wears with a receiver on it
Wireless invisible fences only require you to have a transmitter, that puts out a signal of how far your dog can go, and a collar.
Therefore you can just bring it with you, and set it up at your new home.
You’ll still have to go through the process of setting up the transmitter and boundary, then flagging the boundary and training your dog to stay inside it after you’ve moved.
How to Move a GPS Dog Fence
A GPS dog fence is easy to move because everything you need is contained in the dog’s collar and controlled by an app on your phone.
- Turn off the GPS fence connected to your dog’s collar before you move.
- Once you get to the new yard, place the collar in the center of the perimeter you want to set up and then turn it on.
- Use the app to set the new invisible boundary.
- Flag the boundary and train the dog to stay inside the new boundary.
GPS dog collars are most widely known as simple trackers, but many collars have “virtual fence” capability that works just like other invisible fences.
Read our related article, Do GPS Dog Fences Work? for more on the effectiveness and how to use a GPS dog fence to keep your pet home!
How to Disconnect and Move Your In-ground Fence
When getting ready to move and take your invisible fence with you, there are important steps to take to do it properly.
- Take the collar off of your dog and shut it off.
- Unplug the transmitter from the outlet and store it carefully with the adapter cord.
- Find the perimeter where you buried the invisible fence wire and carefully dig it up without breaking or crimping the wire. It should be buried only 1-2 inches below the surface, so it’s easy to remove.
- Coil the wire up carefully without tangling it and store it in a bag that will keep it clean and tangle-free so you can uncoil and reinstall it in the new yard.
After those simple steps, your invisible fence will be all packed up and ready to move to your next destination.
Here is a video that tells you how to disconnect your fence so you can take it with you.
How to Reinstall Invisible Fence After Moving
After you have made it to your new home you may be wondering how to reinstall your invisible fence system.
Depending on if you have an in-ground invisible fence or a wireless invisible fence, the methods for installation will be different.
In-ground Invisible Fence Installation
With the right steps, reinstalling your in-ground invisible fence will be relatively easy, and can get done in a timely manner.
- You first need to map out where you would like your boundary line to be so you can make sure you have enough wiring for your new yard.
- Dig out a trench around 1-3 inches deep where you want your wire to be placed. It needs to be just wide enough to slip the wire in.
- Insert the wire into the trench you dug out.
- Hook the wiring up to power, and make sure the collar works with the wire before you cover it.
- If everything is working properly, you are free to bury your wire.
Your new wired invisible fence won’t work without training your dog in the new yard.
Be sure to install flags around the yard and take 2-3 weeks to train your dog to stay safely at home.
Wireless Invisible Fence Installation
Wireless invisible fences are extremely easy to get reinstalled since they don’t require you to put a wire underground.
- The most important step is finding the perfect place to put your transmitter. Wherever you put your transmitter will be the center of the containment area and must have an electrical outlet.
- If your receiver for your dog’s collar didn’t already come with batteries, you will then need to put batteries in the receiver. Depending on what fencing system you have you will either turn the receiver on, or the collar might need to be registered.
- After you have everything powered on and working, you will then need to determine the radius of your pet’s roaming area.
- After that, you can set up your training flags along the perimeter of your invisible fence.
- You will need to get the correction level set up for your fencing system and train your dog to the new boundary.
Read our related article, Where Should PetSafe Wireless Fence Be Placed? for more installation tips to get the most out of your system!
The Best Invisible Fence Brands for Frequent Moving
If you move around a lot and are looking into getting an invisible fence that can travel with you, there are many great wireless and in-ground options.
Wireless Fence Brands
When it comes to wireless invisible fences, there are many different amazing brands to choose from. Some of the best options are:
- PetSafe wireless fence – Collar fits pets as light as 5 pounds and covers up to 3/4 acre with one transmitter.
- PetSafe wireless containment fence – Robust, fits pets as light as 8 pounds and covers up to 1/2 acre with one transmitter.
- WIEZ wireless GPS fence – Goes anywhere you go with no equipment needed. Uses GPS satellites to set the virtual boundary.
In-ground Invisible Fence Brands
If you opt to go with an in-ground invisible fence, some of the best options are:
- SportDOG invisible fence – Rechargeable and expandable to 100 acres with a single transmitter.
- PetSafe fence for stubborn dogs – Robust, 16-gauge wire and correction levels that are higher than normal – for training dogs with high pain tolerance.
- PetSafe basic fence – Super affordable, works for most dogs, and is easy to install.
These fences work quite a bit better for containing dogs because the wire can be customized to fit any yard, and the signal is clearer.
However, they’re harder to move if you frequently transition homes.
Wireless fences are much easier to set up and move, but they can be hampered by obstacles in the yard and create only circular boundaries that may not work with every yard.
Ultimately, your pet’s disposition, the size of the yard, and the frequency of moving will all weigh on your decision regarding the type of fence to buy.
Read More: Can You Use 14 Gauge Wire for Underground Dog Fence? Yes – and here’s all you need to know to use it!
Which Type of Fence is Safer?
When it comes to your dog’s safety, you may think that in-ground invisible fences and wireless invisible fences are equally as safe, but that’s not necessarily the case.
When it comes to these two options, the in-ground fences are slightly safer, and we’ll tell you why.
In-ground invisible fences are safer and more reliable because the in-ground fences actually have a wire underground to rely on.
Wireless fences can have inconsistent boundaries, are often obstructed by things in the yard, and can have interference that creates dead zones, allowing your dog to run away.
When looking into these two options, it’s very important to make sure you do some research.
Weigh the pros and cons for each of the options, so you’re picking which is the best for your living situation, and for your dog’s safety.
Which Type of Fence is Cheaper to Move?
You may be weighing your options, and wondering what the price difference is between the in-ground invisible fences and the wireless invisible fences when you have to move the fence.
- Wireless fences are the cheapest to move if you don’t have to buy an extender to cover your new yard.
- If you have to buy a wireless extender you’ll pay over $200 to add play space. Keep in mind that the extension has to overlap so it will increase space by about 1/2 to make a peanut-shaped safe area.
- Wired fences generally cost less than wired fences, and you can bring the wire with you.
- If you choose to buy new wire for a wired invisible fence, it will cost you around $50 to get enough wire to cover a standard suburban yard.
Considering that once you buy the main parts of either system you can keep them and take them with you, either option is still cheaper than buying and installing a traditional fence everywhere you go.
If you need help from a professional, you can expect to pay around $2,000+ for an in-ground fence, which may include at least one session of dog training.
Final Thoughts
Either type of fence is relatively easy to move and much quicker to set up than a traditional fence.
A wireless fence can be set up in a couple of hours. A wired fence can be set up in an afternoon.
Both types of fence will require that you flag the new boundary and train your dog to stay inside of it.
