Elite Little Dog In-Ground Fence REVIEW
Elite Little Dog In-Ground Fence
Contrary to popular belief, smaller breeds aren’t less feisty than bigger ones. In fact, small dogs tend to have much more energy to waste so they usually do it by getting on their owner’s nerves. Jokes aside, many small breeds have adaption and behavior issues, and many pet owners simply don’t know how to cope with that. However, there is always a solution. The PetSafe Elite model offers quite a bit of features that are designed to help pet owners who are struggling to keep their dogs within the desired perimeter.
If you haven’t had a chance to see or use in-ground systems, don’t worry, they aren’t as complex as one might expect. They do require a bit of adjusting and setting up, but once you finish doing that, everything else is a breeze. Although, don’t forget to arm yourself with a lot of patience and goodwill because you won’t spend much time training your dog without those two things on your mind.
Specifications
- In-ground system
- Collar and receiver are both waterproof
- Four levels of correction plus tone-only mode
- Includes every needed component (wire, transmitter, receiver, manual)
In-ground system
Collar and receiver are both waterproof
Four levels of correction plus tone-only mode
Includes every needed component (wire, transmitter, receiver, manual)
Fits neck sizes 6-23 inch
Compatible with PetSafe PIF-300 wireless fence
Fits dogs weighing 5 pounds or more
Five levels of correction as well as a tone-only mode
Rechargeable batteries
In-ground system
Waterproof collar
Four levels of stimulation plus vibration
Utilizes a conventional 9V battery
Low battery indicator light
System supports multiple collars
Elite Little Dog Fence – The Basics
Elite Little Dog Fence – The Basics
Petsafe Stay and Play Fence Receiver – The Basics
If you’re looking for a system that’s a bit more complex than most plug&play ones, this might be a good one to start with. As we said, it’s not a nuisance to install, but it’s definitely not the easiest thing to do. However, both a well-written manual and DVD are included with the product so that you can set everything up correctly on the first go.
As far as the features go, there are plenty of good ones. For example, even though the four static levels offer more than enough control, you don’t have to use that method immediately, especially if your pet has no training whatsoever. Instead, it’s recommended that you use the tone-only mode for a couple of days to help your pet get used to its new gadget. On top of that, a set of small flags are included which are designed to help your dog get an idea of how big is the perimeter.
If you’re looking for a system that’s a bit more complex than most plug&play ones, this might be a good one to start with. As we said, it’s not a nuisance to install, but it’s definitely not the easiest thing to do. However, both a well-written manual and DVD are included with the product so that you can set everything up correctly on the first go.
As far as the features go, there are plenty of good ones. For example, even though the four static levels offer more than enough control, you don’t have to use that method immediately, especially if your pet has no training whatsoever. Instead, it’s recommended that you use the tone-only mode for a couple of days to help your pet get used to its new gadget. On top of that, a set of small flags are included which are designed to help your dog get an idea of how big is the perimeter.
The first thing you need to know is that this isn’t a fully functional system but a collar. That means it won’t work without a proper transmitter. In this case, if you have the PetSafe PIF-300 system already installed, this particular collar won’t have any issues when synchronization is in question.
This model offers five different levels of static correction and a tone-only mode for training. Five levels offer more than enough variety for you to fine-tune the unit and find the one that doesn’t over-stimulate your pet. It fits on any breed as long as they weigh more than five pounds. Therefore, if you own a particularly small breed, you might want to look for something with less correctional intensity.
The batteries are rechargeable, and the charger is included with the unit. You have the choice of buying the collar without the charger, but do that only if you already own one. In case this is your first PetSafe product, we recommend buying the whole set in order to avoid unpleasant surprises and additional costs.
The Features
The Design
The collar is well-designed, but the included strap isn’t the best thing you’ll ever see, to say the least. While it can be changed, the included one simply doesn’t look like a trustworthy piece. That doesn’t mean it’s a particularly bad choice, but there are definitely better ones. The receiver isn’t bulky, and the correction pins are non-invasive.
As far as the wire goes, there isn’t much to talk about. You’ll get a spool with 500 feet of wire which should be more than enough for you to set up a decent perimeter around your home. The best thing about these units is the fact that you can choose the size and shape of the area of effect instead of relying on pre-set shapes and sizes which are usually seen in wireless models.
The transmitter is easy to install, and it doesn’t require much adjusting. All you have to do is set up the wiring correctly, mount the transmitter, and that’s it! If you run into any issues, don’t hesitate to refer to the user manual, it contains a lot of advice and solutions as well.
The transmitter is easy to install, and it doesn’t require much adjusting. All you have to do is set up the wiring correctly, mount the transmitter, and that’s it! If you run into any issues, don’t hesitate to refer to the user manual, it contains a lot of advice and solutions as well.
The Battery
The collar uses proprietary 3V batteries. Luckily, it features an on/off button meaning you can control the use to a certain extent. While the batteries are proprietary, they aren’t hard to find and are pretty cheap. PetSafe sells them for about ten to fifteen dollars and they last for quite a long time. It’s recommended that you buy at least an additional pack or two of batteries because most people tend to forget about them and they get unpleasantly surprised when they realize the batteries are dead.
The collar uses proprietary 3V batteries. Luckily, it features an on/off button meaning you can control the use to a certain extent. While the batteries are proprietary, they aren’t hard to find and are pretty cheap. PetSafe sells them for about ten to fifteen dollars and they last for quite a long time. It’s recommended that you buy at least an additional pack or two of batteries because most people tend to forget about them and they get unpleasantly surprised when they realize the batteries are dead.
While many people consider this feature pretty irrelevant, the difference between rechargeable and switchable batteries does exist and it’s worth mentioning. As far as the advantages go, the biggest one is the fact that you don’t have to stack on batteries and plan ahead. Instead, all you have to do is plug it into the charger and let it recharge. The cycle lasts only about two or three hours, meaning there isn’t much downtime in the first place.
The drawback of this system is that the battery is built-in. In other words, if anything happens to the battery itself, the whole unit becomes more or less worthless. Luckily, these batteries aren’t prone to failing and breaking often.
The correction levels are excellent. The difference between levels isn’t massive which allows you to adjust the collar quite precisely. Furthermore, if you don’t want to use the correction system right away, there is a tone-only mode which is designed to help your pet get used to wearing and using its new accessory. The fact that everything is wireless makes this model perfect for parks, camping, RVs, and etcetera.
One of the great features is the vibration mode. It allows the owner to train their pet without having to use the electric stimulation. It helps you to gradually train your faithful companion instead of making you use progressive methods immediately.
Other features
While most pet collars look pretty similar to each other, some crucial differences need to be pointed out. As far as the advantages go, the biggest one is the build quality. One can easily tell that this unit is made to last, even in case you have a particularly feisty furry friend. The gadget isn’t too bulky or cumbersome, but it’s not the most comfortable thing on the market either. The collar features a plastic clip which does its job relatively well.
The system box is pretty straightforward, and there’s not much more to it. It comes with an adapter which can be a nuisance for some people due to its somewhat short wire. Therefore, make sure you plan the positioning thoroughly and install the box near an electric outlet to avoid issues with the length of the adapter wires.
While most pet collars look pretty similar to each other, some crucial differences need to be pointed out. As far as the advantages go, the biggest one is the build quality. One can easily tell that this unit is made to last, even in case you have a particularly feisty furry friend. The gadget isn’t too bulky or cumbersome, but it’s not the most comfortable thing on the market either. The collar features a plastic clip which does its job relatively well.
The system box is pretty straightforward, and there’s not much more to it. It comes with an adapter which can be a nuisance for some people due to its somewhat short wire. Therefore, make sure you plan the positioning thoroughly and install the box near an electric outlet to avoid issues with the length of the adapter wires.
PROS:
• Covers a large area
• Easy to use
• All-in-one system
Covers a large area
Easy to use
All-in-one system
• Easy to setup
• Good build quality
• Smooth correction levels
• Easy to use
• Affordable
• Good build quality
CONS:
• Can lose signal occasionally
Can lose signal occasionally
• Batteries are built-in
• No on/off switch
• Batteries don’t last long
• No OFF button
This unit is quite trustworthy. You can rest assured that it performs as advertised as long as you train your pet the right way. Make sure you watch the included DVD because it contains crucial instructions on how to painlessly and almost effortlessly train your furry friend and make them get used to their new environment.
The whole system covers a surface of about 25 acres. As you can see, that’s a massive chunk of land, and it should be more than enough for an average owner. The flag method is great, especially when combined with the tone-only setting.
This unit is quite trustworthy. You can rest assured that it performs as advertised as long as you train your pet the right way. Make sure you watch the included DVD because it contains crucial instructions on how to painlessly and almost effortlessly train your furry friend and make them get used to their new environment.
The whole system covers a surface of about 25 acres. As you can see, that’s a massive chunk of land, and it should be more than enough for an average owner. The flag method is great, especially when combined with the tone-only setting.
The overall versatility and build quality are the things that we liked the most. In the sea of cheap and underwhelming dog collars, this stands out as one that’s worth investing in. As we already said, if you own the PIF-300 system, this particular unit is one of your safest bets.
The fact that it’s very easy to use makes it ideal for beginners and inexperienced pet owners. It’s also an affordable piece in comparison to some other models that offer similar capabilities and features. It isn’t the best thing on the market, but it’s certainly a piece that’s worth checking out.
People who are searching for high portability combined with great efficiency should find this collar interesting, to say the least.
What We didn’t Like
What We didn’t Like
While it is designed for small dogs, breeds such as Chihuahuas can get seriously hurt, depending on the level of correction. Furthermore, some people complained about inconsistency. In other words, an “invisible gate” effect can sometimes occur which negates the whole point of this system. Even though these aren’t frequent occurrences but rather isolated cases, you should keep these things in mind.
The price is acceptable, but it could have been a bit better. The nominal price isn’t that bad, but when you add up the amount of batteries bought within a year, it can turn into a hefty figure. Speaking of batteries, they are proprietary which means the best place to buy them is through PetSafe themselves.
While it is designed for small dogs, breeds such as Chihuahuas can get seriously hurt, depending on the level of correction. Furthermore, some people complained about inconsistency. In other words, an “invisible gate” effect can sometimes occur which negates the whole point of this system. Even though these aren’t frequent occurrences but rather isolated cases, you should keep these things in mind.
The price is acceptable, but it could have been a bit better. The nominal price isn’t that bad, but when you add up the amount of batteries bought within a year, it can turn into a hefty figure. Speaking of batteries, they are proprietary which means the best place to buy them is through PetSafe themselves.
The battery is okay, but the fact that it cannot be changed might be a deal-breaker for some people. The recharging cycle doesn’t last long, but it can catch you off-guard. However, there is a low-battery LED light on the collar, meaning you should keep an eye on the levels.
The pet area cannot be changed into a square or rectangular shape. While this is usually typical for most wireless containment systems, it’s still worth mentioning. If you have anything against a circular shape of the area of effect, you might want to look into wired units as they offer more adjustability.
The lack of the OFF button is a major issue for many pet owners. Even though the process of changing the batteries is incredibly simple, it’s not uncommon for people to forget about it. That means you’ll have to go to the nearest store in case you forgot to stack on batteries the last time you were shopping.
As we already said, this fence does not come with wire included. While it’s clearly stated in the description, you would be surprised by the number of people that oversee it. Therefore, if you don’t have wiring installed in the yard, make sure you purchase it separately.
Conclusion
The installation of this unit might be a bit of a pain, but once you’re finished with it, there should be no more tedious tasks. As we said, training a dog isn’t an easy task by any means so make sure you have a lot of patience and time for your pet. If you never trained your dog, it could take some time to get used to the new environment.
Is it worth investing in this gadget? The short answer is – Yes. However, before you purchase the Elite Dog model, make sure it meets your requirements and expectations. If you aren’t keen on digging and installing 500 feet of wire around your property, then this unit might not be your best bet. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a decent in-ground fence system, don’t hesitate to check this one out.
The installation of this unit might be a bit of a pain, but once you’re finished with it, there should be no more tedious tasks. As we said, training a dog isn’t an easy task by any means so make sure you have a lot of patience and time for your pet. If you never trained your dog, it could take some time to get used to the new environment.
Is it worth investing in this gadget? The short answer is – Yes. However, before you purchase the Elite Dog model, make sure it meets your requirements and expectations. If you aren’t keen on digging and installing 500 feet of wire around your property, then this unit might not be your best bet. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a decent in-ground fence system, don’t hesitate to check this one out.
This collar is a universal answer for most of your problems. If you have a feisty or disobedient pet, the Stay and Play Fence Receiver can help you when it comes to behavioral corrections. On the other hand, you have to be prepared for trials and errors because nothing happens overnight, especially when it comes to radical changes.
Beginners and inexperienced owners love the ease of use and simplicity of this unit. On the other hand, people who already trained their pets usually look for something with more features. In the end, it all comes down to your needs and preferences. As far as we are concerned, it’s definitely worth checking it out.
If you’re looking for a long-term solution when it comes to training your pet and correcting their behavior, an invisible fence is one of your safest bets. Now, make sure you fully understand your possibilities and responsibilities towards your furry friend. These things can easily become an instrument of abuse if you don’t use them correctly. That doesn’t always mean it’s the owner’s fault, but it does correlate with owner’s ignorance or lack of experience.
As far as your budget goes, you won’t damage it too much. As we said earlier, these fences aren’t cheap but are certainly a good investment, especially if you own a problematic dog. Many people spend hundreds of dollars on professional trainers, and they don’t always guarantee success. This way, you can take a role of a trainer even if you don’t have any experience, and train your pet according to your own preferences. It does take a bit of effort and time, but it definitely pays out in the end.
