Putting the special collar on is not any trouble at all. The collars are simply kept hanging over the door knob. When the dogs go out, collars go on, when the dogs come in, collars come off. Simple. Quirky I don't understand the statement at all that fencing the whole property where training the dog to react properly would be inconsistent. I see no reason why the OP can't train the dog consistently on the property described. In fact, it sounds perfect. In my experience, running the invisible fence along natural boundaries works very well. We also have woods on three sides, so ran the fence right along the line of the woods. It gives the dogs an added clue as to where the boundary is located. One suggestion though. Be sure that the area with a real fence is not too close to the invisible fence line. We made that mistake and so if a dog were put in the fenced yard with the collar on, she could potentially get shocked in one corner of the yard. Yes, there are potential problems with these fences. But there are with chain link and wood fences as well. I have had dogs for over forty years and have had all these types of fencing. I've had dogs escape from all types, I've had critters get into all types, and I've had humans get into all types. I've had neighborhood children climb a six foot high wood fencing to see the dog - that scares me more than a child coming across the invisible fence line! I've had people leave the gate open on chain link and the dog get out - very analogous to letting the batteries go dead on the collar. Any form of containment requires that the owner be aware of what is going on, keep the fencing in good repair, and know where the dog is. As you live in a rural area, it sounds perfect for you. I would probably not have an invisible fence in a city residential area, but we are also in the country. It is great to be able to be out working in the yard with the dogs running loose, investigating smells, chasing squirrels - and stopping when they get to the fence zone, etc, but I don't have to watch every second to be sure the dogs are still in the yard. They love it and I love it.

This is my experience with underground fencing I have had "The Invisible Fence" for 15 years. I have the old analog system with a lifetime warranty and three collars with a lifetime warranty. Invisible Fence would like for me to upgrade to the digital system but I have refused because I am completely satisfied with my system, so why spend the extra money. They still honor my lifetime warranty. In fact, they replaced one of my collars a couple of months ago. I have trained four dogs on the system. A Lab that was 4 years old, a Toy Poodle that was a year old, a Jack Russell that was 7 months old, and the most recent, a Husky that is approx a year old. The Lab was the easiest. She was an only dog at the time and was very smart. She lived to be 17 years old and her collar did not have a battery in it the last 3 years of her life because she was deaf. The Toy Poodle was easy also. Training a puppy was different and did require a longer period. Then came the Jack Russell, she was easy too because she just followed the Poodle. But then came the Husky. She is the most stubborn of all. But, we finally did it. However, we did have to have the delay removed from her collar and the "correction" bumped up. Before we did this she would run through the fence and walk back through and just "yelp" a little when she did. I have found it beneficial to leave the flags out for an extended period of time during training. Especially with the Husky since she has had her delay removed. The Lab left the yard one time and stayed in the neighbors yard until I got her. The Poodle and Jack Russell have never left the yard and the Husky has not left since we adjusted her correction. Time alone - my Poodle, Molly, and my Jack Russell, Butterscotch have a doggie door and are allowed to go in and out as they please even when we are not there. But Sashenka, the Husky, does not. When we are not there during the day she is contained by wearing a harness and being attached to a 100 foot cable. At night they all sleep inside and do not have access to the outside. I know I am going to receive all the responses of why Molly and Butterscotch should not be left out alone. I have neighbors on all four sides that are home during the day and keep an eye open and regularly check on my dogs. We do not have any wild animals or other dogs that are not contained. The neighbors cat came in our yard one time but has not come back since he spent the day in our tree with Butterscotch staring at him. This has been the best investment I have ever made for my dogs. But, as you can see different breeds do require different training and maintenance. I don't know if Sashenka will ever be left out alone for an extended period of time. When we are home she is allowed total freedom. I check their batteries often. Butterscotch always needs a new one before Molly and Sashenka is still in training and only on her 2nd battery. I do recommend "The Invisible Fence" brand. They have stood behind their product and when I purchased my system they guaranteed containment and offered a lifetime warranty. I am not sure what they offer now. Hope this helps.

Better to put a disconnect (typically with cartridge fuses) after the meter. At least then you can kill all the laterals without puling the meter) and then run 4-wire. YOU own the laterals and will be responsible for their maintenance (at some point a likely occurrence). This is a routine style on larger installations. Using main lug panels is often only done in a service room or area with the feed panel right there. That way you can create a completely dead panel for servicing. It is NOT strictly required by the NEC, but then the code is the MINIMUM you can get away with. No one is stopping you from making an installation safer for workers by being able to make an entire panel dead. Arguably it is probably more important outside a commercial/industrial setting since only fully trained workers are usually permitted access. I cannot think of a pro that blinks at working in a main panel with just the main turned off (we understand what is still hot), and have been required to work in panels with everything on - critical circuits in some places are a really BIG DEAL to interrupt). Not all that bad if you know what you are doing an use at least some protective gear. This post was edited by brickeyee on Sat, Apr 20, 13 at 10:58

"This true. If the ins. company investigayors can trace the origin of the fire back into the circuits a homeowner worked on, then they will try to lay the blame on your doorstep. The reason I know this is true is that my wife works for a law firm here in an adjacent city. Her firm handled cases on behalf of insurance cases." Goes to show there are too many lawyers in this world. If insurance companies refused to pay for bonehead homeowner mistakes, there would be a lot of claims unpaid. If the fire is due to a professional's mistake, that's different and that's what he carries liability insurance for. But not the homeowner. I think you may be misunderstanding who your wife's firm is pursuing.