Utilizing a Mini-Trencher to Bury Dog Fence Wire

Wired electric dog fences are growing in popularity as a way to safely contain your dog without the hassle of installing a traditional fence. In addition to increasing curb appeal, electric dog fences work well for odd-shaped yards, create a stronger signal than wireless fences and can be easily expanded with the addition of more wire.

When it comes to installing electric dog fence wire, there are a variety of ways to do it. Instead of straining your back with manual installation methods, we recommend renting a mini-trencher like the Kwik-Trench to get the job done. Here are the steps to complete the work as easily as possible.

What You’ll Need:

• Dog fence containment system
• Kwik-Trench mini trencher
• Twisted wire
• Wire cutters
• An electric drill (optional)
• Splicing kits
• Shovel

Establish the Boundaries

Once you have everything you need, plan the boundary for your dog. Whether that’s sectioning out a dog-free area or laying boundaries in a large yard, it’s important to plan just how much access to give your dog. Make sure to check the manual that came with your electric dog fence during this step for any restrictions or local guidelines.

You’ll need to make note of a few areas to consider while establishing this boundary. The first is to find an electrical outlet where the transmitter box will be located. Many homeowners choose their garage or shed. The other area to mark is where you want your dog to be able to cross the wire safely, such as through doorways.

Create Crossing Points

To create points where your dog can cross safely, use a pair of wire cutters to snip the wire in the location you need. Make sure to also disconnect the wire from the transmitter box by removing the pin of wire. Then, take some twisted wire and twist it together with the dog fence wire so there is around one twist per inch of wire. A good rule of thumb is the more rotations the better. If you’re hoping to create a lot of cross points for your dog, using an electric drill for this step can make things easier.

Once the cross points have been twisted, splice the twisted wire and place it back inside the boundary loop. We suggest a splicer kit for this step to make the process easier. Then, connect the twisted wire to the transmitter box.

Time to Trench

It’s worth noting that some will try to staple the electric wire above ground for an easy solution, but this will shorten the lifespan of the wire when rodents, the dog or weather degrade the wire. It can also pose a tripping hazard or get caught in lawnmowers. A better solution is digging a trench to bury the wire, and renting a mini-trencher is both easier and more efficient than manual methods. Dog fence wire should be buried 3 to 5 inches below the ground. This is deep enough to protect the wire from animals and weather but shallow enough to maintain a strong signal.

To get started with a mini trencher like the Kwik-Trench, watch this helpful video for how to operate the machine.  As the trencher is warming up, make sure to lock the swivel wheel to trench straight lines. Once the swivel lock is in place and the trencher is warmed up, use the manual crank control to adjust the cutting depth and simply push the trencher forward. With a mini-trencher like the Kwik-Trench, you can dig up to 30-feet of trench per minute. If your trench needs to follow curved lines in some areas, simply unlock the swivel wheel to easily move around small yards or hard-to-access areas.

Backfill it Up

Once the trench has been dug, place your dog fence wire inside and get ready to backfill. When using a Kwik-Trench, backfilling is easier than ever because the machine neatly deposits the soil right next to the trench so you can simply push it back in with a shovel. An added benefit of using a Kwik-Trench for burying dog fence wire is the pneumatic tires that won’t damage turf. This means after backfilling your trench, your job is complete – no additional clean-up necessary!

If you have any additional questions about how to dig a trench for an electric dog fence, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local rental center or a Little Beaver expert. We are happy to help make your project go as smoothly as possible!

How to Use a Kwik-Trench for DIY Projects

If you have a project that requires shallow trenching such as installing electric dog fencing, landscape edging or lawn sprinkler systems, you might be trying to determine the fastest way to dig a trench. Instead of using manual methods like drainage spades and trenching hoes, renting a mini-trencher like Little Beaver’s Kwik-Trench is an option to make do-it-yourself (DIY) trenching quicker and easier than ever. But before you make a trip to your nearest rental center, there are a few things to know about trenchers.

What is a Trencher?

A trencher is a type of earth-moving equipment that uses a metal chain or a wheel with steel teeth to rip into the ground. Trenchers come in a variety of sizes and models for applications ranging from installing electrical cables and drainage to landscape projects around the house.

Types of Landscape Trenchers

The trenchers used for landscaping are very different than the trenchers that are used for farming or utility trenching. While there are trencher attachments that can be combined with large machines or ride-on trenchers, there is also a whole class of landscaping trenchers which are perfect for DIY yard projects. These compact trenchers maximize features such as maneuverability and versatility. When reviewing the different types of landscape trenchers, it’s important to understand what each option offers so you can select the best trencher for the job.

Handheld Trenchers

These types of trenchers look like a chainsaw and can trench up to 16 to 27 inches deep, which makes them great for deeper landscaping projects. Renting a handheld trencher is less labor-intensive than using different types of shovels and spades involved in manual methods. However, safety can be a concern with handheld trenchers as well. When a handheld trencher hits a rock, the kickback can cause serious injury to the operator if their hand slips. Additionally, flying debris from the spinning blade can cause injuries if proper safety equipment is not worn.

Walk-Behind Trenchers

Walk-behind landscape trenchers make the job easier than using handheld trenchers. Instead of straining your back with a handheld trencher, walk-behind trenchers allow the operator to stand while trenching and guide the trencher as it does the work. If you choose to go this route, here’s what to look for.

Choose a trencher you feel comfortable operating. Unlike the name implies, most walk-behind trenchers require the operator to slowly walk backwards as the trencher digs, but the backward pulling movement is so slow it appears that the operator is “walking behind” the machine. If walking backward while trenching seems like a safety risk because you can’t see what’s in your way, there are other options available that maximize convenience and safety. For example, the Kwik-Trench mini-trencher from Little Beaver is a revolutionary walk-behind trencher with a simple, push forward design that makes it one of the safest, fastest and easiest to use trenchers on the market. In fact, it can reach cutting speeds of up to 30 feet per minute.

Maneuverability is also an important factor to consider with landscape trenching machines. Look for a mini-trencher with compact construction for maneuvering around obstacles like landscape settings, fences, gates and vegetation. To make the clean-up process easier, we suggest getting a mini-trencher with pneumatic tires to easily glide over grass without ripping it up. Some mini-trenchers like our Kwik-Trench are also designed to neatly deposit soil next to the trench for neat, easy backfilling.

Choosing Your Trencher

For more information about the Kwik-Trench, check out our blog on Kwik-Trench Do’s and Don’ts. Otherwise, if any additional questions come up as you’re researching mini-trenchers, don’t hesitate to contact Little Beaver or your local rental center for tips and ideas. We want your DIY project to go as smoothly as possible and are happy to offer any advice on the equipment you need to make it happen.