It's all automated. You run an underground wire around the perimeter of your property. This is hooked into a low powered radio emitter. When the collar gets close enough to the underground wire to receive the signal, it beeps. If he goes even closer, he gets a shock. The signal strength is of course adjustable. Basically, if he gets 5 feet to my property edge, it beeps, if he gets within 2 feet, he would take a small but unpleasant reminder.
I understand there are now kits where it goes strictly by a radius created by a central radio transmitter. Saves burying the wire but I would think that calibrating it to your property lines would be tricky as you would be dealing with a round perimeter shape instead of customizable and also, I wonder how much your buildings and any other obstructions on the property effect the signal strength.
