The Best Invisible Dog Fences to Keep Your Pet Safe and Happy
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It can be a challenge to give dogs access to the great outdoors without worrying that they’ll stray too far. Our selection of the best invisible dog fences combines pet freedom with owner peace of mind.
Installing a traditional fence may help to keep a pup in the yard, but the thought of them circumventing the fence and wandering around the neighborhood may call for more diligent measures. Luckily, there’s another option: the invisible dog fence.
Attractive alternatives to privacy fences, dog houses, or dog pens, invisible fencing systems interact with a special dog collar to keep a dog in a defined area. As the dog approaches the boundary, the collar vibrates and then gives an electrical correction when the dog has gone too far. Invisible fences do this while maintaining an open backyard with a clear view.
This guide includes some of the best invisible dog fences as well as some of the finer points of invisible dog fencing.
- BEST OVERALL: PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence
- RUNNER-UP: Extreme Dog Fence Standard Electric Dog Fence System
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: PetSafe Basic In-Ground Fence System
- UPGRADE PICK: Halo Collar 3 Wireless Dog Fence and GPS Dog Collar
- BEST WITH REMOTE: Pet Control HQ 2-in-1 Electric Dog Fence
- BEST WIRELESS: PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence for Stubborn Dogs
- BEST WITH GPS: SpotOn GPS Dog Fence
- BEST FOR LARGE DOGS: SportDog Brand Rechargeable In-Ground Fence
- BEST FOR SMALL DOGS: PetSafe Elite Little Dog In-Ground Fence
How We Chose the Best Invisible Dog Fences
Having peace of mind when it comes to the safety of the family dog requires a reliable physical fence or invisible dog fence system. Our top picks for the best options were based on the coverage area, ease of installation, compatibility with dogs of multiple sizes, and static levels.
Each invisible fence pick offers full or partial property coverage ranging from ⅓ acre to 10 acres. With ample wire or wireless installation options to choose from, many may take minimal effort to implement and only 1 to 2 days to set up.
A lot of these invisible boundary fences come with a waterproof dog collar that has a long battery life or can be recharged. Each collar has multiple static settings to accommodate the most unruly of dogs. Finally, some of the above picks have training remotes for on-demand control.
Our Top Picks
The best invisible dog fences keep the family pooch in the yard safely, securely, and easily. Here are our top choices organized by category and with thoroughly researched pros and cons.
Best Overall
PetSafe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: 8 pounds and up
- Top area coverage: ⅓ acre
- Ease of installation: Moderate
Pros
- Includes a 500-foot wire, a waterproof receiver collar, and a 9-volt alkaline battery
- Collar has a tone plus vibration mode and 4 levels of safe, static correction
Cons
- Expensive; additional collars must be purchased if the home has more than 1 dog
- Has a limited range; not meant for large, spacious yards
When looking for an invisible underground fence system that is easy to customize with a variety of accessories and includes the items needed to get started, check out the PetSafe Stubborn Dog inground fence.
This kit comes with a transmitter, a surge protector, an adjustable collar, flags, and 500 feet of wire that is capable of covering ⅓ acre. For larger properties, shoppers can purchase more wire, enabling them to cover up to 25 acres of property with one system.
When it comes to correcting very stubborn dogs, the included collar has several types of warning signals: a tone warning, a vibration, and four levels of static correction. Shoppers also can purchase additional collars (available online) to work with their system.
Get the PetSafe Stubborn Dog invisible dog fence at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., or The Home Depot.
Runner-Up
Extreme Dog Fence Standard Electric Dog Fence System
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: Large dogs
- Top area coverage: ⅓ acre
- Ease of installation: Difficult
Pros
- 7 correction levels, including a beep-only mode that can be used for training
- Small and lightweight collar; at 1.1 ounces, a great choice for small dogs
- Waterproof and submersible collar; a good choice for properties with lakes, ponds, or pools
Cons
- Expensive; requires purchase of additional collars for more than 1 dog
- Requires a separate purchase of staples needed for above-ground installation
The Extreme Dog Fence standard-grade system is customizable for several dogs and different-size properties. This dog fence includes 500 feet of wire that covers ⅓ acre. With the purchase of additional wire, the system can cover up to 10 acres.
The standard Extreme Dog Fence kit includes a transmitter, 500 feet of wire, flags, and waterproof splices. The kit is available with a collar that is waterproof to 10 feet, allowing users to let their dog run and play in a pond or pool without worrying about the collar shorting or shocking the dog. Owners of more than five dogs can purchase additional collars online.
Get the Extreme Dog Fence invisible dog fence at Amazon or Extreme Dog Fence.
Best Bang For The Buck
PetSafe Basic In-Ground Fence System
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: 8-pound dogs and up
- Top area coverage: ⅓ acre
- Ease of installation: Moderate
Pros
- Includes 500 feet of wiring, flags, splices, a transmitter, a surge protector, and a dog collar
- Waterproof collar; has 4 levels of safe, static correction that can be used for training
Cons
- Not meant for above-ground installation; intended only for 1 dog
This inground dog fence from PetSafe is a well-equipped kit that will contain dogs in a ⅓-acre yard. This kit comes with 500 feet of wiring, flags, splices, an adjustable transmitter, a surge protector, and one dog collar. The collar has four adjustable levels of static correction as well as a tone-only mode when a dog is approaching the barrier.
Though the PetSafe inground dog fence includes everything needed to get started, it’s also modular. Purchase additional wire (available online) to extend its range up to 5 acres and add collars (available online).
Get the PetSafe Basic invisible dog fence at Amazon or Tractor Supply Co.
Upgrade Pick
Halo Collar 3 Wireless Dog Fence and GPS Dog Collar
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: All sizes
- Top area coverage: Over 1,200 square miles
- Ease of installation: Simple
Pros
- Create wireless fences at home, at the park, and almost anywhere
- Dog owner can choose from sound, vibration, or static prompts
- Rechargeable batteries last up to 20 hours on a single charge
Cons
- Premium price, with an ongoing subscription fee required for use
Like any wireless electric dog fence, the Halo 3 sets boundaries for a dog at home or anywhere its owner wants, including the public park. All the owner needs to do is walk the desired perimeter to set the invisible fence. The minimum fence area is 30 feet by 30 feet. Up to 20 fences can be loaded into the app, and each can be used repeatedly without the need to retrace any previously loaded perimeters.
Sound, vibration, or static prompts can be used to keep the pooch within the perimeter boundaries. A major benefit of the GPS element is the ability to track the dog if it escapes.
The Halo 3 GPS electric fence is pricey, though, and requires an ongoing subscription fee.
Get the Halo invisible dog fence at Halo.
Best With Remote
Pet Control HQ 2-in-1 Electric Dog Fence
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: All sizes
- Top area coverage: 10 acres
- Ease of installation: Moderate
Pros
- Safe for inground or above-ground installation; can be mounted to an existing fence
- Has 10 static levels; item includes a training remote and rechargeable batteries
Cons
- Cannot be mounted to an existing fence that’s made of solid metal sheeting
If shoppers need a bit more capability from their system or just aid in training, the Pet Control HQ 2-in-1 electric dog fence provides the benefit of an invisible underground fence system with the convenience of a training remote. The kit comes with a rechargeable remote control, a wall-mounted transmitter, a collar receiver (or two, depending on the kit), and 492 feet of wire.
This system can envelop the yard while also blocking off areas, which may include garden beds and a swimming pool. The remote control can deter unwanted behaviors such as barking or jumping. The remote will work with up to three separate collars (available online). The Pet Control HQ dog fence is modular, allowing buyers to add enough wire to cover 10 acres.
Get the Pet Control HQ invisible dog fence at Amazon or Pet Control HQ.
Best Wireless
PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence for Stubborn Dogs
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: 5-pound dogs and up
- Top area coverage: ¾ acre
- Ease of installation: Easy
Pros
- Wireless dog fence system with 5 static levels that can be used for training
- Portable; product’s waterproof collar battery lasts for up to 3 weeks
Cons
- Expensive; additional receiver collars must be purchased if user has more than 1 dog
If shoppers want to create a wireless boundary for their dog to play in, they will want to consider the PetSafe Stay & Play wireless fence. This kit includes a wireless transmitter with a power adapter, a rechargeable collar receiver, and 50 boundary flags. This wireless fence kit covers up to ¾ acre. An additional transmitter can be added to overlap and expand the range.
The collar with this wireless fence boundary has five adjustable static correction levels, allowing users to choose the lowest effective level for their dog. Also, if the dog leaves the zone, the system allows static-free reentry. Additional collars are available (online) for multiple dogs.
Get the PetSafe Stay & Play invisible dog fence at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., or PetSafe.
Best with GPS
SpotOn GPS Dog Fence
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: Medium to large
- Top area coverage: ½ acre to 1,000+ acres
- Ease of installation: Simple
Pros
- Nonaversive sound and vibration options with virtually no distance limit
- Uses 4 different global systems and up to 30 satellites for accuracy and consistency
Cons
- Very expensive, requiring a subscription to access all included features
- Invisible dog fence has a ½-acre-perimeter minimum working-area requirement
Setting a fence with the SpotOn GPS dog fence is as straightforward as walking the desired boundary carrying the collar, tapping the smartphone app at key points. Other GPS dog fences are similar, but with the SpotOn, there’s no limit to the enclosed area’s size or the number of fences that can be created. A new fence can be set for the local park, friends’ or relatives’ homes, or a vacation cabin in the woods.
The collar will also track the dog with virtually no distance limit. To ensure precision, the SpotOn dog fence takes GPS data from four different global systems and up to 30 satellites. Dog-friendly teaching uses tones and vibration, with optional static correction available if necessary.
This dog fence is on the pricey side, and though a subscription isn’t completely necessary, it’s required to take full advantage of the technology.
Get the SpotOn invisible dog fence at Amazon or SpotOn.
Best for Large Dogs
SportDog Brand Rechargeable In-Ground Fence
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: 10-pound dogs and up
- Top area coverage: 1⅓ acres
- Ease of installation: Moderate
Pros
- Expandable coverage gives larger dogs freedom to roam big yards
- Tone, vibration, or 7-level static simulation can be used to keep pooch within boundary
- Waterproof and submersible; a single battery charge lasts 1 to 2 months
Cons
- Collar must be repositioned regularly; cannot be worn by dog for more than 12 continuous hours
- Some owners have reported experiencing recharging problems with this collar
Larger dogs typically need a bigger area than smaller dogs to feel comfortable. Where most in-ground systems are in the ⅓- to ½-acre range, the SportDog fence offers 1⅓ acres. With an additional wire, it can be extended out to 100 acres, and for those with more than one dog, extra collars also can be added. Actual fence layout can be customized with exclusion zones within the main perimeter.
The collar is waterproof and can be submerged 25 feet without damage. It contains a lithium battery that runs for 1 to 2 months between charges. Recharging takes around 2 hours. The collar vibrates and beeps when it’s near the fence, supported by seven levels of static correction if the dog moves closer to the boundary.
A dog should not wear this collar permanently. SportDog recommends repositioning it every 2 hours, with no more than 12 hours of continuous use per day.
Get the SportDog invisible dog fence at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., or Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Best for Small Dogs
PetSafe Elite Little Dog In-Ground Fence
Product Specs
- Dog compatibility: 5 pounds and up
- Top area coverage: ⅓ acre
- Ease of installation: Moderate
Pros
- Collar is waterproof and specifically designed for small dogs that weigh 5 pounds or more
- Includes a receiver collar, a transmitter, a mounting bracket, 500 feet of wire, and 50 boundary flags
Cons
- Battery is not rechargeable; other collars may not be compatible
PetSafe Elite’s electric dog fence is specifically designed for the needs of small dogs. The high-quality inground system has been proven with larger breeds but scaled down to fit smaller pets. With a ⅓-acre standard area, it provides plenty of room to roam. Extra wire can be used to extend out to 25 acres of coverage if necessary.
The waterproof collar is designed for dogs of just 5 pounds with a neck size of only 6 inches. An LED warns when the battery needs to be changed. There is a tone-only mode for training and four levels of static correction. Like any inground dog fence, a fair amount of digging is involved in installation, but it only needs to be 1 to 3 inches deep, and actual setup is very straightforward. Al