Best Invisible Dog Fence Reviews – Buyer’s Guide

Your dog needs plenty of exercise and space to roam around in the yard.

The problem is, danger is everywhere these days. If you leave your pets to their own devices, there’s every chance they’ll end up slipping out into the street or into the neighboring gardens.

Even within your own outside space, perhaps you have areas where you’d sooner your dog didn’t nosy around. Whether it’s a pond or a swimming pool, a BBQ area or flower beds, there are many reasons for containing your dog.

Today, we’ll explore the best invisible dog fence so you can give your beloved canine the freedom he needs within the limits you choose.

OK…

Now we’re done with our underground dog fence reviews, you should be well placed to get the most appropriate fencing system.

III. Types of Dog Fence on the Market Today

You’ve got 5 main options if you want to contain your dog on your property:

A regular wooden fence is a simple but reasonably effective way to keep a well-behaved dog in check.

Wooden fences, often called split rail fences or log fences, are generally made from pine that’s split lengthwise so it forms rails. These work well on pretty much any type of terrain. There’s precious little maintenance involved once your fence is set up.

You will need some wire to keep your day penned in.

Another wooden option at your disposal is a regular picket fence. This type of fencing has limitations so it’s better suited to smaller dogs less prone to attempt a Houdini.

Solid wooden fences with lattice along the top are pretty stable and secure. If your dog likes to terrorize passers-by, this is a pretty smart choice.

2. Chain Link Dog Fence

Chain link dog fences don’t do such a great job of containing anything but the smallest and most docile of canines.

Most dogs can happily jump over these fences or work their way underneath with relative ease.

Sure, a chain link fence might look attractive but it’s really not fit for purpose.

3. Building a Wall

If you really don’t fancy any of the wooden varieties of fence and you’re disinclined to invest in a wired or wireless containment system, a good old-fashioned wall is an alternative solution.

You’ll need to make sure it’s high enough to keep your dog in check. He certainly won’t be tunneling under it in a hurry.

This is one of a cheap options if you want to safeguard your dog without spending a great deal.

4. Wireless Dog Fence

Wireless containment systems, as the name makes abundantly clear, don’t rely on installing physical wiring.

You’ll get a transmitter that pumps out an invisible field. If your dog breaches the boundaries of this field, he’ll get an unwelcome shock that should swiftly pull him back into line.

Installation of these systems could scarcely be simpler. The drawback, however, is that you don’t have anywhere near the flexibility you’ll get with an invisible wired dog fence, also commonly known as an underground dog fence.

For completely symmetrical layouts – which, let’s face it, are pretty rare - wireless fences can work fairly effectively.

There’s a reason, though, that the core focus of our article is invisible dog fences. We’ll take a quick look now at where they excel before moving on to our best underground dog fence reviews.

5. Invisible Dog Fence / Underground Dog Fence

Whatever term you use, the premise is the same…

Through a combination of wire and transmitter, you can deliver graded corrections to your dog to make certain he stays safely tucked within the designated boundaries.

Invisible fences are not the cheapest way to deal with the problem of escape-artist pets but when you consider the cost over the long-term, it really is money very well spent.

We’ll go into more detail of how they get the job done in our reviews and buying guide.

So, without further ado, we’ll present 5 of the very best underground dog fences on the market today…

This type of containment system is known as an invisible dog fence, an underground dog fence or a wired fence.

Before wrapping up, we’ll take a quick look at general set-up, making sure your dog doesn’t feel neglected and the overarching benefits of invisible dog fences…

IV. General Guide to Setting Up Your Dog Fence

For the purposes of this section, we’re going to assume you’ve plumped for an invisible dog fence.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail: Proper preparation is crucial. Don’t make the mistake of launching straight in to installation without thinking things through. Draw up a plan of where you’ll put the wire. Call your utility company if you are not confident of the location of underground power lines. Take into account the terrain you’ll be working on. Factor any concrete or awkward surfaces into the equation

Wire Comes First: The inbuilt flaw with many dog fences on the market is wire that’s not man enough for the job. Upgrade to a thicker gauge if the wire you have is too thin and not liable to stand up to the elements. While it’s possible to attach the wire to an existing fence, your safest bet is to bury it. This, obviously, will protect the wire more fully from adverse weather conditions. Rather than unrolling the whole spool – this will lead to a tangled birds nest – unroll small lengths you can easily work with

Grab Some Tools: Get yourself a shovel, ideally with a long handle to prevent unnecessary strain. A wire cutter is essential, a weeding tool useful and you’ll also be advised to lay in some wire splices

Dig a Trench: There’s no need to go over the top here. A thin trench is sufficient. Shoot for something between 1 and 5 inches deep. This only requires smashing your shovel in and moving it swiftly back and forth a few times

Boundary Wire Installation: Methodically place the wire in the trench and stamp down on it to cover it with earth. A weeding tool with blunted prongs can be a time-saver here but you can easily do this part with just your feet. This is perhaps the most tedious part of the whole installation process so be patient and think of the end result

Time for Twisted Wire: There are some areas where you might need non-correcting wire, the section that connects the transmitter to the boundary wire, for example. Luckily, this can be easily accomplished. BY twisting a couple of strands of wire together, the signal will be cancelled out. This can again be tiresome if you need to deal with a longer length so take your time and plenty of breaks to avoid frustration setting in

Check the Trench: Make absolutely sure that the wire in the trench is all covered

Set out the Flags: During the training period, these flags will serve to give your dog extra warning. You can remove them once he is fully aware of the new order. Set out the flags a few feet apart and you’re almost good to go…

The All-Important Transmitter: Always consult the instruction manual to make sure you get this step spot-on. You’ll need some screws, a screwdriver, a level and a straight edge. Choose an appropriate spot for your transmitter and mount it to a wall. Install, too, the lightning device if your fence comes with this handy protective add-on. Connect the transmitter to the boundary wire and it’s time to start training your dog

V. Keeping Your Dog Happy Inside The Dog Fence

There’s no boilerplate answer to making sure your dog is content within the confines of a fenced-off area. A great deal depends on his temperament and desire for company.

In general, dogs are absolutely in their element outdoors. The problem is that they have a tendency to wreak havoc if they are left unattended for too long. Whether they dig up the plants, bite on garden furniture or simply try to escape, there’s no substitute for regularly checking in on your furry friend.

Pathways around the edges of the garden help your dog to patrol the perimeter using a perfect running space.

Consider using rosebushes or similar plants to keep them away from any areas you want protected. Fence off any vegetable or herb gardens.

If you have a lawn, water it frequently to offset the dark patches caused by your dog urinating on it.

Leave plenty of your dog’s favorite toys in the garden so the temptation to get up to mischief is minimized.

Give him a bone so he can get plenty of goodness and keep his teeth in order while doing what he loves best.

As long as your dog doesn’t feel like he is being placed out of sight and out of mind, he should revel in the joys of playing outside without being supervised constantly. You can relax knowing that whatever mischief he gets up to, at least he won’t be vaulting into the neighbor’s yard or running out into traffic.

VI. Benefits and Drawbacks of Invisible Dog Fences vs Wireless Dog Fences

Just before rounding up, we’ll give you a shotgun look at the main advantages and invisible dog fences along with the downside.

Pros

Affordability: With a range of price points suitable for most budgets, buying the best invisible dog fence is within the reach of pretty much every pet owner. While they might not seem particularly cheap, when you compare the one-off cost of an underground fence to your weekly dog food bill or vet’s bill, it doesn’t seem quite so bad. A wireless fence is generally more expensive so invisible fences win on this score

Total Flexibility: While a wireless fence is limited, you can set out your underground dog fence in line with whatever the configuration of your garden. You can also extend it with ease by purchasing more wire and flags

No Unsightly Barriers: The attraction of both invisible and wireless dog fences is that you won’t be forced into adding an unattractive physical barrier to your yard. A wall or chain link fence might work well but not if you’re forced into one against your wall. As the name makes very clear, an invisible dog fence gets the job nailed without that unsightly barrier

More Freedom for Your Dog: Capable of covering very large areas and containing even stubborn dogs, invisible fences trump wireless alternatives when it comes to giving your dog the maximum freedom to roam around without putting his safety on the block

Highly Effective Method of Containment: Where wireless dog fences are often limited in scope and physical barriers can be negotiated by wily dogs, overall an invisible fence is an incredibly effective way to keep your dog safely within bounds. The very nature of the sharp shock he’ll get if he steps out of line rapidly teaches your dog to stick to his designated area

Convenience: It’s pointless to deny that a wireless fence is easier to set up. That said, its restrictions should make you question whether or not you think it’s worth the hassle of a one-off installation job to gain flexibility and functionality. Invisible fences don’t require a PhD to set up and if you’re really not that way inclined, you can easily call in a contractor and you’ll be operational in no time

Cons

Training Period Required: However swiftly you manage to set up your invisible dog fence, you’ll still need to educate your pets and use the flags along with plenty of patience to ensure they comply

Don’t Stop Intruders From Entering: Although your dog won’t be escaping in a hurry, any potential menaces can easily enter your garden. Whether it’s stray dogs or feral animals, an invisible fence is not inviolable

Reliance on Power Supply: In the event of any kind of power cut, your underground fence will stop working. This is also true of a wireless fence and one of the advantages of installing a barrier like a wall or physical fence

Pain: Last but by no means least, there is an element of potential pain involved for your dog if he fails to heed the warnings and gets a shock from the fence. Although many fence manufacturers compare this to the sort of static shock you might get from time to time, in reality it’s a little harsher than that. Think about this factor and decide whether it will influence your decision to purchase an underground dog fence or whether it’s something you can live with

We hope you’ve enjoyed this study of the most effective underground dog fences. We’ve also tried to include plenty of other approaches to keeping your dog safe since we realize not everyone has the same type of garden, the same dog or the same general requirements.

While all of these methods discussed today can, in the right circumstances, keep your dog from wandering off, there’s no doubt in our mind that invisible dog fences are the most efficient overall.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or feedback. We love to hear from our dog-loving readers and we’re here to help you in any way we can.

Now go and get that fence ordered so you can rest easy while your dog plays happily and stays safe from harm.