Best Wireless Dog Fence

Owning a dog is a constant source of joy, but it also requires you to stay alert at all times and think several steps ahead. It’s no secret that dogs are prone to escaping, and while some tamer dog breeds can be easily stopped by a regular fence, others will always find a way to leave your property.

There can be numerous reasons why your pup may feel the need to escape, whether it’s chasing a small animal, playing with a neighborhood dog, or being led away by an odd smell. If a regular fence has proven to be not particularly effective or you have other conditions that make using a physical fence nearly impossible — for example, irregularly shaped property — a wireless pet fence is your last remaining option.

Only a few decades ago, a pet containment system that is both wireless and invisible, was a complete novelty. Today, however, more and more owners that an invisible fence for dogs is the best solution for the very common problem of dogs escaping from the household. Wondering what is the best wireless dog fence currently available in the market? Here are our top picks.

100% Wireless Dog Fence Systems

If you are looking for a wireless fence that requires little to no effort when it comes to the installation process and that will not affect the look of your property, you will definitely love one of these three options:

When it comes to choosing a wireless dog fence, most buyers consider PetSafe products first. This brand has been one of the pioneers of the electric dog fence market and continues releasing wonderful solutions for dogs and their owners.

The Wireless Containment System is one of the brand’s bestsellers, and once you know more about its features, you’ll know why. First of all, it’s one of the first truly wireless fences. There are absolutely no wires to bury — just choose the area you want to protect and install the flags around the perimeter. Turn on the transmitter and your dog fencing is ready to be operated. The system runs on batteries, so you will have to simply replace the battery after hearing the low battery signal.

The PetSafe fence can be easily tailored to your dog’s and your own needs. The system can cover any area, from your backyard to the camping area in the woods. The standard number of collars in this setup is 1, but you can add as many collars as necessary to fully protect your furry gang. Moreover, the whole system can be picked up and easily transported to a new location, whether you are moving out permanently or going on an exciting vacation.

The final aspect of this dog fence you are probably concerned about is the training. The wonderful news is that even with the most stubborn dogs, training will only take up to 2 weeks. After that, you and your pup will be able to enjoy quality time together without the fear that your dog will escape. And with 5 circuit correction levels, you will easily find what works best for your dog.

If you have already tried another pet fence, but didn’t achieve any success due to how stubborn and strong your dog is, you need a more elaborate system to prevent it from escaping. This PetSafe Stay & Play fence is not only completely wireless, but is also simply a breeze to install and use.

If you have more than one dog, you will be happy to know that you can add up to 5 additional collars to the system. The installation includes just placing the transmitter anywhere you want. The system will protect property up to ¾ acres.

Like most wireless dog fences, this system will need to be regularly charged, but since the full charge does not take more than 3 hours, you will barely notice the time it takes to bring your PetSafe fence back into action. Plus, since the system is so compact and lightweight, you can easily pack it for safe travel.

Installing and using an invisible dog fence has never been so easy! Finding a good place to install your PetSafe Wireless Containment System won’t take more than a few minutes, and then you can enjoy your dog’s newfound safety and your own piece of mind.

The system covers up to ¾ acres of your property, but if your coverage needs are bigger than that, you can easily scale up the system by adding another transmitter. The same goes for the number of collars: by default, the system ships with 2 collars, but you can add as many as you need to protect your whole pack.

One of the biggest benefits of this dog electric fence is that it can be easily tuned to match your dog’s character and escape tendencies. There are 5 levels of static correction provided by the PetSafe dog fence, and you can find the right one for your dog almost instantly. The whole training won’t take more than a couple of weeks, and then you can just sit back and enjoy your dog’s freedom and safety.

Underground Dog Fence Systems

In many ways, an underground dog fence is similar to its functionality to the completely wireless setup, but there is one key difference: in order for the system to operate properly, you will need to bury the antenna wires underground. While it may take more time to install an underground fence compared to the fully wireless options, the result is the same level of protection for your pup.

This electric fence for dogs from SportDOG combines the benefits of an underground system with the effortless operation of a wireless pet fence. To start using the SportDOG fence, you will need to either bury the wire alongside the desired perimeter of your property or attach it to the existing fence if you simply want to improve its efficiency against escape attempts.

After you install the wires, all that is left to do is put the collar on your dog and train it to respect the new boundaries. Depending on your dog’s character, it may take up to several weeks for it to fully understand the new setup. This is also a great option if you own a large property and want to make it all completely safe for your pup. The coverage of the SportDOG fence is 1.3 acres, which should be more than enough for a typical dog owner.

The system also has a smart way of telling you if the wire is broken. Look out for a visual or sound signal and fix the broken wire as soon as possible, as only when the wire is completely intact, you can expect the fence to give you and your dog the highest level of protection.

It is not 100% clear what the word “extreme” in the name of this wireless dog fence refers to, but we believe it’s the size of the area covered by the fence. The maximum area that can be covered by the Extreme Dog Fence is 6 acres, which is more than enough for an average family of dog owners.

This system belongs to the hybrid group of dog fences: it requires you to plant the wires around the perimeter of the household, but then you can use the system without any wires. And one of the best things about this option is that if you don’t feel like digging to bury the wires, you can simply attach them above ground or mount them to an existing physical fence for extra protection.

The Extreme Dog Fence is a universal solution for all dog breeds ranging from small to extra large. If you have more than one dog in your pack, you can add as many collars to the system as necessary and train your dogs to stay within the perimeter at the same time.

The collar receiver in this fence system is waterproof, and it doesn’t just mean that it is protected against rain or water sprinkles — your dog can take a swim in its collar without any damage to the intricate receiver mechanism.

Another example of the hybrid class of dog fence ideas is the Hidden Dog Fence by Sit Boo-Boo. It combines the benefits of a wireless collar transmitter with the efficiency of an underground fence.

The coverage of this system is nearly unlimited. The standard setup has enough cord to cover 1.2 acres of land, but you can easily increase the coverage area by buying an additional cord. The number of collars that can be connected to one system is also unlimited, so you can train as many dogs to stay within the boundaries as you like.

The Sit Boo-Boo underground fence has proven to be very effective in training not only beginner dogs, but also dogs who have been trained to stay within the given perimeter in the past but strongly opposed the training. With five levels of correction, ranging from vibration to static, you can effortlessly find the mode that works on your dog and helps you achieve the desired results.

The collar of the Sit Boo-Boo system is designed to fit dogs of all breeds and sizes. Plus, it’s completely waterproof, which means you can use it under any weather conditions and there is no need to take off the collar before your dog goes for a swim.

Buying Guide

A wireless dog fence is one of the newest additions to the ever-growing pet product market, but it has already won the respect and affection of thousands of dog owners around the world. Here is everything you should know about choosing a wireless fence system for your dog.

Why Buy a Wireless Dog Fence

Even though most wireless fence systems will fit into any family budget, the invisible fence cost is still a considerable factor. If you have already spent thousands of dollars on buying the necessary gear for your pup, you may think that a wireless fence is something you can do without.

However, the risk of your dog escaping even through the most intricate physical fence and getting into trouble is both a very real and very preventable one. Save yourself the stress and unwanted consequences of a dog running away with the affordable and easily installable wireless dog fence. Here are some reasons why you and your dog will benefit from buying and installing a dog fence:

• With most fence systems, the installation takes anywhere between half an hour and a few hours, and once the fence is installed, there is no additional work required. Plus, there is little to no maintenance — just charge the receiver from time to time or replace the battery.
• A dog fence is designed to run for years. It is made of durable materials that can withstand various weather conditions and physical stress. Even if the wire in your underground system breaks, fixing it is very easy and can be done within minutes.
• Most wireless dog fences come with a multi-level circuit correction system: if your dog is easily trained, you can get away with only using a light vibration. But even if your pup is stubborn enough to require the use of circuit correction, you can rest assured that it’s painless to the dog but very effective in setting up the boundaries.
• If you often travel, you will love the easy transportability of most dog fences, especially 100% wireless ones. Simply pack up the setup and install it on a new location to keep your dog safe anywhere you go.
• When you are shopping for a wireless dog fence, you don’t need to take into account your dog’s age and weight — the majority of collars are universal and fit dogs from 11 to over 150 lbs. Starting from the age of 6 months, puppies can be trained to use the wireless fence system, and, as long as your senior dog is healthy, you can continue using the system after it reaches 12 years of age.

Features to Consider

If you want the wireless fence to meet your requirements and ensure a safe and happy playing environment for your pup, there are certain features to look for. Here are the important features to consider when choosing a wireless dog fence.

Type

There are two types of dog fences available in the market today. The first one is the wireless fence, which includes a central transmitter that then spreads the signal around the designated area preventing the dog from going beyond the boundaries. The circular radius of the transmitter fits most households, but it rarely allows you to set up a particular coverage shape.

The semi-wireless fences also have a transmitter, but also rely on the physical wires that are buried underground or attached to a physical fence. The biggest benefit of this system is that you can easily set it up to mimic the perimeter of your property, even if it is unusually shaped. Plus, a wired system can be scaled up to 100 acres by simply adding more wires to the setup.

Capacity

Both wireless and underground dog fences offer different capabilities when it comes to the coverage area of the system. If you have a small property, you can start with a 1-acre coverage fence. If you need more coverage, look for options with a bigger capacity or increase the capacity manually by increasing the number of cords in the system.

Stability

The last thing you want when installing a pricey electric fence is for it to stop working due to a variety of reasons. If stability is your number one requirement in the list of features for an electric fence, we recommend choosing a semi-wireless system: once you bury the wire, it will work steadily without being affected by various elements.

While fully wireless dog fences are typically also very stable, there are certain things that can prevent them from working correctly 100% of the time. The most common reason for troubles with the signal transmission is the uneven surface of the property and its irregular shape. Another reason why your wireless fence may stop working properly is any large metal object in the way of the signal, including the roof, siding, or even a car. And even though most wireless fence manufacturers warn you against using the fence nearby large metal objects, it’s not always easy to fulfill this requirement.

Number of collars

If you have more than one dog in your pack and none of them has been trained to stay within the property limits before, it’s best to train all dogs at once. If you begin training one dog who then sees the other dogs running freely, it will lower your chances of achieving a steady result fast.

Luckily, most wireless dog fence brands today offer increased collar capabilities in their setups. If you buy a system with just one collar, you can easily add more collars if necessary. Some systems have a 5-collar limit, but if you have more than 5 dogs at home, you will have no trouble finding a wireless fence that supports an unlimited number of collars. Training your dogs together and teaching them to stay within the property perimeter is a much more effective and time-saving method than training them one by one.

Installation and use

While many dog fences resemble each other in design and functionality, they can be very different when it comes to installation and operation. Generally speaking, fully wireless dog fence systems are very easy to install. All you need to do is find the right spot for the transmitter, install the flags (optional) and begin training your dog.

Installing a semi-wireless fence system is a bit more time-consuming, since, in most cases, you will need to bury the wire alongside the desired perimeter of the area. With some fences, you can actually get away without any digging at all by simply attaching the cord to the existing physical fence.

The challenging thing about installing an underground fence is that you have to install it at least one foot deep, so that your dog won’t be able to dig it out and damage it. Luckily, you may not even have to use a shovel to install the fence — there are plenty of specialized tools that can make this task easier.

Collar fit

You are probably used to choosing the perfectly comfortable fit for your dog’s regular collar by making sure you can slide two fingers underneath the collar. The wireless fence collars are a different story. In order to fulfill their functionality, these collars need to fit much closer to the dog’s neck.

The correction feature is executed by two small prongs on the inside of the collar. They are blunt and rounded, which means that on their own they don’t give your dog any uncomfortable sensations. That is why you need to spend extra time to find just the right fit. It should be rather snug, so that the prongs can easily reach the dog’s skin underneath all the hair.

Most wireless fence dog collars come in a single size, which means that finding the perfect fit is a question of time and patience. Always let your dog run around for a bit and get used to the new fit of the collar before starting the actual training.

Water resistance

The majority of collars in wireless dog fences today have either water resistance or waterproof capabilities to protect the delicate electric mechanism inside from accidental water damage. If your goal is to mainly protect the construction of the collar from rain or accidental splashes from water play, you can choose a more affordable water resistant option.

In case your property contains a pool or other body of water, or if you plan to frequently travel to locations like lakes, rivers, and beaches, you will need more thorough protection against the elements. A waterproof collar will sustain not only accidental exposure to water, but will also survive if your dog decides to go for a swim.

Training method

There are two main options when it comes to the training method used by the collar receiver of your wireless fence system. The first and most common one is the electric shock that is delivered through the pins in the collar. The shock feature is designed not to harm the dogs, but since all pups have different tolerance levels, most collars with a shock feature come with several levels, usually 5. By starting from the first level and gradually increasing the strength of the correction if the mild setting does not work on your dog, you will find exactly how to achieve maximum efficiency with the training.

In addition to the electric shock, some collars come with a vibration setting. If your dog is a puppy or senior, or is much more sensitive than other dogs, sending a short vibration to the collar may be just enough to make them stay within the perimeter of your property.

The other type of training method available in modern electric fence collars is the tone training. As soon as the dog gets closer to the fence, the collar will start emitting a sound that dogs find unpleasant. While this type of training may not work on all dogs, it’s a great option for puppies, senior dogs, and overly sensitive pups.

Power

The majority of electric fence dog collars are powered by batteries. Single-use batteries are a less-preferred option, especially if the collar utilizes a unique type of batteries that usually cost more than their generic counterparts. However, in the case of single-use batteries, you can replace the dead battery almost immediately without putting the training on pause.

Rechargeable batteries are a more budget-friendly option. Whenever the battery in the collar runs out of juice, simply plug it into the nearest power source using a compatible cable that is usually shipped with the collar. Often you won’t even have to take out the battery, since there is an opportunity to insert the cable directly into the collar.

Conclusion

The decision to install a wireless dog fence in your property may turn out to be the best one you make for the safety and health of your dog. With our guide, you will effortlessly find a fence type and brand that works perfectly for your needs. Never worry about your dog escaping again with one of the innovative and practical devices on our list!