Electric Dog Fences

Underground, wireless, and GPS fence systems. Find the right containment solution for your yard and your dog.

Which type of electric dog fence is right for you?

Electric dog fences work by pairing a boundary system with a receiver collar worn by your dog. When your dog approaches the boundary, the collar delivers a warning tone — then a mild static correction if he keeps going. Most dogs learn the boundary in a week or two and rarely test it again after that.

There are three fundamentally different ways to create that boundary, and the right choice depends on your yard, your property, and how you use it. Here’s how they compare.

Not sure which type you need? The quick rule: flat suburban yard → wireless. Oddly shaped or large property → underground. Rural land, travel, or irregular boundaries → GPS containment.

Underground Dog Fences

Underground fences use a wire you bury a few inches below ground — or lay flat in the grass — connected to a transmitter in your garage or shed. The wire defines the exact boundary, so you can follow your property line, loop around a garden, exclude a pool area, or create any shape you need. Your dog wears a receiver collar that signals him when he gets close to the wire.

This is the most flexible and most reliable type of containment system. Wire doesn’t get confused by terrain, trees, or hills. The boundary stays consistent in any weather. If you have a large property — or a yard that isn’t flat and circular — underground is almost always the better answer.

We carry underground systems from SportDOG, Dogtra, and PetSafe, ranging from budget-friendly setups for small yards to systems that cover over 100 acres.

See all underground dog fences →

Wireless Dog Fences

Wireless fences use a radio transmitter that sits inside your home and broadcasts a circular boundary outward. No wire to bury, no installation tools required — plug it in, adjust the radius, and you’re done in minutes. The receiver collar signals your dog when he reaches the edge of the circle.

The tradeoff is boundary shape: wireless systems always create a circle. If your yard is relatively flat and a circular containment area works for you, a wireless fence is hard to beat for convenience. If your yard has hills, a pond, or an L-shape, the radio signal can behave unpredictably — underground is the better fit in those situations.

See all wireless dog fences →

GPS Dog Fences

GPS containment systems use satellite positioning to define the boundary — no wire, no radio transmitter. You draw a custom boundary, and the receiver collar keeps your dog within it. Because GPS works anywhere with sky visibility, these systems are especially useful on large rural properties, camping, or anywhere you need a fence that travels with you.

GPS systems are the most portable option and the most flexible in terms of boundary shape, but they work best in open areas. Heavy tree cover or buildings can reduce GPS accuracy. They’re also the highest-priced category — but for the right situation, nothing else comes close.

See all GPS dog fences →

Underground vs. wireless vs. GPS — side by side

Training your dog to the fence

Every electric fence system — regardless of type — requires a short training period. The goal is to teach your dog where the boundary is before the static correction becomes part of the picture. Most manufacturers recommend a structured two-week protocol using boundary flags to mark the perimeter visually while your dog learns.

Walk your dog on a long lead, let him discover the warning tone naturally at the boundary, and redirect him back toward the center of the yard with positive reinforcement. Within a week or two, most dogs understand the boundary and stop testing it. Skipping training is the most common reason dogs push through electric fences — the system works, but the dog has to understand what the tone means first.