Keeping dogs safe is the highest priority for every dog owner. If you’re a new pet owner and unsure where to start, there are a couple of options to consider. First, you can install a physical fence or wall in your yard or you can opt for one of the best wireless dog fences on the market. These are invisible, but offer replete protection. In 2023, our top choice for most dog owners is the PetSafe Wireless Pet Fence Pet Containment System, which spans up to a half-acre of outdoor space and includes a collar battery that lasts up to two months before requiring a recharge.
The best wireless dog fences are made to keep pups safe and secure. Dog Training Collar
If you’re curious how wireless dog fences work, it’s simple. Most function by virtually connecting a special wearable collar to a central transmitter, which designates an invisible boundary around your yard. When your dog gets close to the edge of said boundary, the collar will beep loudly or vibrate. Some, but not all, will emit a gentle shock when dogs actually cross over the line. “In theory, this is an excellent option for owners that would like their dogs to have more outdoor play space but are restricted by HOA rules and cannot have a fence,” says Missy Matusicky, DVM, MPH, assistant clinical professor at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. And it goes without saying that a wireless dog fence is a more convenient alternative to constantly walking your dog around on a leash. Ahead, we’ve curated a list of the best wireless dog fences to help keep the furriest member of your family safe and secure.
PetSafe is a big name in the wireless pet fence world, and the brand’s containment system is a consistent fan favorite. It covers up to a half acre of land from wherever you place the transmitter, and that radius can be even greater if you purchase an additional transmitter. The system is portable, too, so you can take it on family vacations, and the battery on the waterproof collar will last for up to two months before you’ll get a helpful alert that it’s time to swap it out. Owners can flip between five adjustable settings to find the one that’s right for your dog.
A thoughtful element to consider: The system lets your pet come home without being corrected if they happen to pass the boundary. For some, that’s a plus; for others, it might be concerning. Finally, if needed, one can also purchase additional compatible collars for multiple pets.
This PetSafe fence bills itself as being specially designed for “stubborn dogs,” giving it the option of delivering little morefor larger pups that can get a strong running start. Choose from five levels of static correction and enjoy a receiver collar that charges in two to three hours (each charge lasts for three week). The boundary on this version is larger than our top pick—it covers up to 3/4 of an acre from where you place the transmitter. It’s also portable and offers zap-free re-entry, in the unlikely event your that furry friend happens to escape the yard.
The Wiez GPS wireless dog fence has an impressive 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Fans rave about its easy set-up and consistent coverage. The fence uses GPS positioning technology to help one set boundaries and cover up to a 3,281-foot radius, with adjustability starting at 65 feet. You can also adjust the vibration intensity and electric shock to three different levels. Got a stubborn pet? The vibration or electric shock will work non-stop for 16 seconds, followed by a 30-second pause, and repeat the cycle three times.
Many owners like to travel with their pets. Safety is still just as important when you and your dog are on the go, too. This GroovyPets GPS wireless fence system allows you to create an invisible fence while you’re camping, on vacation or traveling just about anywhere. It even remembers your preferences and automatically sets up borders based on your previous choices. The system uses GPS to create invisible boundaries and has an escalating alert the closer your dog gets to a border. You can also flip through six vibration modes and six shock modes to find the level that’s right for your pet. A nice perk: The sensor is compatible with multiple collars, so you may be able to use it on one you already have. No need to have extra batteries on-hand—the collar is rechargeable.
At $699, the Halo is more expensive than many wireless dog fences you’ll find but it offers plenty of features that make it worth considering. This system is controlled by an app that lets you build virtual fences of whatever shape you prefer wherever you want to keep your dog contained, including at the beach, park and even while camping. Lost sight of your dog? Use the app to find them using GPS, whether they’re inside or outside of your designated border. You can even track your pup’s activity levels using the app.
At over $1,000, SpotOn is certainly a splurge, with a cost that rivals those of underground electric fences. But this wireless fence provides options no other product in its category can. For example, the collar lets you build a custom fence of any shape from a half acre to thousands of acres, and you’ll even be able to “draw” the planned boundary with your phone. Once your fence is created, simply save it in the app to store it for later use. Thanks to impressively consistent satellite coverage (the collar has access to a whopping 128 satellites, though it’s consistently connected to anywhere from 25 to 30 at a time), you can create custom fences just about anywhere.
The Forbes Vetted editors, like all consumers, dote on their pets and consider them part of the family. That’s why it’s important that wireless dog fences for backyards and outdoor spaces not only keep pets safe and secure, but are easy to install and maintain as well. To find the best wireless dog fences, we took our own questions and concerns into consideration. When we evaluate products like best wireless dog fences, we look at all the bells, whistles and functions that make these products worth the investment.
In addition to articles about how to care for our pets, we have also written, researched and in some cases, tested a slew of pet-related content. This includes input on the best automatic dog feeders and the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
We refresh this story regularly and it was last updated August 2023.
To curate this list, we spoke with three different veterinarians, each of whom offered their advice on important features to look for in these types of products. We also spoke to multiple dog owners in the hopes of learning more about their personal experiences. Then, we narrowed the field with an eye toward aspects like safety, range, adjustability and overall reliability. Thousands of reviews from real owners were factored in as well, allowing us to reliably discern how these fences perform over time and with repeated use.
There are certainly a lot of options out there, so it can be helpful to consider a standard set of features during your wireless dog fence search. Here’s what our experts recommend looking out for:
A big perk of a wireless dog fence is, well, the lack of wiring, which can be a headache to install. But don’t be fooled: These devices still require some installation. A few models will require you to set up a radius using a centrally-based transmitter and create different “levels” to let your dog know they are approaching the border’s edge. Others use GPS for area designation, but that, too, may require some thought and even foot traffic to create the perfect fence. Just be sure to take a look at the installation required by the device you select, and set aside some time for that process.
The bottom line is that you need a fence that will last. One major perk of wireless dog fences is that you don’t need to worry about wires breaking and leaving you with gaps in coverage, and many of the accompanying collars are waterproof or at least water-resistant, helping them to stand up against the elements. They’re also typically made of sturdy nylon or vinyl to help them survive whatever your dog dishes out.
Most wireless dog fences offer a few options for adjustability. You can adjust the border of your fence through the transmitter—whether from the physical device or your phone–along with different vibrations to let your dog know when they’re nearing the border. Often, you’ll be able to adjust the shock levels to one that’s suitable for your dog’s size and temperament. Of course, the collars are typically adjustable to allow you to get a snug, safe fit on your pet.
Range is an important factor to consider in a wireless dog fence. Most will allow your dog to have ample room to room, but these fences will often run up to three-quarters of an acre, with many solidly in the half-acre range. Consider your property space and how large of an area you want to let your dog roam before investing in a fence.
Reliability is crucial when investing in a wireless dog fence. While there’s no guarantee that every fence will work perfectly, it’s important to read reviews to see if users had any significant lags in coverage. If you’re particularly concerned about your dog’s security, consider the Spot On Dog Fence. It utilizes a whopping 30 different satellites across different systems to ensure you won’t have coverage gaps.
Wireless dog fences use a transmitter to install a border in a set area, which can be a radius around the transmitter or a fence you create using an app. “Dogs can and will respect the invisible fence as long as you train them appropriately, with a few exceptions,” says JustAnswer Veterinarian Expert Grant Little, DVM. “You can train them by setting up the wireless fence, teaching with visual cues such as flags around the yard and work on it 10 to 20 minutes daily. Over time, your dog will start to understand where that boundary is and start to respect getting close to it.” These fences also use vibrations and beeps to warn your dog when they’re getting close to the border and will deliver a shock if they reach it, explains Brian Collins, DVM, extension associate at the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center.
For many, yes. “A wireless dog fence is certainly better than no fence,” Collins says. “With some, you can use a wireless dog fence to avoid swimming pools and flower beds.” In other words, these devices can potentially help you maintain the current look and feel of your yard. Wireless dog fences also tend to be less expensive than underground dog fences, which require digging up your yard.
It all depends on your specific lifestyle and needs. Underground dog fences tend to cost more and they’re not portable. Wireless dog fences, meanwhile, “can travel with the dog and owner,” Matusicky says. “In theory these could be used for camping and outings.” That said, there is a downside to taking a wireless dog fence on the go: It can be confusing and frustrating for dogs. They can’t actually see where the new fence is set up, after all.
I'm a wealth reporter focusing on entertainment. I previously worked Forbes' news desk and as a features reporter at the New York Post, where I covered pop culture, and at the Boston Globe and Boston.com I graduated from Emerson College in 2017 with a degree in journalism. Follow me on Twitter @MarisaDellatto or reach out at mdellatto@forbes.com.
I'm a wealth reporter focusing on entertainment. I previously worked Forbes' news desk and as a features reporter at the New York Post, where I covered pop culture, and at the Boston Globe and Boston.com I graduated from Emerson College in 2017 with a degree in journalism. Follow me on Twitter @MarisaDellatto or reach out at mdellatto@forbes.com.
I'm the executive strategy editor at Forbes Vetted and a functional nutritionist. In between geeking out over SEO and obsessing over products, from mattresses to treadmills to every kitchen gadget I can get my hands on, I've written more than a dozen books and cookbooks and created over 1,000 original recipes.
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I am the senior updates editor and have been part of the Forbes Vetted strategy team since October 2021. Along with a team of writers and content strategists, I focus on optimizing the Vetted library of content, keeping it current, accurate and searchable.
I have a B.A. from Emerson College and over 8 years of publishing experience. Prior to joining Forbes Vetted, I freelanced for Dotdash Meredith, Bustle Digital Group and a number of smaller lifestyle, pet and travel sites. Currently, I reside in central Florida with my husband, toddler and dog, a Shar-Pei/Lab mix.
I am a staff writer and product reviewer for Forbes Vetted currently residing in Austin, Texas. I primarily cover deals and consumer shopping, and previously worked as a deals staff writer for Wirecutter. My byline has also appeared in the New York Times. I have over four years of experience writing in the e-commerce sphere, and spend most of my time scouring the web for the latest consumer news and best discounts.
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I'm a lifestyle writer and freelance editor based in the NYC area and the former executive editor of The Kitchn. As a freelance writer, I currently shift between food and parenting-based stories. My work has appeared in Forbes Vetted, as well as on Simply Recipes and the Food Network. My previous roles led to bylines in the New York Daily News, Time Out New York and on the Cooking Channel, Zagat and Today.com.
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I am a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, relationships, home, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, Prevention, Health, Yahoo Life, and more. I have a master’s degree from American University, live by the beach, and hope to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
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training collar for all sizes of dogs I am an accomplished author, journalist, and photographer who specializes in consumer technologies. Please visit my website at www.JasonRich.com and check out my eBook, \"iPhone 14 Pro Max Digital Photography\" (www.iPhoneBookShop.com). I am also the author of The Remote Worker's Handbook (Entrepreneur Books) that'll be published in March 2023.