Keeping a dog contained in your yard can be a challenge. It’s not always because you don’t have a good fence, but some dogs are just escape artists and it seems like nothing you do is ever sufficient to keep them in!
On the other hand, there are yards and spaces that simply don’t have a fence. Putting up a fence that will effectively keep a dog in your yard can be incredibly expensive and it’s a time-consuming task. What’s a cheaper and better solution? You will want to take a look at underground dog fences.
An underground dog fence allows you to create a parameter around your designated yard space. You can train your dog as to where their boundaries are and not have to worry about a fence that may or may not contain your dog anyway. Underground dog fences typically have a collar that either beeps, vibrates, or uses humane static shock to keep your dog in the boundaries.
We’ve put together a guide to share with you the 8 best underground dog fences on the market. We searched and scoured the internet to find the truly best options out there. Whether you have a small yard or a big yard that is many acres, we have a dog fence for you! We will share each of the in-ground dog fences with a detailed review to help you make a decision.
In a rush? Here are the top picks!
The 8 Best Underground Dog Fences Reviewed
In these reviews, you will find a comprehensive overview of each underground pet fence. Each review will also contain a list of the pros and cons for the associated fence. Our hopes are that these details will provide you with all of the information you may need.
- Pros
- U.S. customer service
- Covered by a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Security features like lightning protection and wire disruption
- Can expand to larger areas
- Rechargeable collar
- Cons
- The collar is a pain to put on and take off
The Sport Dog underground fence system comes with a few different options. You can purchase just the underground pet fence or you can purchase the entire underground dog fence system complete with a rechargeable collar. If you really want to kick it up, there is also a remote training system, but it does cost quite a bit more. For entry-level dog owners, you will want to purchase the system with a rechargeable collar. A remote allows you to manually control the settings of the collar at any time.
This underground invisible dog fence is fairly easy to install in your backyard after you dig the holes underground. It can cover 1 1/3 acre of land and is best for containing just one dog. You can, however, expand the wire and cover up to 100 full acres of ground.
The collar that comes with this wired dog fence is waterproof and just takes a 9-volt battery. If you upgrade to the next unit, you get a rechargeable collar instead which is a lot more convenient for most dog owners. These collars are designed for dogs that weigh at least 10 pounds. So if you have a smaller dog or puppy that is less than 10 pounds, you’ll have to find alternative options.
These collars provide a tone as well as a vibration warning before it transitions to static shock if the dog continues to ignore the command. You will receive an alarm if the wire breaks or is disrupted. There is also a 2-year warranty on this product and there’s U.S. based customer service if you have any issues. Overall, this is the best underground dog fence on the market that we could find.
- Pros
- Recently updated with improvements
- Choose your length of wire and the number of dogs
- Covered by a 1-year warranty
- Manufactured in the USA
- Heavy-duty and protected wire
- Cons
- The battery seems to have to be replaced often
This underground dog fence system is a second-generation option from the brand that was recently updated in 2020 to make some improvements. Now, it’s one of the highest-rated underground pet fences across the board with a lot of positive reviews.
You can choose your underground wired fence system to meet your needs. Whether you need 500 feet or 200 feet of wire, they can help you create a great perimeter around your yard. You can also choose how many dogs you will have on the system which up to 5 dogs that operate on different collar frequencies. Remember that these various factors could also affect the cost of the system that you end up with.
The collars were updated in 2020 and this system contains updated electronics that are compatible with the collar features. One of the biggest additions was that there are multiple antennas for better reception if you have trees or hills in your backyard. The collars are waterproof as well as submersible up to 10 feet in case you have rivers, lakes, or streams in your yard.
This kit comes with everything you need including 20-gauge boundary wire with a heavy-duty protective jacket, digital transmitter, collars, flags, chargers, and antennas. Once you setup this underground dog fence, it’s meant to last a long time.
- Pros
- Can expand up to 5 acres
- Choose a 1 or 2-dog system
- 4 levels of static correction or tone only
- Easy to set up
- Budget-friendly option
- Cons
- The plastic snap on the collar doesn’t hold up very well
- The transmitter isn’t the best quality for lasting
PetSafe is a well-known and brand name company for pet supplies. Thus, their underground fence for dogs is a pretty great option. You can purchase this system as a 1 dog or 2 dog kit. The collars are also rechargeable which is great!
This underground fence will cover 1/3 acre, which is about 500 feet. You can purchase additional wire and expand up to 5 acres of coverage if needed. There are 4 levels of static correction so you can find which one works best for your dog. You can also use just a tone if you feel that will be sufficient to correct your dog. Most of the time, larger dogs won’t react to just beeps or tones so you will have to use a light and humane static shock.
This system has a helpful automatic safety shut-off feature so that your dog won’t receive an excessive amount of static that could hurt them if they remain outside the zone. This is a great feature to have as your dog is learning the barrier of the underground wired fence.
In addition, the PetSafe collar is waterproof and fits a variety of dog sizes – it’s compatible for 8 pounds and higher. This collar also comes with a battery and also has a low battery indicator. You can replace the battery as needed with a specific battery type.
- Pros
- This company believes in quality as the first requirement
- Add additional collars or wire easily
- Easy to set up
- Waterproof collar
- 5-year warranty coverage
- Cons
- The wire quantity seems to be less than what is advertised
Earlyhigts is a unique system that can work for some small dogs. Very few fence containment systems work for dogs less than 8 pounds but this one is safe for 5 pounds and up. This system can come in a 1 or 2-collar system and you can purchase additional collars as needed.
The transmitter is strong and reliable, which seems to be an inconsistent feature with other underground invisible dog fence systems. You get enough wire to cover up to 1/2 an acre of land which should fit most medium-sized backyards. The transmitter reaches up to 5 acres so you can expand with additional wire if you need to.
This is very easy to set up and it is 100% customizable to your need. The collars are waterproof, although it is unclear if they are submersible for long periods of time. This company also offers U.S. based customer support, which is sometimes a major draw for this type of product. The underground pet fence system is covered by a 5-year warranty if you register it and also has a 90-day money-back guarantee. If you’re looking for a cost-effective and entry-level underground dog fence, this should be your pick.
- Pros
- Dual-training system design
- Wire can be above or below ground
- Collars have an extended battery life
- Wireless remote for remote training
- Progressive correction for simple training
- Cons
- The charge doesn’t seem to hold very long at one time
The Pet Control HQ underground dog fence system is another highly-recommended option with pretty high ratings across the board. It’s got its own set of contributions that set it apart from other dog containment systems. This underground fence for dogs has a thick underground wire as well as a wireless remote. You can use the remote without the fence if you so desire. So if you’re loose-leash training your dog or taking them for a hike, you can use the remote and collar as a training mechanism.
You can use this system for multiple dogs and it works for dogs that are 8 pounds or more. You can purchase a 1 or 2 collar system and also add more collars if needed. The collars are rechargeable which is also a nice feature. They are also waterproof rated IPX7 which allows 30 minutes of swimming time in case it rains or you have water on your property.
The collars offer 3 levels of progressive correction that increases as the dog pushes their limits. This wire doesn’t require digging and it can be placed above ground if that is the way you want to use it. However, most of the time people like to bury the wire underground so their dog doesn’t chew on it and it won’t break due to the weather.
The collars offer a long battery life and it’s nice to have the versatility of a dual training system with this setup. So if you’re looking for a shock collar and a underground dog fence, this would be a two in one solution.
- Pros
- U.S. based customer care
- Great for stubborn dogs
- Adjustable correction to fit your needs
- Waterproof collar
- Works for hearing-impaired dogs
- Cons
- Does not come with the wire for the system
If you have a really stubborn dog that nothing seems to work for, you may want to give this option from PetSafe a try. This underground pet fence does not come with a boundary wire. That will be a separate purchase and an additional expense.
This system boasts the highest static correction intensity in comparison to other systems. It has 5 levels of static correction as well as tone and vibration settings that you can use. In addition, the PetSafe stubborn dog electric fence is safe to use for pets that are 8 pounds or more.
This system comes with everything except the ground wire. It includes the collar and receiver as well as the transmitter, flags, and antennas. The wire being sold separately allows you to choose whatever length of wire you need for your yard.
This can be useful for hearing-impaired dogs as well. The collar is waterproof and can also be submerged up to 3 feet. The customer service is U.S. based in case you have any questions about the product or need help resolving issues. The adjustments are nice and you can reach several levels if you have a stubborn dog that simply won’t cooperate.
- Pros
- Heavy-duty premium system
- Comes with everything you need
- Can be expanded up to 25 acres
- Collar is submersible up to 10 feet
- Could last up to 25 years
- Cons
- The beep on the collar does not catch attention
This underground pet fence system is a max grade performance system that offers maximum duty and a lot of versatility. Extreme Dog lets you choose from a kit that is 500 feet all the way up to 2,000 feet of underground wire. You can also select systems for 1 to 5 dogs and customize this to your needs. Remember that costs may vary depending on the system you create.
The transmitter on this system has one of the widest ranges of any system out there. You can establish a perimeter of up to 25 acres and have coverage all around it. The collar is both waterproof and submersible up to 10 feet which is premium compared to other brands as well.
This electric dog fence comes with everything you need. First, it is made in the USA and is very easy to install after you dig the trenches for the wire. The wire is heavy-duty 14-gauge wire and the transmitter is a simple digital system. This system boasts that even if you place the wire above ground, it could last up to 25 years which speaks to its durability.
This underground fence for dogs is covered by a 10-year warranty, has a great reputation, and has been distributed for more than 25 years at this point in time. You can’t really go wrong purchasing this underground pet fence.
- Pros
- Low battery indicator for the collar
- Expandable to cover 25 acres
- U.S. customer service
- Fully customizable to your needs
- Reputable company
- Cons
- Battery needs to be replaced often
- Prongs on the collar tend to break easily
Our final option is one last option from PetSafe which makes several kinds of electric and wireless dog fences. This invisible underground pet fence is simple and effective. You can purchase the entire fence kit and then you can purchase individual collars or additional wire to expand the system.
This system comes with wire to cover about 1/3 of an acre but you can expand the fence to cover up to 25 acres if you purchase wire and flags to do so. The collar is lightweight and comfortable. In addition, it is also waterproof and submersible up to 3 feet as well.
The battery is anticipated to last up to 60 days and also offers a low battery indicator so it never runs out unprepared. Moreover, it can be used for dogs that are 8 pounds and larger. The transmitter comes with its own surge protector so you don’t have to worry about storms and unexpected surges.
The customer care for this company is U.S. based which is always a nice bonus if you have issues with the system. The collar offers 4 adjustable levels of static plus a tone-only mode as well.
How to Choose an Underground Dog Fence?
When it comes to choosing the best underground dog fence there are a few things that you may want to keep in mind. We’ve put together a simple buyer’s guide to try to help you know just what you may want to consider before you buy.
Coverage Area
Probably one of the most significant things you will want to consider is the coverage area of the system that you purchase. You want to be sure that it will offer enough coverage for the space you are using it for.
Some systems are expandable and you can purchase additional wire for expanding purposes. Just be sure that the wiring is compatible and that the transmitter will still cover the range that you need it to. Most transmitters are very strong, so the only aspect you have to worry about is the underground wire.
Battery Life
Another thing to keep in mind is the battery life of your collar. Some collars are rechargeable while others require you to replace the batteries. Rechargeable batteries are always the best because you don’t have to deal with battery changes. However, they also tend to cost a bit more for the system or the collars.
Most collars that are not rechargeable tend to need replacement batteries within about 30 to 60 days and this can quickly become an annoyance. It’s best if you are able to keep some backup batteries on hand and just be prepared to change them regularly along the way. Remember, if the collar runs out of battery, the underground dog fence won’t work properly.
Quality
Another really important feature of an in-ground dog fence is the quality. You will find a myriad of collars and they are not all created equal. The options in this guide were carefully selected to try to bring you the very best underground fences for dogs so you don’t have to worry about durability.
Another aspect to watch out for is whether or not they are covered by some form of warranty or guarantee and whether the customer service is worth your time. You will notice most of these companies are U.S. based companies and we specifically mentioned their customer service because if you do need to call for service, you should have a positive experience!
How to Install an Underground Dog Fence
One of the most common questions we get is how to install an underground dog fence and whether or not they are easy to install. First, I will say that installing an in-ground dog fence is relatively easy once you have trenches for the wire already dug. Digging small trenches to bury the wire will be the longest and most difficult task that will take 1-2 days depending on how large your yard is.
Once the wire is buried in the ground, the setup is simple. You will have to connect the transceiver and wires to an electrical outlet and then setup the dog collar settings. Typically, dog owners use the shock collar setting, so you will want to start on the lowest shock setting as to not hurt your dog. If your dog doesn’t react to the lowest level of static shock, then you can gradually increase the levels. For more information on installing an underground dog fence, you can view the video below!
Conclusion Best Underground Dog Fence
We hope that you find this guide to be a valuable resource to help you find the best underground dog fence available. We carefully chose these options trying to keep any type of need in mind and selecting high-quality options that won’t let you down.
We recommend that you prepare ahead for your needs and purchase additional batteries and wire to be sure you are adequately covered. There are plenty of helpful articles and tutorials that would help you with the installation process. Here’s to a happy and free dog!
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.