Invisible dog fences not only help keep your pets safe and within sight as they roam your outdoor space, but they also offer several advantages over traditional underground systems. The best wireless dog fences are easier to install, often more affordable and feature highly customizable feedback settings—including tone-only modes. Plus, they can be used virtually anywhere. Our top choice for most dog owners is the Petsafe Wireless Pet Containment System, a travel-friendly pick that can cover up to half an acre of outdoor space. SpotOn’s GPS Dog Fence is our standout choice for long-range use: One professional dog trainer recommends it for its extensive battery life and accuracy, even in remote, heavily wooded areas.
Most wireless dog fences function by virtually connecting a dog collar receiver to a central transmitter, which designates an invisible boundary around your yard. When your dog gets close to the edge of that boundary, the collar beeps loudly or vibrates; some systems then emit a certain level of static when dogs actually cross over this line. It’s important to note that many canine experts (including ones we tapped for this story) don’t recommend the use of shock collars, or at least relying on them as your first resort when training your dog to stay within a boundary. Managing editor Emmy Favilla, who covers our pet content and has long been involved in fostering dogs, says that “e-collars or shock collars can cause psychological distress to a dog, particularly if the dog doesn’t understand what it’s being triggered by.” For this reason, a real fence is “the single best option” for keeping your pup secure, according to Ali Smith, a professional dog trainer and CEO of Rebarkable.
That said, wireless dog fences do come in handy—and are sometimes necessary—in situations where establishing a physical perimeter is unfeasible. Smith says, “I would recommend GPS-based fencing if you’re actively traveling with your dog (such as nomadic individuals or those choosing that van life) or if your property is more rock than soil and a regular fence is borderline impossible to implement.” But as with other behavioral issues, spending time on proper training—instead of relying on physical corrections—is what’s important; further, most of these products come with specific usage instructions, like how long to keep the collar on, that are crucial to keeping your dog comfortable and safe. With that context in mind, we delve into four of the best wireless dog fences to help keep the furriest member of your family secure.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Many Forbes Vetted writers and editors are proud pup owners, so we take great care in selecting only the best pet products—and that includes wireless dog fences.
- We’ve reported on—and tested, in several cases—dozens of the best products for dogs that help keep them healthy and safe, including the best dog gates, dog crates and GPS dog trackers.
- We tapped managing editor Emmy Favilla for her input. She is Forbes Vetted’s resident pet expert, author of our monthly Pet Peeves column and an animal rescue advocate.
- We also consulted Ali Smith, CEO and founder of Rebarkable, an award-winning professional dog trainer with experience working with more than 1,000 dogs.
- We update this story regularly to keep our recommendations in stock, ensure they’re the best in their categories and provide the most current expert advice. This article was last updated in December 2024.
How We Chose The Best Wireless Dog Fences
We determined our final list of the best wireless dog fences using a careful, layered selection process.
- Based on hours of conducting in-depth research, sifting through customer feedback, scanning brands’ FAQ pages, testing the latest pet products, consulting our in-house canine expert and drawing from our knowledge of trusted brands, we narrowed down our pool to only the most popular and top-rated models.
- To determine our final list of recommendations, we consulted a professional dog trainer who has trained over a thousand dogs in her career—in some cases using some of the wireless dog fences on this list. She offered guidance on these products’ most important features and answered popular questions around the topic.
- We reviewed the most important specs and features to consider when shopping for wireless dog fences. These include reliability, ease of use, safety, range, adjustability, durability and value.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
