Small or large, most dogs will run away to explore the neighborhood every chance they get.
Electric dog fences are easy to install and keep your pet within the bounds of your yard while remaining discrete.
Once trained to stay inside the boundaries, your pup can run amok in the yard without the temptation to explore unsafe areas.
An electric dog fence is quick to set up and is ideal for any yard.
No matter your size of yard, or if your dog constantly digs under the fence, an electric fence will cover the areas you need to keep your dog safely inside.
We have tested 12 of the best electric dog fences, choosing 6 for our top picks and 6 for honorable mentions.
Read on for reviews on our favorites to help you choose the perfect electric fence for your yard and your dog.
Our Top Picks
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall: SportDOG In-Ground Fence | Comes with everything you need to set up along your chosen perimeter, contains up to 100 acres of wire, and includes a rechargeable battery for the dog collar. | Check Price |
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Best Wireless Dog Fence: Pet Safe Invisible Fence | A wireless fencing system with customizable settings for the electrical collar to keep your dog safely monitored and within the perimeter. | Check Price |
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Best For Extreme Conditions: Extreme Dog Fence Kit (In-Ground) | Includes wire to cover up to 6 acres. A waterproof and submersible system made to last through harsh and unexpected weather conditions. | Check Price |
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Best For Dog Enrichment: Pet Safe Above-Ground Electric Fence (Wireless) | Has an LCD display that shows how far your designated dog area extends, as well as warning indicators for any places that may not be covered. The collar has 5 modes as well as a tone-only feature for humane correction. | Check Price |
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Best Budget Buy: Dogtra E-Fence 3500 (In-Ground) | This fencing system covers up to 40 acres, has wire breakage alert systems, and a filtering system to ensure the fencing runs properly and smoothly. | Check Price |
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Best For Ease Of Use: Pet Safe YardMax Underground Pet Barrier | This system comes with everything you need to maximize your yard or perimeter space. The system is waterproof, covers up to 10 acres, and the collar comes with 5 mode settings. | Check Price |
Disclaimer
Before opting for an electric fence, we recommend obedience training and taking the time to thoroughly understand and carry out the process.
Training your dog the right way can prevent the potential stress of an electric fence collar, and focuses on positive cues to reinforce boundaries.
While electric fence collars aren’t considered cruel, for certain dogs they can cause potentially severe emotional distress without the proper training.
Brain training techniques are a science-backed way to help prepare your dog for electric fence training without the use of force or dominance!
How Electric Dog Fences Work
Electric dog fences work by sending a radio signal (not a WIFI Signal) to an electrical collar placed around your dog’s neck.
Once you have the wire boundaries set up, you train your dog to stay within the flagged perimeter.
The electrical collar will firmly alert your dog, reminding them to stay within the set perimeter of the electric fence.
This feedback is most commonly a small static shock, but it can include a warning beep and a vibration depending on the collar.
Remember that these fences are designed for keeping your dog within the boundary, but it does not keep other animals or pets to stay out.
If you have frequent intrusions by wild animals or neighboring dogs, this type of fence will not keep them away.
Read our related article on Considerations When Choosing a Dog Fence for the Yard. See the different types of fences and discover how to choose the right type for your pet and home!
How We Chose the Best Electric Dog Fences
Determining which are the best electric dog fences is no easy feat, so we looked to some of the brands behind them and determined their quality and familiarity with such equipment.
Whether it’s looking for a new puzzle toy for your dog to enjoy, or changing their food brand, checking the brands that your dog’s gear comes from is always worth the extra step for your dog’s wellbeing.
The SportDOG brand specializes in gear and equipment for your dog and the outdoors.
From dog training collars to fencing, beacons, training aids, and apparel, this brand has been established since 2003 and has prioritized making dog gear in a way that one would design it themselves, hence their slogan “Gear, The Way You’d Design It.”
PetSafe was established in 1991 and specializes in numerous items and accessories for your dog.
Whether you own a dog or a cat, they put the health and safety of your animal first when it comes to items like fencing, food and water bowls, training collars, and more.
See our related article, Are PetSafe and Invisible Fence the Same Company? We go over the similarities, differences, and whether or not these two brands sell compatible products.
Extreme Dog Fence specializes in outdoor fencing kits and equipment for your dog(s).
With over 20 years of installation experience, they pride themselves on answering all questions and ensuring you choose the best option for your dog.
With brands like these, we also looked to Amazon and similar sites for reviews, where we could find honest feedback and guarantee that we have the best options for you to decide between.
We put the highest-rated electric dog fences to the test.
6 of these dog fences made it to our recommended list, and 6 others made it to our honorable mentions list!
Read on to see why.
Read More: Best Collars Compatible With Pet Stop Fencing. Need a new collar for your Pet Stop fence? We tested the top options in this guide!
Best Electric Dog Fences Reviewed
1. Best Overall: SportDOG In-Ground Fence
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 5/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 17.5 x 11.5 x 6 inches | Brand: SportDOG | Features: Covers 1 ⅓ acres, with expansion option up to 100 acres | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Keeps an unlimited number of dogs contained with extra collars
- Ramps up from beeps and vibration to static shock
- US-based customer care
- Lightning surge protection built in
- 1,000 feet of wire and 100 flags included
What We Didn’t Like
- The initial kit doesn’t contain much wiring, but it’s perfect for small yards
The price of this kit might seem just a nudge out of an ordinary price range, but for the quality and heavy-duty durability that this fencing kit brings, it’s sure to be well worth the dollars spent.
This electric dog fence kit is our best overall pick!
Here’s why.
Size & Coverage
This fencing kit can be extended to cover 100 acres by purchasing additional wire.
No matter the size of your yard or chosen area for your dog, you’re sure to get the space you need covered! It’s an easy-to-install system with wire included containing 1 ⅓ acre.
Material & Features
This fencing system comes with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, 1,000 feet of wire and pet fence flags to set up around or throughout your yard.
It also comes with an electric collar with 7 different settings to allow your dog to be trained gradually to stay within the limits of your yard.
It’s designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, as well.
Ease Of Use
This easy-to-install fencing kit comes with the wire and flags, monitoring system, collar, and everything that you would need in order to maintain the perimeter of your yard to keep your furry friend in!
Setting up an electric fence is much faster and easier than a wooden fence, however, dog training is needed to use it properly.
The difficulty of training depends on the breed and how consistently you train. For most dogs, it’s a quick process.
Once the fence, collar, and dog are set up and ready to go, the fence and collar will keep the dog contained with no more work needed from you besides checking the collar battery periodically.
Read More: How Do You Set Up a Wireless Dog Fence? DIY the installation with this step-by-step guide!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON2. Best Wireless Fence: Pet Safe Invisible Fence
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 4/5 |
| Quality | 3/5 |
Sizes: 11 x 12 x 9 inches | Brand: PetSafe | Features: Wireless | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Easy to set up and get going right out the box
- Up to ½ acre of coverage
- No need to bury any wires
What We Didn’t Like
- Problems said to arise with the system over long use
- The shape of the fenced area is circular, so it can be difficult for some dogs to learn
We picked this as the best wireless dog fence because this system is designed to be easy to set up and maintain a comfortable and invisible perimeter for your dog to roam free.
Size & Coverage
This fencing system is designed to cover ½ an acre, and fences your yard in a circular shape, providing the ultimate yard coverage without any setup headache.
Material & Features
The battery life on the system is meant to last up to 2 months before getting to a low enough level to need a recharge.
The fencing kit also comes with an adjustable waterproof collar, so your pup can run around in the rain to their heart’s delight!
The wireless setup is ideal for travelers or families that like the great outdoors and camping. The unit can be moved anywhere and once staked in the ground it will provide the same coverage to keep the dog safely with the family.
Ease Of Use
The PetSafe fence installation requires no need to bury any wires.
You just set up the radio unit in the center of the yard, and it will provide the necessary waves to maintain the boundary or perimeter of your choosing.
It takes just a few hours to recharge, then your perimeter settings are ready to establish and use!
Read our related articles, Can a Dog Run Through an Invisible Fence? and What Do I Do if My Dog Runs Through My Invisible Fence? Find out if an invisible fence is really right for your dog!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON3. Best for Extreme Outdoor Conditions: Extreme Dog Fence Kit (In-Ground)
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 4/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 12.1 x 7.8 x 7.4 inches | Brand: Extreme Dog Fence | Features: Waterproof, covers up to 6 acres | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Choose from a number of bundles to suit your circumstances
- Offers coverage of spaces up to 6 acres, so ideal for sprawling gardens or farms
- Waterproof and fully submersible
What We Didn’t Like
- Proprietary batteries and these don’t last as long as claimed
True to the name of the brand, this fencing system is made to withstand extreme weather conditions!
This entire fencing system was manufactured in the United States, and they offer support should you have any questions or need help with setting up your fence.
If you have a messy and super active furry friend or live in a place where the weather changes from sunshine to rain quite gradually, then this just might be the system for you.
Size & Coverage
This fencing system is made to cover up to 6 acres of land. You can choose which type of system you’d like, with the option of how many dogs you have.
The fencing kit comes with a 20 gauge high tensile boundary wire, as well as a splicing kit, collar, and everything else you need to set your fence up for success.
Material & Features
The fence you decide to install comes with a 1-year warranty, so if it’s not to your liking, you’re encouraged to reach out to the sellers and get something better suited for your yard’s needs.
This is an improved fencing system with a fully submersible waterproof feature!
The collar that comes with the kit has a built-in system that checks the battery levels, too, which we think is pretty cool.
Ease Of Use
This kit comes with everything you might need to get started. It’s heavy-duty, suited for harsh or rugged conditions, and meant to last.
A customizable kit lets you choose based on how many dogs you have, and ensures that the system will be tailored to your individual needs and cater to the safety of your pup!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON4. Best for Dog Enrichment: Pet Safe Above-Ground Electric Fence (Wireless)
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 3/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 8.6 x 7.8 x 10.6 inches | Brand: PetSafe | Features: LCD Display, Portable | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Compact and portable solution for dog safety
- No need to hide wires
- Humane dog training with a tone-only correction option
What We Didn’t Like
- A buzzing sound might arise from long term use
We loved the wireless feature of this fencing system.
It’s ideal for all kinds of dog enrichment such as having a steady routine, having plenty of exercise and one-on-one time, camping, or just playing fetch in your backyard. There are many different enrichment techniques to try out with your dog!
This PetSafe system is easy to set up and allows you to play safely with your dog.
You can play in your front yard confidently once your dog is trained to the barriers that you have set on the fencing system and never worry about him running into the road.
Size & Coverage
This system covers about ¾ of an acre in a circular pattern. There’s also an indoor transmitter that will allow you to set boundaries within your home.
The LCD display allows you to see how far and wide the barriers in the system expand, giving you more peace of mind and being able to provide the necessary space for your dog, as well.
Material & Features
There’s no wire to bury with this system! It includes everything you need in order to get set up and playing right away.
This wireless fencing system includes the main system with an LCD display, flags so you can visibly see your boundary, electric collar, and chargers.
This fencing system is great for camping adventures, long road trips, or just to have at home.
Ease Of Use
The entire setup takes about 1-2 hours compared to an entire weekend, which sounds pretty ideal!
The entire system is portable, requires no wire to bury, and has a correction level of 5.
Your dog will have a rechargeable receiver collar, comfortable for neck sizes between 6-28 inches, and a static-free re-entry, should your dog ever wander outside the boundary lines.
Read our related article on the Best Portable Wireless Dog Fences for more info on fences suitable for travel!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON5. Best Budget Buy: Dogtra E-Fence 3500 (Underground)
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 4/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 5.12 x 1.57 x 3.15 inches| Brand: Dogtra | Features: Range Coverage is up to 40 acres, Wire Breakage Alert System | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Ideal for mild or stubborn dogs
- Adjustable signal field width
What We Didn’t Like
- May require excessive charging
This is a great budget buy and an ideal system for any mild or high energy or stubborn tempered dogs!
Depending on your dog’s temperament, there’s a gentle vibration setting or a static and vigorous mode. We loved the options that this system had for us to choose from.
Size & Coverage
The range of this system goes up to 40 acres. It has an underground containment system that will allow your dog to roam safely on the boundaries of your property.
There’s also a built-in alert system to let you know when or if there’s any wire breakage.
This is ideal if you live in an area with harsher weather or have smaller animals that like to chew on wires!
Regardless of the case, we think this is a nice and integral system.
Material & Features
If you have multiple dogs, you can contain all of them within the set boundary of your yard by investing in separate collars.
There are multiple correction modes depending on the temperament of your animal, as mentioned before, a vibration or pager mode, or a static correction mode.
There’s a signal field width, allowing you to change the space your dog can roam freely in, and a filtering system that helps to keep outside electrical interruptions at bay and maintain that your electrical fencing is working properly.
Ease Of Use
This system shouldn’t take more than a weekend to install (unless you have to bury it under a driveway) and has everything you need in order to have a successful boundary line for your dog to roam freely.
Once your dog or dogs are trained to stay within the boundary lines, they’ll be able to enjoy and get as much exercise as they need.
You won’t have to worry about your pup running off somewhere unknown chasing a rabbit or squirrel anymore!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON6. Best For Ease of Use: Pet Safe YardMax Underground Pet Barrier
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 4/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 5.88 x 5.88 x 12.12 inches | Brand: PetSafe | Features: ⅓ Acre Coverage | Dogs: All Breeds
What We Liked
- Comes with wire to cover ⅓ acre
- Several other sizes and configurations available
- Static-free return home
What We Didn’t Like
- No method of manually overriding correction
This best electric dog fences system is ideal if you have a garden or a space up to ⅓ acre.
The fencing system kit comes with all the materials needed to have a complete boundary set up within your small yard or garden area.
Size & Coverage
This fencing system covers up to ⅓ acre.
This is ideal for small spaces, regardless of the size of your dog, and the static collar receives connection right at the boundary wire and not beforehand like most traditional electrical fencing systems.
This system has Pawz Away dog barriers, allowing you to have coverage not only in your backyard but also within your home!
Material & Features
The collar has 5 different static modes, and a tone-only mode, allowing you to adjust to the best option for your dog.
If you have more than one dog, you can purchase additional collars for a low price and connect them to the same system!
Ease Of Use
The fencing kit comes with 500 feet of included wire, and there’s the option to purchase more if needed for your outdoor space.
The kit has everything you need to get started, with the option to purchase more collars and wire to get your dog ready to go out and play.
Read More: Is the PetSafe Wireless Fence Waterproof? We answer this question and more in this complete guide.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZONComparison Chart
| Products | Best Overall | Best For Wireless Dog Fence | Best For Extreme Conditions | Best For Dog Enrichment | Best Budget Buy | Best For Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Affordability | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Comfort | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
The Winner
Our top pick is none other than the SportDOG In-Ground Fence!
This in-ground fencing system is designed for any dog breed to run and enjoy. It’s heavy-duty, durable, and allows your pet to roam freely in the comfort of your backyard!
Read More: Is There a Wireless Dog Fence for 2 Dogs or More? Here’s an informational guide to these fences!
How to Choose the Best Electric Dog Fence
When choosing an electric dog fence, even from our top picks, there are a few things we recommend considering before you hit “buy.”
Do Invisible Dog Fences Work in the Snow? If you live in an area that receives heavy snowfall, be sure to stop by this article!
Consider Your Dog’s Needs
Considering the size of your dog, their temperament, and the amount of exercise they need daily is an important step in assessing what type of electrical fencing you may need.
Does your dog have lots of energy?
Does your dog often dig and scurry under any immediate openings or dart across the backyard?
Does your pet train easily, or do they need extra time and patience?
It’s important to think of these things when choosing the best option for your dog.
Understand that dogs must be trained to stay safely inside the boundaries of the fence to avoid traumatizing them with repeated shocks.
Read our related article, Are Wireless Dog Fences Safe? If you’re concerned about how your dog may be impacted by wireless fences, this guide is for you.
Materials
If your dog isn’t used to static or electrical collars, it’s an important measure to assess how your dog might react to this type of collar, especially if they’ve never been introduced to one before.
Being patient with our pets and recognizing their discomfort or unwillingness to train allows us the chance to be patient and evaluate their needs before moving forward.
If you’re familiar with e-collar training or would like to try it out with your dog, here are some quality electric collars that you can choose from.
If you and your dog are unfamiliar with electric collars, our overall top pick’s brand SportDOG has an article about introducing your dog to an e-collar.
Read More: Is an Electric Fence Cheaper Than a Regular Dog Fence? Here’s what you need to know about fence cost, pros, and cons!
Honorable Mentions
Here’s a brief look at the 6 picks that didn’t make our best electric dog fences list.
1. Pet Safe Elite In-Ground Fence – Considered for Best Overall
Though this was considered as our top choice, we didn’t go with it based on the amount of time it took to install the fencing system compared to some of the other kits we had tried.
In the end, we were pleased with our choice of SportDOG In-Ground Fence as our best overall pick.
2. Pet Safe Above-Ground Electric Fence (Wireless) – Considered for Best Wireless Dog Fence
We didn’t end up choosing this option for the best wireless dog fence mainly because it doesn’t work as well with smaller dogs as initially advertised, based on the bulkiness of the collar.
We were pleased with our choice of Pet Safe Invisible Fence as it had more features and was more comfortable.
3. Extreme Dog Fence Max Grade Ultimate Performance Electric Dog Fence System – Considered for Best For Extreme Conditions
This wasn’t our choice for best for extreme conditions based on the bulkiness of the whole system and the limited setting involved on the collar, which made it seem to be less ideal for larger dogs.
Our choice of Extreme Dog Fence Kit (In-Ground) was a much more confident fit to choose.
4. PetSafe In-Ground Dog Fence (In-Ground) – Considered for Best For Dog Enrichment
This was a close tie for the best for dog enrichment but due to the time it took and the quality of the battery charge, we didn’t choose this as our final option.
Pet Safe Above-Ground Electric Fence (Wireless) is not only wireless but also has an LCD display and a simple setup.
5. Pet Safe Stubborn Dog In-Ground Fence – Considered for Best Budget Buy
We have continuously shown our love for the PetSafe brand throughout this article, but unfortunately, we didn’t choose this option for best budget due to the lack of user-friendliness.
During our testing, we decided that the Dogtra E-Fence 3500 was a more durable, flexible, and long-lasting option.
6. Covono Pet Containment System (In-Ground) – Considered for Best For Ease of Use
We decided not to choose this option based on the amount it can take for the dog to adjust and become conditioned to the fencing system.
Pet Safe YardMax Underground Pet Barrier had more options such as an indoor and outdoor collar plus more features to make usage a little easier.
