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Keeping your dog safe and preventing escapes is challenging when you are unable to build a fence to contain them. Installing a tall fence is expensive, and some homeowners and renters cannot build them because of HOA regulations. However, wireless dog fences are more affordable and relatively easy to set up.
Wireless fences use a transmitter on the dog’s collar to establish an invisible barrier. When the dog crosses the barrier, the collar beeps, vibrates, or emits a mild shock. Wireless fences have been available for several years, but until recently, only a few companies produced them.
Now, you have several choices, and we’ll discuss the 10 best wireless dog fences to help you determine which model is best for your home. After our reviews, we have a helpful buyer’s guide with additional tips.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
The 10 Best Wireless Dog Fences
1. PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Dog Fence – Best Overall
Coverage area:
¾ acre
Correction type:
Tone, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
PetSafe is one of the leading producers of wireless fences, and its Stay & Play Compact Dog & Cat Fence is our pick for the best overall wireless dog fence. Whether you have a large, unsecured yard or like camping with your pup, you can take the PetSafe wherever you go.
It covers ¾ of an acre, and unlike other models, it doesn’t correct the dog when they return to the safe zone. The fence includes an indoor transmitter, boundary flags, and a collar. If you get a new cat or dog, you can order additional collars that work with the same system.
Customers were happy with the PetSafe fence’s performance, but some were disappointed that their cars interfered with the signal.
Pros
Ideal for smaller properties
Easy to install
Works on all breeds
New pets can be added to the system
Portable
Cons
Parked cars interfere with signal
Dense fur can disrupt corrections
2. Petdiary GPS Wireless Fence System Dog Tracker – Best Value
Coverage area:
999 yards
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
The Petdiary GPS Wireless Fence System Dog Tracker uses satellite technology to track your best friend. It doesn’t require an app or transmitter to operate, and it only takes around 30 minutes to set up. The system includes a GPS collar, contact points, boundary flags, and a training guide.
You can adjust the coverage from 33 to 999 yards, and the automatic memory function keeps you from repeatedly recalibrating the collar. It has one of the easiest set modes of the models we reviewed, but you cannot use it in spaces with less than 33 yards. Some users mentioned that the battery loses its charge in under 36 hours. However, we think the Petdiary GPS is the best wireless fence for the money.
Pros
No transmitter required
Reliable GPS signal
Contact points gentle on sensitive skin
Automatic memory
Cons
Battery only lasts for 36 hours
Complaints of batteries dying faster
3. Halo Wireless Dog Fence, GPS Tracker & Activity Monitor Dog Training Collar – Premium Choice
Coverage area:
1,166.67 yards
Correction type:
Tone, vibration
Waterproof:
Yes
For the ultimate GPS virtual fence and dog-training system, we recommend the Halo Collar Wireless Dog Fence GPS Tracker. After installing the Halo app, you can create up to 20 virtual fences to protect your dog. Then, you can follow the training instructions designed by Cesar Milan to teach your dog how to stay within the boundaries. Some customers mentioned that it takes a while for dogs to learn the system, but they didn’t have any problems after the training.
Although the Halo Collar is more expensive than other models we reviewed, it includes more features, such as the app’s tracking feature. You can track how many miles your dog walked and how long they rested.
Most dog owners were impressed by the Halo Collar, but some didn’t like paying the monthly service charge.
Pros
Creates up to 20 invisible fences
Provides real-time GPS location of dog
Training instructions by Cesar Milan
Halo app tracks training progress
Cons
Not designed for small dogs
Requires a monthly service plan
4. GroovyPets GPS Wireless Fence System & Dog Training Collar – Best for Puppies
Coverage area:
300 yards
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
Unlike many wireless systems, the GroovyPets GPS Wireless Fence Containment System is suitable for small breeds. The collar fits neck sizes from 6 to 24 inches, and you can activate it with the remote control. The system has nine levels of tone and vibration corrections and 30 levels of safe shock corrections.
The collar is designed to function for 36 hours when the virtual fence is activated, and it’s compatible with other GPS collars. It’s more affordable than most models, but it has a few flaws. The coverage range isn’t as vast as other models, and several customers had issues with the GPS signal.
Pros
Affordable
Automatic memory
Suitable for small breeds
Cons
Small area of coverage
Collar sometimes loses signal
5. Focuser Electric Wireless Dog Fence System
Coverage area:
328.08 yards
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
The Focuser Electric Wireless Dog Fence System uses a transmitter instead of GPS to create a virtual fence on your property. The system includes a collar receiver, USB cable and charger, 20 training flags, contact points, a transmitter, and a test light. The collar contains a safety chip that prevents you from harming your pup in shock mode and a backup battery for power outages.
Although the Focuser system is designed for dogs of all sizes, it only has four shock levels. We didn’t see any customer comments mentioning the shocks were too intense for small pups, but it’s unclear how only four shock levels suit all breeds. If you have a toy breed, we suggest using only the vibration correction.
Pros
Safety chip prevents over-correcting
16 training levels
Sound warning after one cycle
Cons
Only 4 shock levels
Unsuitable for dogs under 10 lbs
6. Htcuto Wireless Dog Fence for 2 Dogs
Coverage area:
1,100 yards
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
If you have two dogs and need a wireless fence, check out the Htcuto Wireless Dog Fence for 2 Dogs. It’s ideal if you have a farm or large property because of the collar’s 1,100-yard range, and it’s suitable for dogs of all sizes. It has 30 levels of shock corrections, which is much more than the competition. It also has nine vibration levels and five levels of tones.
The metal contact points on wireless collars can irritate some dogs with light coats, but the Htcuto system comes with silicone tips to protect your dog’s skin. It’s an affordable system for two dogs, but several customers complained that it didn’t perform consistently. Sometimes, it randomly beeps and confuses the dog.
Pros
30 shock levels
85-hour battery life
Silicone tips for contacts
Cons
Must keep transmitter outside
Inconsistent performance
Beeps randomly
7. WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence, Electric Dog Fence
Coverage area:
776 acres
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
The WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence does not require a transmitter and relies on 12 satellites to improve its GPS accuracy. It’s an affordable product that protects two dogs, and it has a pretty impressive range. However, if you have a small property, you’ll need to find another product. The WEIZ collar cannot create a virtual fence that’s under 98 feet.
Most users didn’t have many issues with the collar’s performance, but some said the collar isn’t very durable and only lasts a few months. The biggest flaw with the WIEZ is the safety feature that is supposed to prevent injuries.
The collar cannot be disabled unless it goes through three cycles, and your dog will experience several seconds of vibrations and shocks if you aren’t around to turn it off.
Pros
2-year warranty
GPS uses 12 satellites
Affordable for 2 dogs
Cons
Not designed for small yards
Safety feature requires 3 cycles
Not durable
8. BHCEY GPS Wireless Electric Dog Fence
Coverage area:
776 acres
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
The BHCEY GPS Wireless Dog Fence has an impressive range of 776 acres and doesn’t take long to set up. It includes a GPS collar, test bulb, charger, and plastic probes. It’s designed for dogs of all sizes, but it’s a little too large for toy breeds. It uses GPS satellites to establish the virtual fence, but it’s not as accurate or dependable as the competition.
Some customers gave up on the BHCEY and purchased other brands because of the signal problems. The GPS takes a while to work, and sometimes, it beeps randomly. Like our last pick, it takes three cycles of vibrations and shocks before the safety feature kicks in.
Pros
Easy to set up
Fits most breeds
Cons
Satellite connection problems
Too large for toy breeds
Beeps randomly
Safety feature require 3 cycles
9. ABHY Wireless Dog Fence System
Coverage area:
330 yards
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
The ABHY Wireless Dog Fence System is another affordable product for two dogs, but it uses a transmitter rather than GPS. It’s designed to fit medium-sized and large dogs, and it has a 330-yard range. The collar has reflective strips to make your pup more visible in low light, and the battery can operate for several weeks without a charge.
Unfortunately, the ABHY collar only has three levels of tone, vibration, and shock corrections. It’s not designed for small dogs, but with only three shock levels, it might be too intense for medium-sized dogs. It has a decent range, but it doesn’t function in small spaces under 100 feet long. Unlike most wireless systems, the ABHY doesn’t include boundary flags.
Pros
Receiver charges in 2 hours
Reflector strips on collar
Cons
Only 3 levels for each correction
Doesn’t work in small yards
Doesn’t include boundary flags
10. COVONO GPS Wireless Dog Fence
Coverage area:
1,083 yards
Correction type:
Tone, vibration, shock
Waterproof:
Yes
The COVONO GPS Wireless Dog Fence is an inexpensive system with a 1,083-yard range. The company claims to have improved its software to prevent false warnings and GPS signal problems. The 1500 mAh battery stays charged for 48 hours, and the collar stores the last central point in its memory.
It’s only designed for dogs over 20 lbs, and some customers mentioned that they liked the slimmer design of the COVONO compared to other collars. However, it only has three shock levels, and the signal problems still occur, even with the software update. The most significant problem is that it can randomly shock your dog when it malfunctions.
Pros
1,083-yard range
Affordable
Cons
Only for dogs over 20 lbs
Inconsistent performance
Only 3 levels of shock correction
Complaints of random shocks
Buyer’s Guide
Pet parents who want to keep their dog in their yard without installing a 6-foot-tall fence will usually start looking into wireless fences and e-collars. The fences have multiple setup options, and most models are simple to operate.
What’s best for you will be determined by your family’s exact needs. Here are some things to consider when purchasing a wireless dog fence.
Image Credit: Sebastian Coman Travel, Unsplash
Setup Options
The first feature to consider is the setup style. The wireless fences we discussed use either a GPS system or a transmitter. Both types have advantages and disadvantages.
GPS Collars
GPS collars don’t require a transmitter to function, and some models can be used without Wi-Fi. They’re ideal if you travel frequently with your dog and can be set up in under an hour.
Because they don’t require much equipment, GPS collars meet HOA requirements, and you can use them whether you rent or own your property. One of the most significant advantages is that most function without electricity. Even the high-end models controlled by apps will work if you’ve already configured the virtual fence on a device.
The GPS collars at the top of our list are reliable products that rarely have signal issues or design flaws. However, the inexpensive models are more unreliable, and some users have to wait several minutes to get a signal from the satellite.
Wireless Transmitter
A wireless home base setup uses a transmitter that sends signals to a receiver on your dog’s collar. When your dog gets too far away from the home base the receiver will emit a noise, administer a shock, or vibrate to let the dog know that they need to move closer to the home base.
The area covered by a wireless home base setup is an exact circle centered on the transmitter. Pet parents with large or atypically shaped yards may find that a home base unit does not cover their entire yard and does not allow their dog to access the whole yard.
Those with small yards may find that their dog is allowed to roam in their neighbor’s yard, which is covered by the circular radius. Some transmitters are battery-powered, but the models that use your home’s electricity will not function during a power outage. However, the wireless fences that use transmitters don’t experience the same signal problems as GPS products.
Image Credit: Stock-Asso, Shutterstock
How to Decide Which Fence Is Right for You
When deciding what fence to buy there are several factors to consider. The biggest factor is the size and shape of your yard. If your yard is unusually shaped or tiny, a wireless home base station may include areas of your neighbor’s yards as part of the Safe Zone. If your yard is too large you may need multiple wireless home bases to cover the entire area of your yard.
Another factor that you’ll want to consider when buying a fence is the receiver’s correction method. There are three types of corrective methods: tone, vibration, and shock. A tone correction collar will emit a loud noise when the dog comes near the barrier zone.
A vibration collar will vibrate when the dog leaves the zone and won’t stop until the dog returns to the safe zone. A shock collar will administer a harmless electrical shock to the dog when they cross the barrier line.
Not all dogs respond the same to each type of correction. Some professional trainers recommend that you buy a fence that has all three options in case your dog doesn’t react appropriately to the first chosen correction method.
Ethical Concerns When Using a Shock Collar
Dog owners rightfully have concerns about the use of shock collars with their dogs. Proponents of shock collars state that no harm will come to the dog as long as they’re used appropriately, and dogs have been harmed by improper use of shock collars leaving pet parents feeling nervous about employing the corrective method.
The US Human Society firmly states that you should never use shock collars, and most animal advocates consider them inhumane. There is no evidence that shock collars are more effective than any other humane training method, and many research observations show that shock collars are less effective.
If you plan to use the shock correction on your dog, use a collar that has several levels of intensity; you’ll be less likely to harm or frighten your dog.
Conclusion
We examined several excellent wireless dog fences, but our top pick is the PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Dog & Cat Fence. Unlike most wireless fences, you can use the PetSafe collar if you have a small yard.
It’s also more reliable than other wireless brands and is one of the most revered by dog owners. If you’re on a tight budget but want a quality collar, we recommend the Petdiary GPS Wireless Fence System Dog Tracker. It only takes a few minutes to set up, and you don’t have to wait long for a GPS signal.
And finally, if you’re looking for a system with tech-savvy premium features, the Halo Collar Wireless Dog Fence GPS Tracker & Activity Monitor, which allows for customizable fences and a handy tracking app.
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Featured Image Credit: EMpro, Shutterstock
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