Outdoor Hidden Dog Fences

A hidden fence is an underground pet fencing system that uses a radio signal to keep your dog in a designated containment area, such as a yard; or out of an area, such as a swimming pool, patio, or garden. Hidden fences can also be used to create indoor pet fences that work inside your home to keep your pet off a couch, out of a room or away from a kitchen counter.

Hidden fences are often mistakenly referred to generically as “invisible fences”. Invisible Fence^® is a brand name and registered trademark of the Invisible Fence Company.

Hidden fences are created by burying a ‘boundary wire’ a few inches underground around your property. The buried wire carries a harmless, low level radio signal from a transmitter installed in your house or garage. Your pet wears a lightweight, waterproof receiver collar that recognizes the radio signal. As your pet approaches the buried wire, the receiver collar emits a warning signal (audible or vibration). If your pet travels further, he will receive a mild but safe stimulation (also called a “correction”) from the receiver collar. Through a training program, your pet learns to recognize his fence boundaries and learns to stop at the warning signal. Although there are differences in some of the product features, this is how all hidden fences work (DogWatch, Invisible Fence^® and other radio fence brands.)

With an indoor system, the hidden wire runs around your couch, under the lip of the counter, around the trash or across a doorway or wherever you need to create either a containment area or an “off-limits” area. We also have wireless indoor units that do not require placement of a boundary wire. Give us a call to discuss your options.

The DogWatch SmartFence is a hidden underground pet fencing system (often mistakenly referred to generically as an “invisible fence”*) that uses a radio signal to keep your dog in a designated containment area, such as a yard; or out of an area, such as a swimming pool, patio, or garden. The SmartFence has a communication component that will notify you by pop-up notification text and/or email if there is a break in the underground fence or if your pet’s collar battery is low, so you will know before your pet does if there is an issue with the fence working as it should. It will also let you know if your pet is testing his boundaries and will track your pet’s activity.

View more SmartFence FAQs here.

*Invisible Fence^® is a registered trademark of Radio Systems, Inc.

Training is an important part of the process. After we install the hidden fence, we work with you to train your pet. The training includes teaching your pet to recognize the containment area boundaries through a combination of voice commands, audible warning signals from the receiver collar and visual flags that are set in the yard where the pet hears the warning alert. With training, the dog remembers the placement of the flags and associates the flags with the warning signal. As your pet learns, the flags are slowly taken away. Your pet also learns that if he continues beyond the flags and warning alert, he will receive a mild correction (a stimulation from the collar). After training, most dogs do not cross the hidden boundary; they usually stop before the warning signal to avoid the correction.

We will initiate the training and provide instructions and support so you can complete and reinforce the training. After the initial training, your dog goes through a training session with you for a few minutes each day for about two weeks. We will develop a plan to meet the specific training needs of your pet(s).

No. The “stimulation” from the collar is unpleasant, but it will not “burn” or injure your pet. It is a sensation similar to a strong static shock like you might receive after walking across a carpet in your socks. It is uncomfortable, but it does not harm you.

Although it is not related to the electronic stimulation, ‘pressure sores’ can be caused by a collar that is too tight and/or not removed regularly. Removing the collar when not in use helps prevent irritation of the dog’s skin.

DogWatch products are used and recommended by many veterinarians. This type of stimulation has been used safely and effectively for over 40 years. Today’s electronic collars are easily adjustable so that your dog receives the appropriate level of stimulation for its sensitivity, size and personality.

The DogWatch Hidden Fence brand is often confused with the Invisible Fence® brand and may be mistakenly referred to generically as an “invisible fence”. DogWatch is not affiliated with the Invisible Fence^® company.

At DogWatch, we utilize exclusive safety and convenience features that make DogWatch the best in the pet containment industry. Click here to learn why DogWatch is the best choice for pet containment - no getting around it!

Invisible Fence^® is a registered trademark of Radio Systems, Inc.

DogWatch receiver collars have several exclusive safety features such as FastReact^®, a feature that helps ensure your pet responds to the hidden dog fence while still INSIDE the containment area. Our SmartCollar, R9, R7mini and R10 receivers have our exclusive AutoMemory^® feature which automatically adjusts the training level for your dog if he “challenges” his boundary.

Our Pet Friendly™ audible-only setting allows you to train your dog using an audible “beep” tone before you introduce him to the correction setting. (Also available as a vibration alert.) After training, most dogs respond to the warning alert and do not test the boundary.

Your DogWatch transmitter has a wire-break alert so you will know if your boundary wire has been compromised.

Your DogWatch Hidden Fence system equipment includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and a Lifetime Limited Warranty when installed by an authorized DogWatch Dealer.

All authorized DogWatch Dealers provide you with superior technology and products to keep your pet safe and contained.

Additionally, we are a locally-owned independent business. Because we own the business, we have a vested interest in making sure our customers are happy.

The cost for a DogWatch Hidden Fence is almost always much less than traditional fencing. The cost varies based on which system is right for you, the number of pets, the size of the property, how many sidewalk and driveway cuts, if you want internal “garden loops”, etc. Contact us for a free consultation and an estimate for your property.

In addition to costing less than traditional fences, hidden fences provide more flexibility and more secure containment than traditional fences. For example, you can contain your dog in your yard, but keep him out of a pool area, garden or driveway gate. Plus, your dog cannot jump over, chew through or dig under a hidden fence. And hidden fences don’t need to be painted and don’t deteriorate like traditional fences.

There usually isn’t much difference in the cost of a DogWatch fence and other Dealer-installed brands (such as Invisible Fence^®.) Retail brands may seem to cost less than the Dealer-installed brands, but they do not include installation (which can be challenging), training (which is very important), ongoing support or a good warranty program. Also, Dealer-installed products tend to be better quality than retail brands.

DogWatch offers hidden fence models that can cover properties up to 200 acres. The outdoor systems can be installed in all kinds of terrains, including across streams or to create containment areas in lakes, etc. You can contain your dog in or out of most anywhere, including interior features of your home such as couches, dining rooms, and countertops. Contact us for a free consultation and estimate.

Yes. There is no limit to the number of dogs (or cats) our hidden pet fencing can protect at one time.

Yes! Both the Outdoor Hidden Fences and Indoor Boundaries work very well for cats. We have also trained pigs, goats and other animals on the DogWatch system.

If the initial training was done properly, this will rarely happen. If your dog does get out, check to make sure the collar is on securely. Check the status light to make sure the receiver battery is working. You may need to increase the signal range (on the transmitter) to keep the dog further from the boundary wire, or increase the correction level on the receiver collar. Perhaps due to recent landscaping, there is a break in your underground wire. We are available to help with any issues or concerns you may have. Please contact us if you need help.

Our DogWatch Hidden Fences systems include PetFriendly™ training from one of our experienced DogWatch Dealers. As a result, dogs using our hidden fences rarely leave the containment area. In the rare instance that a pet does leave the containment area, the ProFenceX includes our WelcomeHome™ technology. The WelcomeHome technology allows a pet to return to their yard without a correction.

Hidden fence systems are designed to keep your dog at home and out of trouble. They will not keep other dogs or animals out . . . unless the other animal is wearing a compatible receiver collar.

Our hidden fence systems work with all breeds, ages, and sizes of dogs. However, this type of product is not intended for dogs that have a history of aggressive behavior.

All dogs are different. Even within the same breed some dogs may mature earlier than others. When we meet with you and your pet, we will evaluate your dog and make a recommendation as to when training should begin.

If you experience frequent loss of power, we can add a DogWatch PowerPak^®. This auxiliary power supply provides hours of power to your electronic fence until your household electrical service can be restored.

All DogWatch hidden fence systems include both an internal lightning surge protector in the transmitter as well as an external surge protector. This is standard with all DogWatch Hidden Fences.

We offer a Lifetime Limited Warranty on our outdoor systems installed by an authorized DogWatch Dealer. There is also a limited 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the system.

You can take your DogWatch system with you! You may need to have new wire installed at your new house, but we can use your existing equipment to create your new hidden fence.

We’ve been surrounding pets with freedom since 1990. We are a privately-owned, people-oriented company that takes pride in our quality customer service. Our engineers constantly research and develop new ways to make our products the safest for your pet and the easiest for you to use in your home. Our products are all designed, fully assembled and tested in our corporate office in Massachusetts. We strive to create the best pet containment products in the industry. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have. Contact us.