Dog Fences
Dog Fences
Containment systems fall into three families — buried wire, radio and GPS — and the right choice depends far more on your property and your dog than on which system markets itself best.
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Quick answer
Choose an in-ground wire fence when the boundary is permanent and its shape matters. Choose a wireless radio fence when you want a simple circular boundary with no digging and no monthly fee. Choose a GPS fence when you need a large or custom boundary, portability, or built-in tracking — and you have open sky.
The three fence families
In-ground (underground) fence
A buried wire loop carries a signal; the collar reacts as the dog approaches the wire. The most consistent boundary of the three, and the most work to install. Read our guide to underground dog fence collars.
Wireless fence
A transmitter in the house projects a circular boundary. No trenching, fully portable, no fees — but the circle cannot be reshaped and terrain distorts it.
GPS fence
Satellite positioning replaces the wire and the transmitter. Boundaries can be huge and custom-shaped, and many systems add tracking. Needs open sky and often a subscription.
Pick the guide that matches your situation
Systems we document
Disclosure: DogTech may earn a commission when you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial conclusions or the price you pay. Full disclosure
PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence
Best for: Simple, portable circular containment on a modest, fairly level yard
The most straightforward way to get a wire-free boundary on an ordinary suburban lot, as long as a circle fits your yard.
- Subscription
- None
- Battery
- Rechargeable receiver collar; see the current manual for runtime
Specifications checked against manufacturer documentation on August 28, 2026.
PetSafe In-Ground Fence systems
Best for: Permanent, precisely shaped boundaries — including odd lot shapes and exclusion zones
Still the reference point for boundary consistency. Choose it when the boundary is permanent and shape precision matters more than portability.
- Subscription
- None
- Battery
- Model dependent — some collars use replaceable batteries, others recharge
Specifications checked against manufacturer documentation on August 28, 2026.
SpotOn GPS Dog Fence
Best for: Large or irregular properties where a hand-walked custom boundary matters
The strongest option we've documented for large, irregular rural properties, and the one to look at first if you want to minimize recurring fees.
- Subscription
- SpotOn markets itself as not forcing subscriptions and states its long-run cost is lower than rivals; confirm the current plan terms at checkout before assuming full offline use.
- Battery
- Not stated consistently across SpotOn's public pages — check the current listing
Specifications checked against manufacturer documentation on August 28, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Sources & references
DogTech Editorial Team
Research and editorial group. We are dog owners and product researchers — not veterinarians, certified trainers or GPS engineers — and we say so rather than inventing credentials. Where a question needs professional judgement, we point you to a qualified professional.
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