The idea of our dogs wandering off and getting lost or running into trouble is enough to keep anyone up at night. Wireless dog fences are a fantastic way to make sure that doesn’t happen, while still allowing them the freedom to explore outdoors in the backyard. It’s super important that your dog gets to exercise, play, and chill out outdoors for their health and well-being, but it’s also essential that they’re secure while doing so. Or, maybe, you have a working dog that spends most of their time outdoors.
Why not invest in a wireless fence for peace of mind? That said, with so many on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones live up to their claims and which ones are worth the money. So, after testing out several products, we’ve created this top-five list to take out the guesswork. Let’s get into our picks, starting with the Halo Collar 3 and the SpotOn GPS Dog Collar, plus three others for budgets, small homes, and small dogs.
| Best Overall Wireless Dog Fence  | Runner Up  | Best For Small Homes  |
| 4.8 | 4.7 | 3.9 |
Quick disclaimer: If you decide to purchase one of our product recommendations, please use our referral links within the article as we are compensated by companies for promoting, reviewing, or recommending their products or services. It helps our website maintain high-quality content and allows us to keep testing products for you all.
Top Picks
- Best Overall Wireless Dog Fence- Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence
- Runner Up – SpotOn GPS Dog Collar
- Best For Small Homes – PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Pet Fence For Stubborn Dogs
- Best For Small Dogs – PetSafe Original Wireless Containment System
- Best Budget Option – WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence
Best Overall Wireless Dog Fence: Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence
Marketed as the most accurate dog fence ever created, the Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence is a truly revolutionary device for dog safety. Compatible with dogs weighing over 20 lbs and featuring advanced AI-based PrecisionGPS™ technology and real-time tracking, which locates your dog anywhere in the world, on any cellular network, as well as extended battery life so that it never fails you, let’s dive into exactly what makes this product our top pick.
Specifications: Customizable large fence sizes, worldwide tracking,11 – 30.5 inch collar
Key features:
- Expert design: Co-founded by Cesar Millan, this smart system integrates dog psychology and smart training into one easy-to-use smart collar.
- 24-hour battery life
- PrecisionGPS™
- Active GPS Antenna
- Real-time tracking
- All-carrier cellular coverage worldwide. No need to pre-select a cellular carrier. Halo will auto-connect to the carrier with the best service no matter where you go.
- Smart roaming between Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and LTE to provide optimized performance, battery life, and responsiveness.
- Instantly create, edit and store up fences in the Halo Collar app
- Three levels of customizable positive encouragement feedback
- Three levels of customizable “prevention” feedback
- Return whistle added safety feature
- In-app dog training based on positive methods only, not fear-based
- Waterproof collar
- Historical daily dog activity tracking
- Adjustable Perfect Fit sizing
- Magnetic charging port
- Four color options: Sunburst, Graphite, Ivory, and Orchid
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
What makes it special:
With the Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence, owners can instantly create, edit and store fences in the Halo Collar app and use them anywhere after moving, when visiting friends and family, going away on vacation or on camping trips.
It also boasts PrecisionGPS™ 1-second tracking on all cellular carriers and real-time activity analytics, as well as 24-hour battery life to keep your dog safe anywhere in the world, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
What we like:
As mentioned above, this collar is so much more than just a wireless dog fence. So, if you’re looking for something more comprehensive when it comes to keeping your dog safe, this is it. It has a live Patented GPS tracker, so you can track their activity on the accompanying app to see what they’re up to whenever you like.
Unlike other GPS-collar-based fences, Halo Collar doesn’t rely on Cellular and Bluetooth signals alone. Halo Collar’s technology includes Wi-Fi signals that are critical in many scenarios, such as when your dog is at home (where cellular reception may be limited).
Additionally, Halo Collar’s PrecisionGPS™ AI technology and active antenna let you keep tabs on your pet in any location automatically. This machine learning is also used to differentiate between direct signals and those bouncing off obstacles (like buildings and tree cover). The GPS in Halo Collars relies on signals from over 150 satellites to show your dog’s exact location and connects to up 35 satellites at one time (only 4 are needed to triangulate a location). As a result, you get more accurate location details with the Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence than with any other GPS collar. It automatically connects to any cellular network in any location (If you are out of Bluetooth range and not on a WiFi network, the collar will default to an LTE/Cellular connection. If the Halo Collar is connected over LTE, it will update the data and location on the app every second).
The app has lots of cool features, too, like the whistle feature, which is exactly what it sounds like – encouraging your dog to come back to you when you’re out and about together. This is not only great for walkies and escape artists, but good for training youngsters, too.
The collar is also nicely designed and comes in four beautiful color options; sunburst, graphite, ivory, and orchid, for those of us owners who like to show off our dog’s personality and want something a little more stylish looking, because most GPS & invisible fence collars can tend to look a bit boring!
Halo Collar is also compatible with a wide range of dogs, with a Small size that fits dogs between 11” and 15”, and a Medium/Large that fits dogs between 15”-30.5”. Dog owners who are in between sizes are recommended to go with the Medium/Large option, as Halo Collar also allows you to trim down the collar if it’s too large for your pup, making it a highly versatile wireless dog fence for large dogs.
In summary, the Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence delivers unmatched “bang for your buck”, bundling a competitive price point with unique features including Cesar Millan’s expertly crafted in-app training program, detailed statistics on your dog’s activities, and best-in-class customer service.
What to consider:
While Halo Collar 3 offers a robust set of features, it is a subscription-based service. So, if you’re looking for something that requires a one-off payment only, without on-going costs, this isn’t it. However, if you’re after something simple to get the job done, keep reading!
Shop now: It’s available to buy from the official website.
3/12/2024 Update: Exciting news! The Halo Collar 3 now costs $599 (down from $699)! Plus, our exclusive discount link gives you another $25 off, bringing it down to $574!
Full review: Check out our full review here!
Marketed as the most accurate dog fence ever created, the Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence allows users to create, edit and store unlimited-sized fences, starting at 30 x 30 feet, and is compatible with dogs weighing over 20 lbs. While the invisible fence features help prevent dogs from leaving the yard in the first place, the almost-pin-point accurate GPS tracking features help owners find lost dogs quickly. Last, but far from least, the Halo Collar also has amazing dog training features AND acts as an activity monitor.
Top Features:
- 24-hour battery life
- PrecisionGPS™
- Active GPS Antenna
- Real-time tracking
- All-carrier cellular coverage worldwide.
Shop through our referral link to save $25 at checkout. No coupon code needed!
Runner-Up: SpotOn GPS Dog Collar
The SpotOn
Specifications: ½ – 1000 acres coverage, 10-26 inch collar sizes available
Key features:
- Extremely Accurate GPS Tracking
- Super easy to set up
- Customizable fences
- Comfortable design
- Quick charge battery
- Up to 22-hour battery life
- Portable
- Optional cellular plans
What makes it special:
This collar is especially designed with outdoor dogs in mind. So, if you’re a farmer with working dogs or guard dogs, this could be the one for you. Or, perhaps you have a lot of land and your dog sleeps outside or just spends a lot of time outdoors. Either way, it’s the ideal solution!
What we like:
The customizable fence feature means you can create up to 20 unique overlapping fences at home, on the go, or if you move home with ease. Their patented True Location™ technology taps into a network of 128 satellites to provide boundary accuracy comparable to a buried wire fence.
What to consider:
The main consideration when it comes to buying this product is the cost. At just under $1000 ($999 as of 2024), it’s quite the investment. However, if you own outdoor dogs, or they’re a part of your working life, such as on a farm, it could be a worthwhile investment for you.
Shop now: It’s available to buy from the official website.
Full review: Check out our full review here!
Create GPS dog fences of any size, any shape and almost anywhere. SpotOn GPS Fence is reliable, flexible, and easy to use thanks to our patented True Location™ technology. Experience life unleashed with the SpotOn virtual fence for dogs.
Best For Small Homes: PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Pet Fence For Stubborn Dogs
The PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Pet Fence For Stubborn Dogs is designed for larger, stubborn dogs that don’t like to stay put. It’s on the expensive side, not quite as expensive as our last two recommendations, but it offers up to 3,035 square meters of circular coverage from a renowned and trusted brand. It also comes with a rechargeable receiver collar suitable for dogs weighing 2.5 kilograms or more, with neck sizes ranging from 8-28 inches.
Specification: Up to 3,035 square meters coverage fence, 8-28 inch collar
Key features:
- Expansive coverage
- Wire-free set up
- Tailored correction
- Static-free re-entry
- Rechargeable & waterproof collar
- 1-2 hour set up
- Portable
- Works with multiple pets
What makes it special:
This collar is truly designed with stubborn dogs in mind, offering different modes and levels of corrections for different types of dogs and training. If you prefer a sound-only correction without the use of static, it has a tone-only mode, as well as static corrections with 5 different levels of strength for even the most persistent of pups!
What we like:
The PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence For Stubborn Dogs offers a flexible, comprehensive solution for pet owners seeking a customizable and portable containment system. The expansive coverage, wire-free setup, and tailored correction levels ensure the safety and freedom of pets. The rechargeable collar, simple installation process, and multi-pet compatibility contribute to its user-friendly design.
What to consider:
While it’s super effective, this fence is still quite expensive and doesn’t offer GPS tracking. So, if that’s something you’d like to be included, it’s not the right option for you. It’s also not suitable for small dogs, so if you’re on a budget or looking for something for your Chihuahua, it may not be the one for you!
Shop now: It’s available to buy from Amazon.
Sets up in just a few hours; a wireless boundary allows you to create a secure barrier around your yard to protect your pets without the time or hassle of burying wires! Great for the most hard-to-train pets with a tone-only mode and 5 levels of static correction.
Best For Small Dogs: PetSafe Original Wireless Containment System
Marketed as America’s Safest Pet Fence, the PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment System is well-loved around the US. It is great for those who want to use sound training in teaching their pets to stay in their yard.
The adjustable, waterproof receiver collar can fit dogs with neck sizes of 6-28 inches, weighing 8 lbs or more, and the fence has a circular coverage of ½ acre. When you buy the containment set on Amazon, you also get an extra battery pack for free.
Specifications: ½ acre coverage fence, 6-28 inch collar
Key features:
- Adjustable & waterproof collar
- 2 months of lasting battery
- No-shock technology
- ½ acre coverage
- Low battery alert
- Extra battery pack supplied free
What makes it special:
Something that makes this product unique is that it is made with smaller dogs in mind and can be used with cats, too, so it’s great for multi-pet households, as well as owners with smaller dogs.
Its design also means that if your pets cross the boundary you’ve set around your property, it allows them to return home without being shocked when they cross it again – so it won’t deter them from coming home!
What we like:
The receiver collar is compatible with all PetSafe Wireless Fence transmitters and its battery lasts up to 2 months, even if you use it every day. What we loved the most about the collar is that it has a low battery indicator that alerts you to replace it when needed.
What to consider:
There aren’t many drawbacks to this product. It is competitively priced but costs significantly less than all of the products that we’ve mentioned on the list so far – and worth it if you’ve got both dogs and cats you need to keep from getting out!
Shop now: It’s available to buy on Amazon.
The PetSafe adjustable, waterproof receiver collar can fit dogs with neck sizes of 6-28 inches, weighing 8 lbs or more, and the fence has a circular coverage of ½ acre.
Best Budget Option: WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence
The WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence offers a user-friendly solution with super easy setup and consistent coverage for a very reasonable price and no burying any wires or transmitters. This innovative system utilizes GPS positioning technology, providing stability and accuracy over traditional radio-frequency alternatives with a range of 98-3281 feet and a 9.5 – 21.5 inch collar.
Specifications: 98-3281 feet coverage fence, 9.5 – 21.5 inch collar
Key features:
- Innovative Positioning Technology supported by 12 high-quality satellites
- Adjustable distance & warning strength
- Customizable vibration & electric shock levels
- Safety design (conforms to UL 62368-1 and CSA 62368-1 standards)
- Super easy to set up
- 30-day money-back policy
- 2-year product warranty
What makes it special:
The fence doesn’t use a transmitter which not only makes it super easy to set up, but it also makes it easy to move if you want to change the boundaries, or if you move home, or want to take it on vacation or camping trips.
What we like:
The WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence stands out for its advanced GPS positioning technology, providing stable and accurate pet containment. The adjustable distance and warning strength cater to various outdoor spaces, and the safety design prioritizes the well-being of pets. The product also has a money-back policy and a 2-year warranty, so you’re covered if you change your mind about it.
What to consider:
While the WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence offers a range of benefits, potential buyers should consider individual preferences and the specific needs of their pets. Some users may prefer alternative training methods, and the reliance on electric shock may not be suitable for all dogs.
Shop now: It’s available to buy on Amazon.
WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence offers a user-friendly solution with super easy setup and consistent coverage for a very reasonable price and no burying any wires or transmitters.
FAQs
Are wireless fences safe for dogs?
Yes, wireless fences are perfectly safe for dogs. Research conducted by a team of animal behaviorists from the University of Lincoln in the UK concluded that exposure to containment systems does not have a significant or negative impact on the welfare of animals, even with long-term use.
How do wireless fences work?
Wireless dog fences, also known as underground or invisible dog fences, work via a combination of buried wires or wireless signals and a special collar worn by the dog that reacts to those wires/signals.
The fence system transmits a radio signal along the boundary you’ve set up and the collar detects and reacts to the signal with a warning sound or vibration to deter the dog from crossing the boundary. If the dog continues, depending on the product, it may deliver an unpleasant sound or mild static correction, which is generally harmless and will discourage them from doing it again.
Do wireless dog fences interfere with other electronic devices?
No, wireless dog fences are designed to operate on specific frequencies that do not interfere with common household electronic devices, like WiFi or television. The technology used in them is carefully engineered to ensure that they don’t affect or disrupt anything else in the home.
Do wireless dog fences require professional installation?
No, wireless dog fences typically do not require professional installation. They are designed to be easily set up by pet owners at home and come with instructions for easy DIY installation.
Final Thoughts
These modern inventions are great investments for dog owners who live in properties with outdoor spaces. If you like to give your dog the freedom to play and stay active outside without the need for constant close supervision, or you just don’t want to worry about them getting out, why not try out one of our top picks?
We love the Halo 3 GPS Dog Collar the best, but all of the products we’ve mentioned can be trusted to keep your fur baby safe and secure. Are you going to try out one of our recommendations or have one of your own that you think we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
