Ask any dog parent, and they’ll tell you how important their pooch is — they’re like another member of the family. This makes their safety crucial — pet owners want to ensure that their furry friends are secure, all while providing them with the freedom that they yearn for. This is where the best dog fences come into the picture — there’s no better way to keep your doggo within a designated area.
In this article, we’ll go over the types of dog fences that are available on the market. From traditional outdoor options to the latest GPS technology, there are so many that you can choose from.
Whether your priority is sturdy and durable fences or wireless ones that are invisible, our buyer’s guide will help you make the right choice for both you and your pet so that you can finally have some peace of mind.
How to Choose the Best Dog Fence
The following are a few factors that you can consider to make the right choice when purchasing a dog fence:
Your Pet’s Weight
Large-breed dogs that weigh more will require sturdy and durable fencing materials like metal or heavy-duty wood. This will prevent your pet from breaking through them or throwing over the fence. If you have a small breed dog that doesn’t weigh a lot, you can consider choosing fences made with lighter materials.
Your Dog’s Temperament
Some dogs are hyper and energetic — they may be able to escape regular fences by jumping over, digging under, or chewing through them. In this case, we’d suggest that you opt for a GPS fence or fence with a solid build.
The Coverage Required
The size of your property will determine the amount of materials required to properly fence it off. For example, for long areas, we’d suggest you opt for a practical option such as chain-link fencing, and for smaller yards, you could go for a more aesthetic option such as ornamental fences.
Your Existing Fencing
If you already have fencing that you’re planning to replace, first assess its condition before doing away with it. There is a chance that you may be able to reinforce or repair it.
Other Things to Consider
If you have more than one dog, then you have to keep the combined strength and size of your pets in mind when choosing a fence. It needs to be strong and big enough to contain all of them at the same time.
Also, don’t forget to look up local regulations and homeowner association rules in regards to materials for your fence and height restrictions. Overall, the right dog fence for your home is one that keeps your pets safe and you at ease.
Types of Dog Fences
There are 5 types of dog fences available in the market, each serving a different purpose and catering to different requirements. Let’s get to know them a little better below:
Outdoor Fences
These are physical barriers that are generally placed around your yard or property to keep your pets within a specific area. They are typically made of materials such as wood, metal, vinyl, or wire mesh. They’re also very secure, allowing you to be worry-free when you let your pets play outdoors.
Indoor Fences
These are gates or barriers that are used within the house to prevent dogs from venturing into a particular area. Commonly, they are lightweight and can be moved around easily, but you can also choose to have them mounted into a place for additional security. They are used to block off the stairs or particular rooms to ensure your pet’s safety.
Wireless Fences
This type of fencing makes use of wireless signals that help create an invisible boundary around the area of your choice. They come with a central transmitter and a receiver collar — when your dog is getting close to the boundary, the collar produces a warning sound that’s followed by a static correction. Wireless fences are convenient since they are very easy to set up.
In-ground Fences
Also known as underground or electric dog fences, they use buried and concealed wires to create a boundary. Similar to wireless fences, in-ground fences also come with a collar to alert your pet when they are nearing the boundary.
GPS Fences
Here, these pet fences utilize GPS technology to create a virtual fence for your home. They too come with a collar and a controller or smart phone that allows you to operate and set them up. They are also super convenient and can be carried with you when you’re traveling or camping.
The Best Dog Fences to Buy in 2025
Below, you’ll find our expert’s top picks for the best dog fences. When you choose from them, you know that you’re making a safe choice!
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Easy to install
Built to last
Warranty against rust and deterioration
Designed in the USA
Pre-assembled panels
Maintenance-free
But…
May not be suitable for very large dogs
With the Zippity outdoor fence, installation will be a breeze — you can have it set up in just minutes by driving the stakes into the ground using a rubber mallet. It’s completely rust-proof, so you can rest assured that it will maintain its aesthetic appeal for years. Each unit comes with 5 panels and 6 stakes in a powder-coated black color.
The best part is that you can effortlessly add more panels to make it longer — it’s fully scalable according to the size of your yard! Plus, if you’re looking for a compatible gate, the brand sells one of those too!
BEST FENCE FOR SMALL DOGS
OUSHENG Garden Fence
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Value for money
Keeps pets away from your plants
Attractive design
Long-lasting
#1 Bestseller on Amazon
Customizable
But…
Hard to screw the stakes together
This decorative outdoor fence from OUSHENG has a classic arched design that will instantly add a modern touch anywhere you decide to place it — it’s the best dog fence for small dogs. It has a black rust-proof coating and is welded with thick wire, making it strong and durable. Each unit comes with 10 panels, with a height of 24 inches and a width of 13 inches.
With a smart interlocking design, it’s easy to assemble and set up — you can arrange it into “L”, “O”, or zig-zag patterns. Plus, it’s also very easy to remove, and you can store them anywhere you please — they take up minimal space.
BEST FOLDABLE DOG FENCE
Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Playpen Dog Fence
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Can be used for potty training
Easy to maneuver
Travel-friendly
Durable build
Can also be used outdoors
Great for small spaces
But…
May scrape wooden floors
This small-sized exercise playpen is suitable for dogs that are 20 inches or shorter — it comes with a single door. The fence features 8 panels that are connected together by thumb clips, 2 locking slide-bolt door latches, and 8 ground anchors for secure placement, all of which are made from durable iron wire that has a rust-proof finish. It’s super easy to set up and can be made into different shapes, such as a circle, square, or rectangle.
All you have to do is unfold it, shape it, and connect the panels — you don’t need any tools to set it up. Plus, it can fold flat so that it’s easy to store or take with you wherever you go.
BEST FOR STAIRS
PETMAKER Pet Gate Fence for Stairs
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Freestanding design
Doesn’t damage the home
Folds down to 4 inches thick
Travel-friendly
Looks stylish
Sturdy
But…
Paint may flake off with time
Limit your pet’s access to certain parts of the house while also maintaining a stylish and modern appearance with this indoor fence from PETMAKER. It’s made of wood and features a brown finish that will effortlessly complement your home decor. What’s great is that it requires no installation — the sturdy accordion design lets you create a barricade without any drilling or nailing. It’s most commonly used at the top or bottom of a stairway or at any opening that’s 45 to 60 inches wide.
Moreover, it’s lightweight and foldable, making it compact for easy storage. You can carry it with you anywhere you go — it easily fits into any car.
BEST FOR STUBBORN DOGS
PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Static-free re-entry
Comes with a waterproof receiver collar
Collar is rechargeable
Incredibly safe
Endorsed by vets and trainers
Has a battery status indicator
But…
Can get confusing to adjust the settings on the collar
If you’re having trouble training your pooch, this wireless fence will give you a helping hand with a tone-only mode and 5 levels of adjustable static correction. It allows you to create a circular boundary that can extend up to 105 feet in all directions from where you place the transmitter indoors. Plus, it’s very easy to set up — there are no wires involved!
The best part is that it’s super accurate — it uses a proprietary circular boundary that gently guides your pet back to the designated area. To top it all off, it’s portable too! You can take it with you when you’re camping or on vacation — anywhere where you have access to an outlet.
BEST WIRELESS
BHCEY Wireless Dog Fence
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Adjustable vibrations
Collar is made with fluorescent fabric
Big digital display
Supports multiple dogs at the same time
IP65 water resistance
Easy to set up
But…
Some customers noticed that metal objects set the collar off
The BHCEY wireless dog fence comes with a fencing system and a remote training collar — it uses an upgraded 2.4GHz signal source, which is as accurate and stable as it gets. You will get to customize a cordless boundary with 16 distance levels and a signal range of up to 800 feet. When your dog moves out of the set range, the receiver collar will alert your pet with a warning tone.
The wireless training collar is suitable for dogs of all sizes while also being waterproof and rechargeable. Additionally, it also has a shock training feature, but we suggest that you cover it with the silicone caps that come with this kit to not cause discomfort to your pooch.
BEST WIRED DOG FENCE
eXtreme Dog Fence Pro Grade Kit
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Easy to set up
Maximum longevity
Very reliable
Collar comes with a battery
High-quality
Your dog can swim with the collar on
But…
Only works with the batteries made by the company
Effortlessly covering 10 acres, the eXtreme dog fence is better than ever with 3 antennas, a 12x battery check, temp check, and wire check. It comes with a battery and a collar receiver that’s 100% waterproof — it can be submerged up to 10 feet deep. Additionally, the kit features heavy-duty boundary wire, 16-gauge twisted wires, a digital transmitter, training flags, splice kits, and 10 staples.
Furthermore, it includes a 1-year warranty that can be extended to 10 years if you get the fence registered. Lastly, it’s proudly made in the USA with high-quality components from across the globe.
BEST RECHARGABLE
SportDOG Rechargeable In-ground Fence System
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Collar is waterproof and submersible up to 25 feet
Fully customizable layouts
Amazing battery life
Easy to install
Value for money
Highly rated
But…
Belt buckle design on the collar is inconvenient
One thing that we really love about this in-ground fence is how easy it is to install — the kit comes with everything you need to cover 1 ⅓ acres of land, and it can be expanded with more wire and flags. The collar comes with lithium-ion batteries, and a quick 2-hour charge lasts for a really long time. If you want to contain more dogs, you can purchase additional collars to do so — they are ideal for dogs 10 lbs or heavier.
The collars beep and buzz to warn your dog before moving on to one of the seven static stimulation levels. Plus, the transmitter features a wire break alarm and a built-in lightning protector.
BEST WITH REAL-TIME TRACKING
Halo Collar 3 GPS Dog Fence
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Waterproof
Collar comes in 2 sizes and 4 attractive colors
Good battery life
Can be used anywhere in the world
Customizable sound, vibration, and static feedback
Safe training using positive associations
But…
You need to purchase a membership plan to use it
The Halo Collar 3 is one of the most accurate GPS Dog fences available — it uses proprietary PrecisionGPS AI software that leverages direct GPS signals, ignoring any false data. Unlike other common tracking collars that are available on the market, this one features an active GPS antenna that provides exceptional reception in areas with low coverage. However, you do need a membership plan to access GPS services and cellular data; then, you can create, edit, and use this wireless dog fence.
All you require is a smart phone to easily draw the boundaries you prefer your dog to be within — you don’t have to worry about your pet’s safety anymore with the best GPS dog fence. It’s also super easy to set up — you can instantly create and store wireless dog fence perimeters. Plus, apart from being aware of your pet’s location at all times, you’ll also be able to keep track of their activity and resting time.
BEST GPS DOG FENCE
WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence
PHOTO CREDIT: AMAZON
Why We Love
Adjustable warning strength
Rechargeable
Suitable for all dogs
IPX5 Waterproof
Easy to set up and use
Not very expensive
But…
Battery life isn’t great
This wireless dog fence and collar makes use of GPS positioning technology — it’s much more accurate and stable than traditional dog fences. It can cover up to 3281 feet, with a maximum of 776 acres, perfect for the outdoors. The vibration and shock levels can be adjusted for easy training, and once set up, the device will remember them every time.
All you need is the collar receiver to set up the wireless dog fence — no additional cables or transmitters are required. And if your dog goes beyond the set range, the vibration will work non-stop for 16 seconds, followed by a 30-second pause — the pattern automatically repeats thrice.
How We Chose the Best Dog Fences?
Our team of experts spent time researching the best dog fences available on the market. We considered factors such as durability, effectiveness, and value, while also checking to see how easy they were to install. To get a better idea of how these products performed, we also spoke to dog trainers and pet parents. Plus, we went through hundreds of reviews, ensuring that all of the products were safe and high in quality.
FAQ
What type of fencing is best for dogs?
The answer to this question depends on the size of the dog, your dog’s behavior, and where you will be setting it up. In the above article, we’ve listed different types of dog fences — one of them is sure to be the right fit.
What is the best fencing for a dog field?
Generally, chain-link fencing is known to be the best option for a dog field. It’s highly durable, provides visibility, and is very secure when it comes to containing pets.
Is a PVC fence good for dogs?
Yes, PVC fences can be a good choice for dogs since they are durable, don’t require a lot of maintenance, and offer a medium level of containment. However, for larger and more active dogs, this may not be a good fit.
What fencing is the strongest?
Steel fencing is the strongest and safest — it is extremely durable and won’t bend or break.
What is a dog-proof fence?
A dog-proof fence is a tall and solid barrier that keeps dogs from getting in and out of a specific area. Usually, they are made from materials such as wood or vinyl.
