The Best Dog Fences For The Yard

As a pet owner, keeping your dog secure is a top priority. If your home doesn't have a secured yard, you may have considered investing in a dog fence to give your pup the freedom to run around and explore the outdoors. Dog fences give your pet boundaries and keep them safe in a well-defined area, so you always know where they're at. There are a lot of options when it comes to dog fences, making it challenging to choose the right one. To help make your search easier, we've rounded up some of the best dog fences for the yard on the market.

What to Look For

We asked ourselves the following three questions to find the best dog fences for the yard: Does it come in a range of sizes suitable for different dog breeds? Are the rails close enough together to prevent a small dog from slipping through? Could a dog climb or jump over the fence to escape? The dog fence by Midwest quickly stood out as our favorite because it provides plenty of room for dogs to move around, and anchors secure it to the ground, ensuring there’s no room for dogs to squeeze under to get free. On the other hand, our runner-up from Amazon Basics is an excellent option if you need a fence for a tall dog. Keep reading to learn about the rest of our top picks and discover the best fence for your pup.

Midwest Foldable Dog Fence

Freedom to explore

This dog fence gives your pup the room they need to exercise and enjoy their time outdoors.
Best Overall

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This dog fence from Midwest is easy to install and gives your pup plenty of room to run around outside while keeping them safe. It comes with eight ground anchors and four thumb-snaps to help you secure it into place. Plus, it’s very sturdy, so you won’t have to worry about your dog getting loose once they’re secured in the fence. You can also connect it to your dog’s crate to make additional space.

Pros:

  • This fence is an ideal choice for puppies that aren’t crate or potty trained, giving them a safe space to play and exercise without constant supervision by their owners.
  •  It’s easy to adjust this fence depending on the space you want it to occupy, so you can section off parts of your yard where your pup can play and keep other parts off-limits.

Cons:

  •  This fence takes up a lot of space, so it may not be suitable for small yards.

Amazon Basics Dog Fence

Room to wander

Your pup will never get tired of playing in this dog fence designed to keep them safe and secure.
Runner Up

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Give your pup a secure place to play outdoors wherever you are with this dog fence from Amazon Basics. The dog fence features a rust-proof coating, so it stands up well to whatever weather mother nature sends its way. Moreover, its sliding locks and ground anchors keep it secure, making it difficult for your dog to escape. All of the accessories necessary to set up the fence are included in the package, and no tools are needed to set it up.

Pros:

  •  You can use this fence as an enclosed playpen or stretch it out along the front of a porch or patio to provide a secure area for your dog to play without being able to run away.
  •  This dog fence works well as a second dog home for puppies and has enough room to fit a dog bed, food, and water bowls while still leaving enough room for your dog to run around and play.

Cons:

  •  While the latches do an excellent job of keeping the fence secure, they’re a bit difficult to open and close.

Petsafe Wireless Dog Fence

Explore the world outdoors

Create a wireless boundary for your dog with this invisible dog fence that provides security without wires.
Best Wireless Design

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This wireless fence by Petsafe gives you the flexibility to keep your dog safe without investing in a physical fence. It allows you to create a circular boundary of up to half an acre to keep your dog safe while providing them with the freedom to move freely around your yard. Since the system uses a transmitter, installing fencing around your yard is not necessary. Plus, it only takes a few hours to set up and a couple of weeks to train your pet to use it.

Pros:

  •  Once dogs are trained, the containment system effectively keeps them within the bounds of the established yard. Even dogs that are jumpers or chasers learn to respect the boundaries of the fence quickly.
  •  The collar beeps, letting dogs know when they’re too close to the boundary, warning dogs before they go too far, and preventing them from getting shocked.

Cons:

  •  The collar’s batteries only last a couple of months, although your mileage will vary based on how often your dog goes outside the containment area.

Bestpet Large Dog Fence

Safe and sound

Keep even your most rambunctious dogs secure in this durable dog fence you can take anywhere.
Best Heavy Duty

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If you have an unruly dog, you need a durable fence that can keep them safe while giving them the freedom to run around and explore the great outdoors, and the dog fence from Bestpet does all that and more. The fence is built from heavy-duty rust-proof metal that stands up to the elements and dogs that love to dig, run, and jump. It’s also highly compact, so you can take it with you on the go. You can even connect several fences to make a larger area for your dog to play.

Pros:

  • This fence is sturdy enough that even large dogs will have a hard time pushing it over, and the hooks hold the fence together securely, making it almost impossible for even aggressive dogs to destroy.
  •  The fence is easy to put together and is weatherproof, so it can stay outside year-round without getting damaged. 

Cons:

  •  If you have large dogs that could jump over or stand on the fence, you will need to purchase posts separately.

Carlson Wide Dog Fence

On the move

Give your dog the freedom to enjoy the outdoors while keeping them safe in this extra-large dog fence.
Best For Patios

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This extra-large dog fence from Carlson gives your pup all the space they need to enjoy their time outside while keeping them secure. The fence encloses wide outdoor areas and acts as a gate, keeping your dog secure on a deck, patio, or lawn. It features a walk-through door and a multiple-lock system, so you can easily access the area without setting your pet free. Its metal frame is waterproof, so it’ll hold up under most weather conditions.

Pros:

  •  The fence’s panels are already attached, so all you have to do is unfold the fence to set it up. 
  •  Since it’s made of heavy-gauge metal, it’s incredibly sturdy, and even rambunctious dogs would have a difficult time knocking it over or destroying it. 

Cons:

  • It may be easy for larger dogs to jump or climb over the fence. 

What type of fence should I purchase if my dog likes to dig?

If your dog is a digger, you know how hard it is to change this instinctual behavior. When shopping for dog fences, you should select a fence with anchors or stakes that extend at least a foot into the ground to discourage your dog’s digging habit and prevent them from escaping. Other than that, you can encourage your dog to engage in digging behavior away from the fence.

Can a wireless fence really keep my dog safe?

Wireless or invisible fences can keep your dog safe, but they require a bit of a learning curve. You’ll have to train your dog on using these fences correctly, so you can use the minimum amount of correction possible with the collar. These fences are designed to keep your dog in the yard. However, a regular fence may be a better option if you want to keep other animals from invading your pet’s space.

About the Author

Lynnae grew up with dogs all her life, so she has firsthand experience on how to best take care of your canine companions. This teacher by day and writer by night has a mission to make sure all dogs have what they need to live long and healthy lives.

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