6 Best Underground Dog Fences – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Finding the best underground dog fence can be tough. There are tons of options out there to keep your dog contained within their respective boundaries. But not all of them are good choices. Some don’t work well at all and others can be downright dangerous for your pup.

However, we’ve taken on the task of providing you with some reviews of the top underground fencing options around.

Each one of these has been vetted through several factors to determine their place on this list. Hopefully, after these best underground dog fence reviews—and subsequent buyer’s guide—you’ll have a better idea of what’s best for you and your pooch.

A Quick Look At Our Favorites in 2024

The 6 Best Underground Dog Fences

1. PetSafe Basic In-Ground Fence System – Best Overall

At the top spot for our list of best underground dog fences, we have the PetSafe Basic In-Ground Fence System. As far as underground fences go, it’s a simple setup that’ll allow you to have it up and running within a weekend.

PetSafe’s system comes with a boundary wire that can encapsulate ⅓ of an acre; however, you can purchase an additional boundary wire to extend the range to 5 acres! The fence is rated for dogs that are 8 pounds and heavier with collars that will fit necks between 6 and 28 inches.

One of the biggest advantages of this system is the capacity for multiple dogs—and at multiple sizes. And that’s possible because the static setting is adjustable from the individual collar. That means you can up the shock on larger dogs, but dial it down for smaller pups.

And speaking of the “shock”, it’s not a painful zap. Instead, it’s more of a gentle static correction that will surprise and train your pup into staying within their flagged boundaries. The PetSafe fence comes with 50 individual flags, that way your pup can easily see where they should and should not be.

All-in-all, the PetSafe Basic In-Ground System is an excellent overall choice for keeping your pet safe.

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2. Sit Boo-Boo Electric Dog Fence – Best Value

Let’s face it, underground dog fence systems aren’t exactly the cheapest things in the world. However, some are more affordable than others. And after researching, we’ve determined the Sit Boo-Boo Electric Dog Fence to be one of the best underground dog fences for the money. It’s half the price of some other options available, but it still gets the job done.

The basic setup comes with 955 feet of wire; however, it can be extended up to 5 acres with an additional cost for more wire. The wire that comes with the system is a solid copper core wire. And while copper core wire is a good conductor, there have been a few reports of the wire and system not functioning as it should. But those are very few and far between.

If you were to have any questions or support issues regarding the Sit Boo-Boo Electric Dog Fence, the company has a US-based support system with a 1-year warranty. That alone makes this fence a solid option.

The system can also be installed above ground for those who can’t bury it. It also comes with training flags, but they’re not of the best quality. Fortunately, you can find great third-party flags for very cheap elsewhere if needed. With that being said, we think this is the best underground dog fence for the money available this year.

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3. SportDOG Brand In-Ground Fence – Premium Choice

If you’re looking for the Rolls Royce of underground dog fences, this is it. The SportDOG In-Ground fence is without a doubt the premium choice. For starters, it comes standard with a 1⅓ acreage coverage that’s extendable up to 100 acres! But the extensive coverage isn’t the only thing that this fence has going for it.

The dog collar itself is powered via a single 9V battery and can last up to one year without replacement. It fits dogs from 10 pounds and up and has 4 different levels of correction so even the most stubborn of dogs can receive the message. But before the collar delivers the static, the device gives your pup 2 separate warning signs: a tonal sound and vibration.

Another extraordinary feature that the SportDOG has is a break-in line alarm. This will inform you if there is an issue with the fence and if it’s not working properly. The SportDOG also has lightning protection, so one errant bolt won’t take down your whole system.

The biggest issue with this fence is that to get all these premium features, you’ve got to pay premium prices.

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4. Extreme Dog Fence Underground Fence

Another solid underground dog fence to make our list is the Extreme Dog Fence underground system. This system comes in several different variations and sizes. You can choose whether you want a single dog system or multiple. This just means how many collars you’ll get with your order—as the system can take unlimited dogs.

Also, you get to choose the length of the wire, with the shortest length being 500 feet long—which isn’t that much if we’re being honest. The company does offer lengths up to 2,000 feet long, however. And that can cover some pretty decent ground.

While the wire length isn’t ideal right out of the gate, we do appreciate the quality of the wire that it comes with. The Extreme Dog Fence comes with a 20-gauge wire with heavy jacketed insulation that can heartily stand up to the elements.

Although the fence works, we do have some reservations. First off, it’s an expensive system even for the single dog and smallest wire length. And it only gets more and more pricey as additional length and dogs are added. Second, the collars are relatively flimsy and made with cheap plastic.

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5. Educator E-Fence Underground Fence

Now, this next option isn’t just an underground dog fence. It’s like an underground obedience teacher. The Educator E-Fence lives up to its name. And while it only comes stocked with 500 feet of wiring, it is expandable up to 40 acres to provide more than enough room for even the most energetic of dogs to romp.

The fence is also customizable in just about any way you can imagine. There are 30 different levels of stimulation for the collars. The field range of the wire can be adjusted and even the volume of the alarm can be altered. And swapping over the strength of the collar’s stimulation based on dog size is super easy as well. Just throw the switch on the main control box, and it’s ready to go.

This fence is even recommended by dog trainers due to the level of customization it has. The many possible combinations allow you to fine-tune exactly what works for your pup making fence training super easy.

The biggest cons to this fence are that you’ll have to purchase extra kits to increase wire lengths, and they can be difficult to set up. It’s not just a physical setup either. The customization elements come with a relatively steep learning curve. So, this fence might not be for someone looking for a simple design.

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6. Dogtra E-Fence 3500 Underground Electric Fence

Last on our list is the Dogtra E-Fence 3500, but that doesn’t mean it’s a terrible option. It’s on our list for a reason. It’s a top-notch fence! The EF-3500 can cover 40 acres straight out of the box which more than covers the space needed for any dog.

However, our favorite features that this fence system has are its quality control features. It has a break-in line alert that will let you know if there’s an issue with the fence and continuity. It also comes with an electric signal filtering device to prevent any outside electrical interference. You can even purchase special surge protectors separately that will protect your control box from unexpected electrical spikes.

We also appreciate the dual warning system the fence has before direct stimulation. Both a warning buzz and audible alarm will indicate to your pup that they’re approaching their boundaries. Another thing we love about this system is that the collars are very well crafted. They’re IPX9K rated to keep them waterproof and airtight.

However, we wish the collars could accommodate larger dogs. They work great for leaner pups, but there’d be an issue strapping them onto a St. Bernard. Also, they need to work on the battery life of the collar. It just doesn’t last long enough.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Underground Dog Fence

Finding the best underground dog fence for you is more than just reading a quality review. Our top pick might not be the best system for you. To determine which is the right underground fence for your pup, you need to examine several different criteria.

Land Area

The first thing you should consider is when purchasing an underground dog fence is knowing how much land area you’re trying to fence in. If you need to wrangle in 5 acres of land, purchasing a fence system with only a half-acre isn’t going to cut it.

But it works both ways as well. You don’t need to go out and buy a huge fence system if you don’t have space. The problem with this is the installation. Doubling back extra wire or cabling can be very difficult and may cause breaks in the line.

So, before you commit to anyone’s fence, be sure to properly measure your land space.

Levels of Stimulation

When selecting your new dog fence, the provided level of stimulation is extremely important. It’s a very fine line that you’ll have to walk. Too low stimulation and the fence won’t be effective. Too high, and you may end up doing harm to your dog or scaring them completely.

The best solution to this is finding a fence with multiple levels of static stimulation. And the more levels available, the easier you can dial in the exact right amount.

Size of Your Dog

The size of your dog is an extremely important factor. You may notice that when shopping for underground dog fences you’ll see size restriction disclaimers. There may be a minimum size that is needed to even use the collar in the first place. Normally, toy-sized dogs and other small pups can’t use stimulation collars.

If you have a large-sized dog, there are other problems you’ll encounter. The system’s collar might not even fit around your pooch’s neck, which renders the system useless. Or, the fence system might not be able to put out enough stimulation to be an effective deterrent and training device.

Battery Considerations

The collars that come with each underground fence system are battery operated. But those batteries come in different variations. Most collars these days come with rechargeable batteries. These are great for efficiency and much cheaper in the long run. However, they’re not going to last as long on a single charge.

Traditional battery-powered collars tend to last much longer than their rechargeable counterparts. However, the cost of changing out those batteries can quickly add up—especially if you have more than one dog.

Number of Dogs

It’s very important to think about how many dogs—more specifically dog collars—will be taking up load on the system. Some systems are only designed for a limited amount of dogs. Fortunately, each of the systems on our list can serve an unlimited number. However, each dog will need to have their very own collar. And that’s going to cost extra as most systems only come with a single collar.

Waterproof Collars

Water and electronic devices don’t normally make for a very happy relationship. That’s why your dog’s collar must be completely waterproofed. If a collar isn’t waterproof and gets wet, it may not work at all. Or even worse, the collar may send random stimulation at improper times.

Type of Correction and Alarms

Not all underground fence systems have the same stimulated correction. However, you shouldn’t look for a traditional shock collar. Instead, you want to find a system that releases a gentle stimulation that won’t cause any harm to your pup.

Also, many fences have other means of alerting your dog before delivering static stimulation. An audible alarm or quick vibration are common approaches with underground dog fences.

Price

Perhaps, one of the very first things you’ll look at is the price. Underground dog fences aren’t cheap. Even the most cost-efficient fence is still going to cost a pretty penny. So when shopping for a new fence, be sure to stay within your allotted budget.

Conclusion

Choosing the right underground dog fence doesn’t have to be super tough. And hopefully, our reviews have given you some real insight into what’s best for you. Remember, there are quite a few different factors that you need to consider such as land size, size of your dog, and even electronic filtering.

But if we had to choose just two, it would be the PetSafe Basic In-ground Fence System and the Sit Boo-Boo Electric Dog Fence. The PetSafe model provides the best overall value for the average consumer. It gets the job done well and is simple to set up and use. The Sit Boo-Boo is a great alternative for those on a tighter budget but is still looking for a quality product.

By selecting the best underground dog fence for your pup’s needs, you can help keep your dog safe and secure where they’re supposed to be.