Peace of Mind
Underground Hidden Dog Fences by Dogwatch®
Dedicated Pet Professionals
DogWatch of Southern Minnesota is a family owned and operated business. We are a husband and wife team (Teresa and Jason Nelson) who are dedicated to helping families keep their beloved pets safe. Superior quality and reliability make DogWatch products and services stand out from our competitors. We include expert training for your pet with every installation. We also offer a variety of other indoor and outdoor training products that will make life more enjoyable for both you and your pet. Read More
Our DogWatch Dealership is locally owned and operated by people that live in your community or close by. When you choose DogWatch of Southern Minnesota, it's a win/win; you get the world’s best pet containment and training products, Pet Friendly™ solutions and outstanding customer service, plus you help support a local business!
Customer Testimonial
We love the DogWatch system and so does our lab, “Bear”. We have trained him three times a day for seven days now. He is running in our yard and we are now training him to catch a Frisbee (which is going to take a little longer than the training for the DogWatch system!)
P.K. and Paula
What is a Hidden Dog Fence?
A hidden fence is an underground dog fence system that uses an electronic signal to keep your dog within a designated area, such as a yard, and away from potential dangers. Watch the video to see how it works!
DogWatch has been making Hidden Dog Fence systems since 1990. Our fences are sold and installed by our network of over 200 independent DogWatch Dealers worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hidden fence?
A hidden fence is an underground pet fencing system that uses a radio signal to keep your dog in a designated containment area, such as a yard; or out of an area, such as a swimming pool, patio, or garden. Hidden fences can also be used to create Indoor Boundaries that work inside your home to keep your pet off a couch, out of a room or away from a kitchen counter.
Hidden fences are often mistakenly referred to generically as “invisible fences”. Invisible Fence® is a brand name and Registered Trademark of the Invisible Fence Company.
How do hidden dog fences work?
Hidden fences are created by burying a ‘boundary wire’ a few inches underground around your property. The buried wire carries a harmless, low level radio signal from a transmitter installed in your house or garage. Your pet wears a lightweight, waterproof receiver collar that recognizes the radio signal. As your pet approaches the buried wire, the receiver collar emits a warning signal (audible or vibration). If your pet travels further, he will receive a mild but safe stimulation (also called a “correction”) from the receiver collar. Through a training program, your pet learns to recognize his fence boundaries and learns to stop at the warning signal. Although there are differences in some of the product features, this is how all hidden fences work (DogWatch®, Invisible Fence® and other radio fence brands.)
With an indoor system, the hidden wire runs around your couch, under the lip of the counter, around the trash or across a doorway or wherever you need to create either a containment area or an “off-limits” area. We also have “wireless” indoor units that do not require placement of a boundary wire. Give us a call to discuss your options.
How does my dog learn where the hidden fence boundary is?
Training is an important part of the process. After we install the hidden fence, we work with you to train your pet. The training includes teaching your pet to recognize the containment area boundaries through a combination of voice commands, audible warning signals from the receiver collar and visual flags that are set in the yard where the pet hears the warning alert. With training, the dog remembers the placement of the flags and associates the flags with the warning signal. As your pet learns, the flags are slowly taken away. Your pet also learns that if he continues beyond the flags and warning alert, he will receive a mild correction (a stimulation from the collar). After training, most dogs do not cross the hidden boundary; they usually stop before the warning signal to avoid the correction.
We will initiate the training and provide instructions and support so you can complete and reinforce the training. After the initial training, your dog goes through a training session with you for a few minutes each day for about two weeks. We will develop a plan to meet the specific training needs of your pet(s).
Will the stimulation from a hidden dog fence collar hurt my dog?
No. The “stimulation” from the collar is unpleasant, but it will not “burn” or injure your pet. It is a sensation similar to the static shock you receive after walking across a carpet in your socks. It is uncomfortable, but it does not harm you.
How much do hidden fences cost?
The cost for a DogWatch Hidden Fence is almost always much less than traditional fencing. The cost varies based on which system is right for you, the number of pets, the size of the property, how many sidewalk and driveway cuts, if you want internal “garden loops”, etc. Contact us for a free consultation and an estimate for your property.
In addition to costing less than traditional fences, hidden fences provide more flexibility and more secure containment than traditional fences. For example, you can contain your dog in your yard, but keep him out of a pool area, garden or driveway gate. Plus, your dog cannot jump over, chew through or dig under a hidden fence. And hidden fences don’t need to be painted and don’t deteriorate like traditional fences.
There usually isn’t much difference in the cost of a DogWatch® fence and other Dealer installed brands (such as Invisible Fence®.) Retail brands may seem to cost less than the Dealer installed brands, but they do not include installation (which can be challenging), training (which is very important), ongoing support or a good Warranty program. Also, Dealer installed products tend to be better quality than retail brands.
What else do I need to know about DogWatch?
We’ve been surrounding pets with freedom since 1990. We are a privately-owned, people-oriented company that takes pride in our quality customer service. Our engineers constantly research and develop new ways to make our products the safest for your pet and the easiest for you to use in your home. Our products are all designed, fully assembled and tested in our office in Massachusetts. We strive to create the best pet containment products in the industry. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have. Contact us.
DogWatch® is not Invisible Fence®
DogWatch "hidden fences" are often mistakenly referred to generically as "invisible fences". Invisible Fence® and Invisible Fencing® are Brand names, products and registered trademarks of Invisible Fence, Inc. Explore the links below to learn more.