Straight answers, no sales visit required.
What people ask us about underground dog fences.
Everything Richmond dog owners ask us before an invisible fence installation, a repair, or a training plan: what it costs, whether it suits your dog, and what happens after the wire is in the ground.
Cost and pricing
Are there recurring fees?
No subscription is required for our installed underground systems. Ongoing costs come down to a collar battery about every two years, plus any service you choose to request.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Financing is available through Joist, and your terms and conditions depend on your credit. You’ll see the actual rate, term, and payment in writing from Joist before you commit.
How much does an underground dog fence cost?
Complete professional installations start at $1,399. The final price depends on your property size, the boundary layout, driveway or hardscape crossings, and how many dogs need receivers. You'll get a clear number before any work begins. Use the 2-minute estimate to get started.
What is included in installation?
Boundary design for your specific property, professionally buried wire, the transmitter with surge protection, a receiver collar, training flags, and your dog’s first training session with you there. You keep all the training materials, and the one-year dog containment guarantee covers free training help for a year after installation. We walk you through the system before we leave.
Installation
Can several dogs use the same system?
Yes. Each dog wears their own receiver collar, and we adjust the settings per dog. Adding a dog later is straightforward.
Can the boundary cross a driveway?
Yes. Paved and gravel driveways are routine. For paved drives we typically run wire through an expansion joint or a clean saw cut, sealed afterward. You'll barely see it.
Can the system move with me?
The transmitter and collars can move; the buried wire stays. At a new home we design and bury a new boundary and reconnect your existing equipment where compatible.
Can you keep a dog away from a pool or garden?
Yes. Interior exclusion zones let your dog roam the yard while keeping the pool deck, vegetable garden, or flower beds off-limits, all on the same system.
What brand of dog fence do you install?
DogWatch®. We’re an authorized DogWatch dealer. DogWatch is a national brand rather than a franchise, so its dealers are locally owned and run their own businesses. You get a national brand’s equipment and a local owner who answers the phone. We also diagnose and repair systems from other major brands, whoever installed them.
Boundary training
How does boundary training work?
Training is progressive: your dog first learns where the boundary is using flags and the warning tone, then learns to turn back from it, then earns off-leash freedom in stages. We run the first session with you on installation day and hand over all the training materials, then you run the short daily sessions. Most dogs are trained within about seven days. If you hit trouble in the first year, the one-year dog containment guarantee means we come back out and help with the training at no charge.
How long does invisible fence training take?
Most dogs are trained within about seven days. Some move faster and some need longer. Your dog’s age, temperament and history set the pace, and rushing it undoes the work. We run the first session with you on installation day and leave you all the training materials for the short daily sessions after that.
How old should a dog be before training?
Most dogs can start boundary training around 4 to 6 months, once they know basic commands and have the attention span for short sessions. We'll assess your puppy honestly rather than rushing it.
What does the one-year dog containment guarantee cover?
It covers the training. For one year after your installation, if you’re having trouble getting your dog reliable on the boundary, we come back out and do that training with you at no charge. It isn’t a promise that your dog cannot get out. A boundary is a trained behaviour, not a wall, and it isn’t a refund. It’s the professional help, free, for the whole first year.
Is it right for your dog
Will the system work for my dog?
Most dogs do very well, but suitability depends on age, temperament, and your property, so we evaluate rather than promise. Puppies need to be old enough for training; anxious or high-prey-drive dogs need adjusted protocols. Tell us about your dog and we'll give you an honest read.
Repair and service
Can you repair an existing Invisible Fence® system?
Yes. We diagnose and repair systems from Invisible Fence®, Dog Guard®, DogWatch®, Pet Stop®, PetSafe®, SportDOG® and others, regardless of who installed them. Wire breaks, transmitter faults, and collar issues are all common, fixable problems.
What happens during a power outage?
The boundary is inactive while power is out, so treat the yard like an unfenced yard until it's restored. We'll explain backup options and what to watch for when power returns.
What happens if the wire breaks?
The transmitter alerts you (typically with a beep or indicator light) and the boundary stops correcting until the break is fixed. We locate breaks with specialized equipment and splice them with waterproof connectors, which is usually a same-visit repair.
Warranty
What warranty is included?
Two: DogWatch warrants the equipment, and we warrant our installation for 30 days. The full written terms, which components are covered, the exclusions, and what happens on a home sale, are still being finalized.
Scheduling
Do I need to be home for installation?
For the installation itself, not necessarily, but the initial training session works best with you there, since you'll be part of your dog's routine with the new boundary.
How quickly can installation be scheduled?
Under normal circumstances, we can install within a week. If anything would push that out, you hear it before you book rather than after.
Still have a question about your dog or your yard?
Ask it directly and we'll answer it the same way these are answered, with a number attached where there is one.