Will a Robotic Lawn Mower Interfere with My Dog Fence?

So you have a dog fence and want to buy a Robotic Lawn Mower? You’ve been online and worked out that the two products may well interfere with each other. Robotic Lawn Mowers and Dog Fences just don’t work together – right? That is the case for many brands and naturally you don’t want your dog fence to fail but equally, you don’t want the grass up around your ears! You need to find a robotic lawn mower that will work with your dog fence or vice versa?

Why do robotic mowers and dog fences interfere with each other?

Both dog fences and robotic lawn mowers use a buried wire that acts as an antenna and conducts a radio signal. An electromagnetic signal field is created around the cable. All but one dog fence systems use an AM radio frequency. This is the issue with installing both robotic mowers and dog fences next to each other. As with a magnet when you bring the same poles together they repel the signal. If no signal is being emitted one or other of the units will not work.

Are There Any Robotic Mowers and Dog Fences That Work Well Together?

Yes – but you’ll need the right dog fence system to avoid problems.

We’ve found that the only dog fence system that reliably works alongside a robotic mower is the DogWatch hidden fence, which we supply here in the UK. It’s designed to operate without interference, even when the wires run quite close to each other.

From experience, cheaper brands of robotic mower tend to be more prone to picking up unwanted signals. The same goes for budget dog fences – they’re often affected by electrical “noise” from everyday household items, leading to false activations. In some cases, with standard AM-based systems, you’d have to keep your dog fence and mower wire metres apart just to stop them clashing!

That’s where the DogWatch system is different. It uses a low-frequency FM digital signal (either 4kHz or 8kHz), which is far less likely to be disrupted by interference. Unlike AM signals, which can be easily distorted by nearby electronics, FM signals are much more stable and reliable.

If you’re planning to install both a mower and a pet fence in the same garden, the DogWatch FM system is your best bet for keeping things running smoothly.

What happens when there is interference with the robotic mower and the dog fence?

With our DogFence the robotic mower will not cause any loss of signal or false activation to your dog’s fence collar. If in the event there was any interference it would be the mower that would be affected. In these cases, the robotic mower tries to read the dog fence signal and becomes confused (poor thing!).

Moving the boundary wire may help the situation. Ideally, we recommend placing the dog fence wire outside of the robotic lawn mower loop. Depending on which brand of mower you choose you may have to keep a gap between the dog fence and the robotic mower boundary wires.  Our Dog Fences can be re-programmed by the owner to either frequency and in many cases, this eliminates any interference issues.

To date, we have had very good success with the following products when used in close proximity. Interestingly we have found that the larger capacity mowers are more prone to picking up interference than those covering a smaller area. We strongly recommend that you do not cross over the wires with either system.

What Happens If There’s Interference Between a Robotic Mower and a Dog Fence?

With our DogFence FM system, it’s very rare for the robotic mower to cause any issues with your dog’s collar — no signal dropouts and no false activations. If interference does occur, it’s usually the mower that gets confused, not the fence. Poor thing doesn’t know which signal to follow!

In most cases, a simple tweak to the layout will solve the problem. We recommend laying the dog fence wire outside the robotic lawn mower loop, and where possible, leave a gap between the two wires (similar to installing a banana loop). How much space you need can depend on the mower brand and model.

The good news? Our system is fully programmable, so you can easily switch between two FM frequencies (4kHz and 8kHz) to minimise any risk of interference. It’s a quick fix that often does the trick.

We’ve had great results using our fences alongside robotic mowers like Husqvarna and Robomow, even in fairly tight spaces. It’s worth noting that larger-capacity mowers (the ones for big gardens) seem slightly more prone to picking up interference than smaller ones — so just keep an eye on your spacing.

And one golden rule: never cross the wires of either system. That’s the quickest way to confuse both devices!

How to Install a Dog Fence with a Robotic Mower

Here are some practical tips for avoiding interference:

1. Never cross the wires of the two systems

2. Keep at least 30–50cm between the boundary wires

3. Place the dog fence wire outside the robotic lawn mower loop

4. Use the DogWatch programmable frequency (switchable at home) to fine-tune signal compatibility

5. Test before final burial – lay the wires temporarily and observe both systems working

Which Robotic Lawn Mowers Work Well With DogFence?

We’ve had excellent results when pairing DogFence systems with:

• ✅ Husqvarna Automower

• ✅ Robomow

• ✅ Stihl iMow (selected models)

Tip: Larger-capacity robotic mowers often emit stronger signals, so you may need to keep more distance between boundaries. Check out these brands if you are considering adding on a robo mower alongside your dog fence:

Husqvarna

Robomow

Got Questions or Need Help?

If you have questions about how dog fences and robotic lawn mowers can be installed together then you’ve landed on the right page! We’re here to help you get the right setup for your garden and your pets.

Call us today on 01628 476475
or message us on WhatsApp at 07917 034256