How The Dog Fence Works

Q: Can the system work with any garden layout?

Yes. Because the system uses a buried boundary wire, it can be shaped around almost any garden layout, including front and back gardens, driveways, ponds, borders and larger rural properties.

Q: Does the signal drift like wireless or GPS fences?

No. Our coded FM signal stays fixed and stable and does not drift like many wireless or GPS dog fences. The boundary remains exactly where it is installed, regardless of weather or nearby electrical equipment.

How the dog fence works is simple: our electronic pet containment system uses a secure FM radio signal to create a safe, invisible boundary around your garden. Your dog or cat can enjoy their freedom off-lead, while you enjoy total peace of mind knowing they’re protected. This guide below explains how the dog fence works and shows some example boundary layouts so you can understand the technology and see how it keeps your pet safe.

Unlike traditional fencing, the DogFence system keeps your garden open and uncluttered — no broken panels, no gates left ajar, and far less opportunity for escape. Designed for both dogs and cats, our humane and proven system teaches pets to understand their boundaries quickly and gently. Trusted across the UK since 2003, DogFence has helped over 20,000 pets stay safe at home and enjoy their freedom every day.

How Our Invisible Dog Fence Works

Our wired FM system creates a hidden loop around your garden. Your pet wears a lightweight receiver collar that only responds when they approach the programmed boundary zone. Here’s how the invisible dog fence works step by step:

Step 1 – The Boundary Wire

A thin boundary wire is laid around (or just under) the edge of your garden or any areas you choose to include or exclude. This wire carries a coded FM signal that defines the pet boundary. The signal field size is adjustable, typically around 3–5 ft on either side of the wire.

Step 2 – The Receiver Collar

Your pet wears a small, waterproof receiver collar that “listens” for the boundary signal. Using our FastReact® electronics, the collar responds instantly and consistently — even around metalwork, driveways or other electrical equipment.

Step 3 – Warning Zone (Beep Only)

As your dog or cat enters the warning zone, the collar emits a clear audible beep. With training, most pets learn to stop and turn back at the sound alone.

Step 4 – Correction Zone (Beep & Impulse)

If your pet continues beyond the warning zone, the collar delivers a brief, humane impulse alongside the beep. The level is fully adjustable for every pet. Safety features include:

Automatic safety timeout after 15 seconds
Anti-linger technology to prevent battery drain
Impulse comparable to a light static “tap”

Step 5 – Training Flags & First Week

Temporary flags are placed around the boundary to help your pet see, hear and feel the boundary during training. Once your dog is confidently respecting the boundary, the flags are removed.

Once you understand how the dog fence works, choosing the right layout and training plan for your garden becomes simple.

FAQs – How the DogFence Works

Will my dog or cat get scared of the fence?

No. When introduced with calm, consistent training, pets quickly learn to respond to the warning beep and avoid the boundary. The impulse is brief, humane and individually set.

How long does training take?

Most pets learn the boundary within a few short sessions. We recommend 7–14 days of supervised practice.

Can the system work with any garden layout?

Yes — the wired system can be shaped around almost any garden, driveway, pond or border.

Does the signal drift like wireless or GPS fences?

No — our FM signal stays fixed and stable regardless of weather or surroundings.

Aerial diagram showing safe zone, audible warning zone, and correction zone of the DogFence electronic dog fence system

Dog running inside the safe zone of an electronic dog fence system in front of a house during training

Standard R12 and mini R12m electronic dog fence receiver collars

A blank space to pad out how it works page

Boundary flagged with white dog fence flags for visual for dogs

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Dog Fence Boundary Layouts for Any Garden

Dog fence boundary layouts can be tailored to almost any garden shape or property type – from compact semi-detached plots to large rural homes. Because our system uses a buried wire rather than a fixed-radius transmitter, we can follow walls, hedges and fence lines, cross driveways and even work around ponds or outbuildings.

We’ll design the layout with you so your dog has safe access to the areas you choose – and is kept away from roads, neighbouring land or hazards such as pools and ponds. The examples below show some of the most popular invisible dog fence layouts we install, but many other configurations are possible.

Standard Layout – Full Garden & Driveway

Standard dog fence layout showing full perimeter boundary wire around front and back garden, driveway and property.”

The standard layout creates a full perimeter loop around your entire property, giving your dog safe access to both the front and back garden. This configuration is ideal for homes where pets can move freely around the exterior of the house and require consistent protection at every boundary point.

The twisted wire section links the loop back to the transmitter and carries no signal, allowing your dog to cross this point safely — typically across a driveway or access path. During installation, this cable is buried neatly beneath the driveway for a clean, discreet finish and reliable long-term performance. (see our Professional Installation page for details)

Rear Garden Only or Semi-detached House (Banana Loop)

This rear-garden-only layout works perfectly for semi-detached or terraced homes where the back garden is the main safe space for pets. The wire follows the perimeter of the rear garden and then doubles back along a second path to complete the loop, with both cables spaced around 2ft apart. This spacing ensures stable signal emission giving your pet a clearly defined and secure boundary.

Rear garden only dog fence layout (banana loop) showing boundary wire around back garden for semi-detached homes

Front & Rear (Pinch Loop)

The pinch-loop layout secures the full perimeter of your property while narrowing the boundary at the sides of the house. This prevents dogs from running directly from the front garden to the back garden, reducing the risk of road escapes or being injured on your own driveway. By controlling movement at the pinch point, the system maintains full front and rear access while ensuring your pet remains safely contained within the chosen areas.

A pinch loop - the wire is

Driveway or Single Side Boundary

This layout is used when only one side of the property or a driveway requires protection. The boundary wire runs along the area you want to secure and then returns parallel to itself to form a complete loop. Twisted cable is used where you want your dog to cross without activating the collar — typically across the driveway or a main access path. This design provides focused protection in high-risk areas, such as open driveways or unfenced borders, while keeping the installation discreet and maintaining full access for vehicles and pedestrians.

Dog Fence Exclusion Zones (Ponds, Pools, Borders & Play Areas)

We can add smaller “no-go” loops inside your main boundary to keep pets safely away from specific areas such as ponds, swimming pools, flowerbeds, vegetable patches and children’s play spaces. These exclusion zones are fully customisable and designed to fit your garden layout. During installation, our team will recommend the best configuration for your property and your pet’s routine

Driveway dog fence layout showing boundary wire around property and twisted cable allowing safe crossing at the driveway