our passion.
Underground Hidden Dog Fences by Dogwatch®
Dedicated Pet Professionals
Our DogWatch dealership proudly services Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin and the surrounding area. We've lived in Winnebago, Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin and can't imagine living anywhere else. We chose DogWatch because DogWatch had a superior product offering with the FM Safelink design, a 2 year battery life vs. the 3 to 4 month battery life of the competitors, and a user friendly transmitter. We love working with animals and we hope to have the opportunity to help keep your pet safe. Read More
What Our Customers Say
Posted on Google
Debra BrucknerSeptember 1, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Last summer, we had an underground fence installed by Stateline DogWatch Hidden Fences, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience! Laurie was amazing to work with from the very beginning. She provided lots of support and guidance as we trained our dog, and when we needed a repair, she was quick to respond and get us the help we needed. The installation was quick and easy, with very little impact on our yard or landscaping. But the freedom our dog now has to run, play, and sniff throughout our entire yard has made a huge difference. He has so much more space to enjoy being outside, get the exercise and playtime he needs, and simply be a happy dog. Best of all, I have peace of mind knowing that he is safe while enjoying his newfound freedom. We highly recommend Stateline DogWatch Hidden Fences to anyone looking for a quality underground fence and exceptional customer service!Posted on Google
Mike BowmanFebruary 1, 2026They are always so helpful. From training suggestions to collars and equipment. Even helped us out with collar problems on a Fathers Day. Much appreciated!!Posted on Google
Jeffrey BerkleyOctober 12, 2025First and foremost Laurie was very responsive to my many emails and phone calls. Her prompt responses helped provide me with the additional information I needed to make the decision to choose Stateline DogWatch for my install. The install was quick. The training material Laurie developed and went over with us was easy to follow. We have been very pleased with Stateline DogWatch Hidden Fences. We would not hesitate to recommend them. Furthermore, our dogs love the freedom that the fence has given them, whether it's chasing each other in the yard or simply relaxing in the grass. We love the peace of mind it brings us.Posted on Google
Tracey MatsonAugust 30, 2025Laurie returned my call on a holiday weekend to replace a broken receiver on our dog’s collar,along with replacing old collars.She had everything in stock and I was able to get replacements same day! That’s amazing service! She explained how to switch out the old with the new. I got home and we were back in business! Our pups are safe to play in our yard thanks to Laurie! We have had our invisible fence for 9 years, Laurie’s service,knowledge and products are amazing! Thank you Laurie,best investment we have made keeping our pups happy and safe!Posted on Google
Terry GriffethAugust 23, 2025I have heard that they do fantastic work putting the underground fence in. Wonderful, very friendly people to work with.Posted on Google
Brian OstrowskiJuly 22, 2025The BEST people to put your fence in and train your dog!!!Posted on Google
Dean SenglaubFebruary 21, 2025Great advice, friendly and did a timely and professional job! Annie thanks you+0Posted on Google
Victoria RuudOctober 8, 2024Laurie and mark were fantastic, they have so much knowledge and experience. They answered all my questions that I had and were so amazing to work with. My dog is already fully trained on the fence and he loves it so so much!!Posted on Google
Tom ZawlockiSeptember 8, 2024Contacted my Stateline dog watch representative Lori, she returned my call on a Sunday. I needed to know how to locate the underground wire to mark off for some landscape work. Lori walked me through the process, the information worked great. Dog walk installed our invisible fence 10 years ago and they still help out their customers. We appreciate this great service . We highly recommend Stateline dog watch.Posted on Google
Lois ShoresJuly 1, 2024Lorie is great to work with. Responsive and helpful. All has gone well since our fence has been installed 2 years ago and it's so nice to have someone local to help out when questions come up!
Our DogWatch Dealership is locally owned and operated by people that live in your community or close by. When you choose Stateline DogWatch, 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
I would like to thank Laurie for going out of her way and well beyond the call of duty to troubleshoot and fix our Dog Watch system. Laurie put in special effort to contact us, then offered to come out and help us at 7pm the night before Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for your unselfishness and great service. You did exceed my expectations!
Andy Thompson, Middleton, WI
How Do DogWatch Underground Hidden Dog Fences Work?
A hidden fence is an underground dog fence system that uses an electronic signal to keep your dog within a designated area and away from potential dangers. An underground wire transmits a radio signal to your pet's receiver collar. 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
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 electrical 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 correction (a mild electrical 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?
The “stimulation” from the collar is a sensation similar to the static shock you receive after walking across a carpet in your socks. It is a brief, unpleasant sensation designed to deter a pet from leaving the boundary. After training, most dogs do not cross the hidden boundary and thus do not receive a correction.
The electronic stimulation will not “burn” your pet. In rare instances, prolonged or improper use of an electronic collar has resulted in a pet developing pressure sores on their necks. This situation is easily avoided by ensuring that the collar is fit properly and removed regularly. DogWatch strongly recommends removing your dog’s receiver collar daily when not in use.
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.
Is there a guarantee on the DogWatch Hidden Fence system?
We offer a Lifetime Limited Warranty on our outdoor systems professionally installed by Stateline DogWatch. There is also a limited 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the system.
Who is DogWatch?
DogWatch is a privately-owned, people-oriented company that takes pride in our commitment to exceptional customer service. We strive to create the best pet containment products in the industry, and have been "surrounding pets with freedom" since 1990. 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 at our corporate headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA.
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.