Underground Dog Fences in Florida

Cost depends on your property. Your Local Pro looks at yard size and shape, how many dogs you have, and the obstacles common in Florida neighborhoods: driveways and sidewalks to cross, irrigation lines, landscaping beds, and pool areas to keep dogs away from. After the evaluation, you get an estimate that includes professional installation and training by a local expert.

Someone does. Sunshine 811 says installing a fence, a mailbox, or even a garden requires contacting them at least two full business days before digging, and the marking is free. Many Local Pros place the Sunshine 811 request as part of the installation, so ask yours how they handle locates. If you plan any digging of your own around the new boundary, make that call yourself.

It can, which is why the surge protector matters so much here. The National Weather Service has long called Florida the lightning capital of the United States, and even in years when another state edges it out, summer thunderstorms are a fact of life here. Dog Guard's Limited Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty covers lightning damage only when an approved surge protector was used, so ask your Local Pro to include one with your transmitter.

Many do, but check your covenants before you buy. Florida is one of the biggest HOA states in the country, with roughly 48,500 community associations serving nearly 9.6 million residents by the Community Associations Institute's estimate, and plenty of them restrict or ban physical fences. A buried-wire fence has nothing above ground except the transmitter in your garage, so it is often easier to get approved. Still, read your HOA documents or ask the architectural review committee first.

Yes. Sand is actually easy ground to work in. UF/IFAS describes most Florida soil as sand, especially in North and Central Florida, and that loose texture is friendly to a buried wire. The bigger concern in most yards is the irrigation system, so point out sprinkler heads and lines to your Local Pro. As for daily soakings and afternoon downpours, the FreedomPro receiver is rated IP67, which means water resistant to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

No. An underground fence trains your dog to stay in; it does nothing to keep alligators, snakes, or other wildlife out. If your property backs onto a pond, canal, or retention lake, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises keeping pets a safe distance from the water's edge, since pets can resemble an alligator's natural prey. Your Local Pro can set the boundary well back from the bank, and supervision around the water still matters.

Absolutely. Besides the outer boundary, your Local Pro can lay out the wire to create exclusion zones around a pool, lanai, garden bed, or anything else you'd rather your dog skip. Each zone can be set up with its own settings through the Local Pro's mobile app. It isn't a substitute for a pool barrier required by your city or county, so keep those in place and supervise swim time.

No. The terms "invisible", "invisible fence" and "invisible fencing" are registered and considered trademarks by Invisible Fence, Inc. Electronic pet fences with a buried wire are often referred to as "invisible fences", but Dog Guard® should not be confused with the Invisible Fence, Inc. Dog Guard® is not affiliated in any way with the Invisible Fence, Inc. Dog Guard® and Out of Sight Fencing® are registered trademarks of Sunward Electronics, Inc.