our passion.
Underground Hidden Dog Fences by Dogwatch®
Dedicated Pet Professionals
DogWatch® of Northeast Iowa is locally owned and operated by Jim MacInerney of Peosta, Iowa. Our pet containment systems have been keeping pets safe since 1990. We understand that your pet is an important part of your family. With our outdoor hidden dog fence and indoor pet containment systems, you can have peace of mind about the safety of your dog or cat. We have made it our business to keep your pets safe at home, yet free to run and roam the yard. We are proud to offer lifetime warranties on our equipment and customer service that is second to none. Read More
What Our Customers Say
All reviews
Posted on Facebook
Jana KinyonMay 21, 2024recommendsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook.
Jim was very prompt, courteous and patient in answering all of our questions, as well as, addressing our concerns about the DogWatch system. The product has worked well with our high energy terrier and we're pleased with the results. We would definitely recommend Jim's service and the DogWatch system!Posted on Google
Matthew PenningDecember 23, 2023Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great experience. Good price and quick setup.Posted on Google
Peggy BowenNovember 15, 2023Jim has been so accommodating to our needs. He is prompt in responding and wants to make sure our pets are taken care of.Posted on Google
Abby SpiegelMarch 17, 2022Best customer service and quick when there was a weekend emergency when a wire was accidentally cut. Not only fast but exceptionally low price for a weekend!Posted on Google
BJ McAndrewSeptember 30, 2021Jim was great to work with. His training was easy to follow and our dog was able to adjust really well. We highly recommend.Posted on Google
Mike PeatOctober 26, 2020We have had this system for 2 years and it has always worked well for us (outside of when the wire is cut by contractors or our neighbor aerating his yard). Our dog trained quickly and rarely tests his boundaries. The service is quick, courteous, and knowledgable. Highly recommend.Posted on Google
Adam KennyOctober 8, 2020Jim was fantastic to work with. The dog watch system is superior to the invisible fence. Jim is just the icing on the cake. He had our dogs trained before he left! Thanks againPosted on Facebook
Ben SchmalzApril 24, 2020Prompt and professional service! Takes a lot of worries away from having our puppy run away.Posted on Facebook
Joseph DavidApril 24, 2020Can’t speak highly enough about Jim and this company. Top of the line service, equipment, and competitive pricing. The training is simple and the system itself is so easy to use. I would recommend this company over any competitor in the area. 10/10. Thanks again, Jim!
Our DogWatch Dealership is locally owned and operated by people that live in your community or close by. When you choose DogWatch of Northeast Iowa, 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
We love the DogWatch system and so does our lab, “Bear”. We have trained him three times a day for seven days now. He is running in our yard and we are now training him to catch a Frisbee (which is going to take a little longer than the training for the DogWatch system!)
P.K. and Paula
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 DogWatch of Northeast Iowa. 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.