our passion.
Underground Hidden Dog Fences by Dogwatch®
Dedicated Pet Professionals
Our DogWatch dealership proudly services Eastern Iowa and the surrounding area. We've lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 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
Ken MagbySeptember 3, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We chose DogWatch after getting several bids, and we couldn’t be happier. The team was professional, courteous, and respectful of our property. The transition from our chain-link fence to the wireless system was easy, and training our dog was much simpler than expected. After some landscaping changes, our dog found a way around the system, but DogWatch responded quickly and fixed the issue right away. Great product, great service, and excellent customer care. Highly recommend DogWatch!+0Posted on Google
Carrie B WaltonMay 21, 2026Absolutely wonderful start to finish experience! Very professional service! 10/10 Highly recommend! Marc was so kind to us and our dog loved him!Posted on Google
William StevensMarch 23, 2026Mark is a great guy. Understands his product and matches your needs. Very helpful and great installation. Edit to this review. Over a year in, my fence still works perfectly. Benefits, No problem mowing, no weed eating, no maintenance, no blocked view or airflow, and if I ever move, other than the in ground wire I can take the controller with me. The dog watch brand is a dependable product. With some limited training, my greyhound learned quickly. Is the shock cruel? No. You have 7 setting from stern to no shock, but just a warning beep. Also much cheaper than a 5 foot wood or chain link fence. And again no maintenance. Best money I ever spent.Posted on Google
Joleen WoodsAugust 18, 2025Marc is absolutely the best! A storm blew out our transformer one evening and we were leaving town the next day. Marc helped us purchase a new one and had it ready for us to pick up at his house after 10 p.m. Great product and customer service that can’t be beat!Posted on Google
Alexandria GeigerJuly 21, 2025We’ve had an excellent experience working with Dog Watch Cedar Rapids. Marc and his son have been great to work with. Our fence was installed 3 years ago and has worked great. Had to have them out to repair it once due to a house being built next door and they accidentally ripped through the wire in the ground. They came out right away and repaired. We have a golden doodle who learned very quickly and hasn’t had any issues with the fence. Marc did a first walk through with him and taught us how to train. Was overall not difficult. If we move I’ll be calling them again.Posted on Google
Darcy BalochMarch 1, 2025Prompt, patience, friendly, helpful and very instructive. Highly recommend Mark and Matthew!!Posted on Google
Jeff KnightJune 21, 2024We are the proud owners of two Alaskan Malamutes who have a knack for running through our fence. Initially, we tried shaving the hair around their necks to ensure a better fit for their collars, but this was neither effective nor ideal, given that you should not shave arctic breeds. Seeking a better solution, we reached out to Dogwatch and explained our predicament. From the moment we contacted them, Dogwatch provided exceptional service. They recommended and supplied extenders and a special collar tailored to our needs. The results were immediate and impressive—our Malamutes no longer breach the fence! Dogwatch's solution has given us peace of mind, and our dogs can enjoy the yard safely. We are grateful for their expertise and highly recommend their products and services to anyone facing similar challenges. Thank you, Dogwatch, for your outstanding support!Posted on Google
Kimberly CarmichaelApril 4, 2024They were very professional and courteous to talk to. They gave a fair quote, arrived on time to set up, spent quality time with us to ensure we understood everything. Taught us how to properly train our dogs to adjust to the invisible fence successfully.Posted on Google
BZFebruary 20, 2024I rarely leave reviews but Marc has been one of the better people to work with. I’ve had him do a couple yards for me and will continue to do so when I move again. Stop spending time researching businesses, Mark is the guy you want to work with. Brandon Z.Posted on Google
Jerica DeitrickDecember 4, 2023Great overall experience
Our DogWatch Dealership is locally owned and operated by people that live in your community or close by. When you choose DogWatch of Cedar Rapids, 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 Cedar Rapids. 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.