An invisible dog fence has two components. The electric dog fence in buried along the dog's boundary. The dog wears a collar that delivers a shock when the dog gets too close to the buried electric fence.

When the dog comes too close or crosses the boundary established by the electric dog fence, the dog receives a small shock from the dog collar. If the dog escapes the yard and tries to return, the dog will get shocked again upon returning since the invisible dog fence. This is often seen as a disadvantage of an invisible dog fence since it can teach a dog not to return home.

Sometimes a dog owner wants a fence as a physical boundary to not only keep their dog in, but to keep out unwanted animals or people. In these cases, an electric dog fence may not be the best choice since it does not provide a physical boundary.

There are several advantages of an invisible dog fence compared to traditional dog fences. Many dog owners feel that invisible dog fences provide better control of their dog. An invisible dog fence can keep the dog safe on the property to prevent the dog from attacking people who may be passing by the property.

Some dog owners have difficulty with their dogs digging under traditional fences. If the dog escapes a traditional fence by digging under the fence, it not only puts the dog in potential danger, but causes the dog owner time and energy of replacing the dirt to cover the holes.

Traditional fences block the dog's ability to leave the property, but do not teach the dog not to leave the property. A dog that is normally contained with a traditional fence may take advantage of an opportunity to leave the property such as an open front door or gate, while a dog that was trained with an invisible dog fence may be less likely to try to leave the property.

Many dog owners face restrictions regarding fencing. Homeowners associations and building ordinances may either prohibit a fence from being built or dictate the placement or size of the fence. These regulations typically do not apply to invisible dog fences.

The low maintenance requirement is one of the advantages of an invisible dog fence. Traditional wood fences need to be painted regularly and may need occasional repairs.

A regular fence can interrupt the landscaping or mowing of the grass. Dog owners with invisible fences can easily mow across the invisible dog fence. Also, many dog owners appreciate that the invisible dog fence allows them to have an open yard that is not obstructed by fencing.