Pet Stop® vs Invisible Fence® Brand in Richmond, VA
Looking at the Invisible Fence®1 brand for your Richmond home? You’re not alone. It’s a well-known brand, but there’s another choice worth considering: Pet Stop®. We offer compatible, locally supported underground dog fence systems, certified training options, and transparent pricing. We’ve been serving Richmond families since 1999.
In this side-by-side comparison, we’ll walk through how the two systems differ and why so many local dog owners are switching to Pet Stop®.
Equipment & Technology
Rechargeable vs. Replaceable Batteries
Pet Stop® collars are fully rechargeable, eliminating the need to keep buying proprietary batteries. This reduces long-term maintenance costs and is better for the environment, too. No more tossing used batteries every few months.
Programmable with Lower Stimulus Levels
Our collars can be adjusted through your phone or our support team, allowing for a more gentle and flexible experience. With lower minimum stimulus settings, our GentleSteps™ training method is more comfortable for your dog and easier to tailor to their needs. You also save on service visits—most adjustments can be made remotely, and we can even send updated programs through the Pet Stop Link™ app.
USA-Made Quality
Pet Stop® systems are made in the USA using imported parts. Invisible Fence® equipment is not manufactured domestically. Choosing a USA-made system means you’re getting components built to higher manufacturing standards, better quality control, and stronger long-term durability. It also supports American jobs and customer-focused support structures.
Training & Support
Done For You. Not Done With You.
That distinction is the whole difference, and it is written into our contracts.
Our Complete PRO-Training Package includes complete professional GentleSteps® training, performed for you by a certified trainer. Our trainer comes to your home on consecutive days and keeps coming until your dog is ready. Most dogs are confidently running free in under a week.
On day one we walk you through the handful of rules that matter. After that, we handle it. You don’t need to be home, you don’t need to run drills, and you don’t need to block off your calendar. We just need access to your dog. As we finish each stage, we text you what changed and what to expect next.
We Train Against Real Distractions, On Purpose
The most common reason an underground fence fails is not the equipment. It’s a dog who has never been tested against something worth chasing. A squirrel, a delivery truck, a neighbor walking by at the same time every evening.
So we create those moments deliberately. We work your dog against a ball and against food. We come back at the hours deer actually move through your neighborhood, and at the time of day people walk past your house. If your dog needs it, we bring another dog and work the boundary with a live distraction on the other side.
A boundary that only holds in a quiet yard isn’t a boundary. We find out before we leave.
We Put Our Money Behind the Training
The Complete PRO-Training Package carries a 100% money-back containment guarantee for 90 days. If your dog isn’t contained, you get the full purchase price back.
Our other packages don’t carry that guarantee, and we want to be upfront about why. When we do the training ourselves, we control every part of the outcome, and we’re willing to stand behind all of it. When the training is shared with the owner, we can’t make the same promise, so we don’t pretend to. That’s also why we recommend the Complete package for nearly every dog.
We think that tells you more about how much training matters than anything else we could say.
Our Three Packages
- Complete PRO-Training Package — $2,499 Complete GentleSteps® training done for you by a certified trainer, on consecutive days, until your dog is ready. Rechargeable EcoLite® receiver with diagnostic charging base. Pet Stop Pro transmitter with wire break alarm and surge protection. Lifetime warranty on equipment. Lifetime guarantee on wire against corrosion. 100% money-back containment guarantee for 90 days. Up to half an acre with one receiver.
- PRO-Training Package — $1,999 GentleSteps® training done with you. Up to two in-home sessions with a certified trainer. Same transmitter, same rechargeable EcoLite® receiver, same lifetime equipment warranty and wire guarantee. 30-day money-back guarantee on equipment.
- Standard Training Package — $1,799 One initial in-home GentleSteps® training session with a certified trainer. Pet Stop Pro transmitter and battery-operated receiver. Lifetime warranty on equipment and wire guarantee. 30-day money-back guarantee on equipment.
We only recommend the lower two packages for dogs who have already lived with a containment fence, or for owners using the system to stop a dog from jumping an existing physical fence. For every other dog, the Complete package is the one that works.
Why Training Matters More Than the Hardware
Every system on the market uses a buried wire and a collar. What separates a dog who stays home from a dog who bolts is whether someone taught the boundary properly and then stress-tested it.
We do this every day, in Richmond yards, and we know how to get it right.
Local Service You Can Reach
We’re based in Virginia and have supported customers here since 1999. When you call, you reach the people who installed your system.
Compatibility & Upgrades
Works with Existing Systems
Pet Stop® collars and transmitters are compatible with many Invisible Fence® brand systems. Whether you’ve moved into a home with an existing setup or want to upgrade your equipment without rewiring, we can help.
Repair and Maintenance Options
We offer dog fence wire repairs, battery replacements, nylon collar straps, and system upgrades. All available through our service calls or online store.
Pricing & Transparency
Clear Pricing with Printed Contracts
We offer transparent pricing and printed contracts so you know exactly what to expect. Many Invisible Fence® customers report inconsistent install quotes and limited clarity.
Lower Maintenance Costs
No ongoing battery purchases, fewer service issues, and responsive local help all mean a better value over time.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Pet Stop® vs Invisible Fence®
Wondering how it all stacks up? Here’s a quick summary of the differences that matter most:
| Compare Brands | Pet Stop® of Virginia | Invisible Fence® Brand |
|---|---|---|
| Training approach | Done for you | Done with you |
| Trainer visits | Consecutive days until your dog is ready | Three one-on-one sessions |
| Certified trainer comes to your home | Yes | Yes |
| Do you have to be there? | No. We just need access to your dog. | Yes. Owner attendance required at each session. |
| Distraction training included | Yes — ball, food, deer at active hours, neighborhood foot traffic, and a live dog if needed | Not published |
| Typical time to off-leash freedom | Most dogs under one week | Two to three weeks contained before exit training begins |
| Collar | Rechargeable, with a diagnostic charging base that tests the receiver every charge — green means ready, red means call us | Rechargeable option available; no diagnostic base |
| Correction adjustment | 13 levels plus over 100 additional settings. Every dog starts at the lowest setting. | Fixed proprietary levels |
| Changing your settings | Adjust remotely through the Pet Stop Link™ app or on the EcoLite® transmitter, within safety limits. Beyond those, we reprogram over the phone instead of charging a service call. | Service call |
| Knowing your system is working | Transmitter has a wire break alarm with integrated surge and lightning protection. Lifetime guarantee on wire against corrosion. | Not published |
| Works with other brands | Compatible with most major underground fence brands, including Invisible Fence®. Best results with all Pet Stop equipment. | No |
| Where it's made | Assembled in the USA | Not manufactured domestically |
| Pricing | Published package pricing, printed contract | Quote at consultation |
| Who answers your service call | The local team who installed your system | Corporate service model |
Invisible Fence® program details as published on invisiblefence.com, August 2026. Pet Stop rechargeable collar and diagnostic charging base included with the Complete PRO-Training and PRO-Training packages.
Serving Richmond Dog Owners Since 1999
We’ve worked with thousands of dogs across neighborhoods in Glen Allen, Midlothian, Short Pump, Mechanicsville, Chesterfield, and greater Richmond. Whether you’re switching from Invisible Fence® or exploring your options for the first time, we’re here to help.
FAQs About Invisible Fence Training
Do I have to train my dog myself with an invisible fence?
With Pet Stop’s Complete PRO-Training Package, no. Our certified trainer comes to your home on consecutive days and does the GentleSteps® training for you, while you only follow a few simple rules.
How long before my dog can be off leash?
Most dogs in the Complete PRO-Training Package are confidently running free in under a week. The exact timing depends on the dog, which is why our trainer keeps coming until your dog is ready.
Will an invisible fence hold a dog that chases deer?
Training matters most when a dog has something worth chasing. That’s why we deliberately train against real distractions, including deer activity, neighborhood traffic, food, balls, and another dog if needed.
What happens if my dog isn’t contained?
The Complete PRO-Training Package includes a 100% money-back containment guarantee for 90 days. If your dog is not contained, you get the full purchase price back.
Ready to make the switch?
Learn more about our Richmond services or contact us for a free quote.
Pet Stop® is not affiliated with Invisible Fence® brand. All brand names are the property of their respective owners.