Your pup-in-training can’t be trusted to run off leash without an invisible fence, but what about your autonomous mower? Both require a perimeter wire and you enjoy the convenience of not having to mow your own grass or put up an expensive fence.

The lawn is where your robotic mower shares turf with your dog and you want the lawn to be a good place for your furry pal to play. The problem: Your invisible dog fence is sending signals to your robotic mower cables. 

Or, even worse, the mower wires are sending back the same signal causing dog collar shocks (which is super unfair to Fido who is just trying to be a good boy).

What gives? Can robotic lawn mowers co-exist with invisible dog fences? Here’s the scoop.

The fix is pretty straightforward, and in this article we’ll cover some simple solutions to a very frustrating problem. But, before you know it, your dog and your robotic lawn mower will be frolicking about in the yard (just not at the same time).

1. Use eco mode when docked

Putting your robotic lawn mower in eco mode when docked will turn off the signal, eliminating the possibility of the accidental zap for your furry friend. Not only does eco mode save energy, it avoids interference with other equipment. If eco mode is activated, it switches off the signal in the boundary loop, the guide wire and the charging station, when the product is parked or is charging.

Not sure if your robotic mower has an eco mode?

Our Ambrogio, Gardena, Husqvarna and some of our Robomow robotic mowers all have an eco mode. Refer to your owner’s manual for more specific details, or if you tossed your manual in the excitement of installation never to be seen again – don’t worry, you can find them here.

Plus there are plenty of other reasons you should be checking our your robotic mower’s eco mode. If enabled and the robot detects that the lawn surface has been mowed, the working time in this area is reduced and the robot will move to the next step. This saves your robotic mower time and prevents your lawn from being over-trimmed. It’s a win-win overall!

2. Make sure to dock your mower when your dog is out

While your autonomous robotic mower may love the backyard as much as Fido, it’s best to keep them separated as much as possible. 

The mowers aren’t inherently dangerous to dogs, but you don’t want the dog collar to fritz out the mower signal (or vice versa) while your furry pal is just trying to do their business. Talk about quite a shock!

Also you know your pet better than we do. Maybe your pup still doesn’t trust the strange robot that seems to be patrolling the perimeter. Or maybe they haven’t given it a second thought, content to chew on their bone while your robotic mower is hard at work. Check out our dog reaction video here.

Either way, it’s best to keep your dog and your robot separated whenever you’re using an electric dog fence. 

3. Learn about your robotic mower’s frequency range (and your dog’s collar)

So here’s what it really comes down to: Invisible dog fences and autonomous mowers both use a buried wire to transmit a radio signal. If these wires are too close together AND they’re carrying the same type of signal, they will cancel each other out. So not only will your mower work improperly, your dog won’t be contained by the invisible fence.

So before Fido runs wild and free (despite the snacks and love he gets daily), what can you do? Plan ahead if you haven’t yet installed one set of wires. Give enough space so the signals won’t overlap. If that’s not an option, look into a dog fence system that uses a digital FM signal which is less susceptible to interference.

Mowers have a broad frequency range, while pet wires have a much more controlled frequency. So it’s actually quite rare for the mower to be affected, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

Keep in mind, shock collars and transmitters operate on 4 different bands: 26.995, 27.045, 27.095, 27.145, or 27.195 MHz.

Depending on what robotic lawn mower you have, you may have the option to switch signal frequencies. For example, Robomow’s 2019 models and up have 3 different signal options to switch between.

Ultimately, in-ground dog fences and robotic lawn mowers can work together, so don’t give up! It just takes a little bit of planning. They just need to either be far enough apart or on different frequencies.

4. Contact us

Not sure if your robotic lawn mower has the option to switch signals? If you have any more questions on creating a harmonious relationship between your dog and you robot – drop us a line! We’d love to help. Or if you’ve had a positive experience with your dog’s in-ground fencing and your robotic mower, we want to know. Bonus points if you send us a pic of your pup. You can reach us here.