diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4fde04f91b..7528c5c2f2 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -59,4 +59,12 @@ node_modules/
 test_dp_test/
 test_dp_test_*.out
 *_detail.out
+
+# Training and model output files
+*.pth
+*.ckpt*
+checkpoint
+lcurve.out
 out.json
+input_v2_compat.json
+frozen_model.*
diff --git a/deepmd/dpmodel/utils/network.py b/deepmd/dpmodel/utils/network.py
index 9c51d70778..64cbb6e8e7 100644
--- a/deepmd/dpmodel/utils/network.py
+++ b/deepmd/dpmodel/utils/network.py
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._networks = [None for ii in range(ntypes**ndim)]
         for ii, network in enumerate(networks):
             self[ii] = network
-        if len(networks):
+        if len(networks) and all(net is not None for net in networks):
             self.check_completeness()
 
     def check_completeness(self) -> None:
@@ -969,7 +969,9 @@ def __getitem__(self, key):
         return self._networks[self._convert_key(key)]
 
     def __setitem__(self, key, value) -> None:
-        if isinstance(value, self.network_type):
+        if value is None:
+            pass
+        elif isinstance(value, self.network_type):
             pass
         elif isinstance(value, dict):
             value = self.network_type.deserialize(value)
@@ -993,7 +995,9 @@ def serialize(self) -> dict:
             "ndim": self.ndim,
             "ntypes": self.ntypes,
             "network_type": network_type_name,
-            "networks": [nn.serialize() for nn in self._networks],
+            "networks": [
+                nn.serialize() if nn is not None else None for nn in self._networks
+            ],
         }
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/deepmd/tf/fit/dipole.py b/deepmd/tf/fit/dipole.py
index d9cb0002cb..a081f38b17 100644
--- a/deepmd/tf/fit/dipole.py
+++ b/deepmd/tf/fit/dipole.py
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from deepmd.env import (
+    GLOBAL_NP_FLOAT_PRECISION,
+)
 from deepmd.tf.common import (
     cast_precision,
     get_activation_func,
@@ -421,7 +424,9 @@ def serialize(self, suffix: str) -> dict:
             "dim_case_embd": self.dim_case_embd,
             "activation_function": self.activation_function_name,
             "precision": self.fitting_precision.name,
-            "exclude_types": [],
+            "exclude_types": []
+            if self.sel_type is None
+            else [ii for ii in range(self.ntypes) if ii not in self.sel_type],
             "nets": self.serialize_network(
                 ntypes=self.ntypes,
                 ndim=0 if self.mixed_types else 1,
@@ -434,6 +439,16 @@ def serialize(self, suffix: str) -> dict:
                 trainable=self.trainable,
                 suffix=suffix,
             ),
+            "@variables": {
+                "fparam_avg": self.fparam_avg,
+                "fparam_inv_std": self.fparam_inv_std,
+                "aparam_avg": self.aparam_avg,
+                "aparam_inv_std": self.aparam_inv_std,
+                "case_embd": None,
+                "bias_atom_e": np.zeros(
+                    (self.ntypes, self.dim_rot_mat_1), dtype=GLOBAL_NP_FLOAT_PRECISION
+                ),
+            },
             "type_map": self.type_map,
         }
         return data
@@ -454,6 +469,11 @@ def deserialize(cls, data: dict, suffix: str):
         """
         data = data.copy()
         check_version_compatibility(data.pop("@version", 1), 3, 1)
+        exclude_types = data.pop("exclude_types", [])
+        if len(exclude_types) > 0:
+            data["sel_type"] = [
+                ii for ii in range(data["ntypes"]) if ii not in exclude_types
+            ]
         fitting = cls(**data)
         fitting.fitting_net_variables = cls.deserialize_network(
             data["nets"],
diff --git a/deepmd/tf/fit/fitting.py b/deepmd/tf/fit/fitting.py
index 4f7436a52c..0e109fea60 100644
--- a/deepmd/tf/fit/fitting.py
+++ b/deepmd/tf/fit/fitting.py
@@ -244,7 +244,9 @@ def deserialize_network(cls, data: dict, suffix: str = "") -> dict:
             else:
                 raise ValueError(f"Invalid ndim: {fittings.ndim}")
             network = fittings[net_idx]
-            assert network is not None
+            if network is None:
+                # Skip types that are not selected (when sel_type is used)
+                continue
             for layer_idx, layer in enumerate(network.layers):
                 if layer_idx == len(network.layers) - 1:
                     layer_name = "final_layer"
diff --git a/source/tests/consistent/fitting/test_dipole.py b/source/tests/consistent/fitting/test_dipole.py
index 396ee2d492..010944d109 100644
--- a/source/tests/consistent/fitting/test_dipole.py
+++ b/source/tests/consistent/fitting/test_dipole.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
     (True, False),  # resnet_dt
     ("float64", "float32"),  # precision
     (True, False),  # mixed_types
+    (None, [0]),  # sel_type
 )
 class TestDipole(CommonTest, DipoleFittingTest, unittest.TestCase):
     @property
@@ -69,13 +70,37 @@ def data(self) -> dict:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
-        return {
+        data = {
             "neuron": [5, 5, 5],
             "resnet_dt": resnet_dt,
             "precision": precision,
+            "sel_type": sel_type,
             "seed": 20240217,
         }
+        return data
+
+    def pass_data_to_cls(self, cls, data) -> Any:
+        """Pass data to the class."""
+        if cls not in (self.tf_class,):
+            sel_type = data.pop("sel_type", None)
+            if sel_type is not None:
+                all_types = list(range(self.ntypes))
+                exclude_types = [t for t in all_types if t not in sel_type]
+                data["exclude_types"] = exclude_types
+        return cls(**data, **self.additional_data)
+
+    @property
+    def skip_tf(self) -> bool:
+        (
+            resnet_dt,
+            precision,
+            mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
+        ) = self.param
+        # mixed_types + sel_type is not supported
+        return CommonTest.skip_tf or (mixed_types and sel_type is not None)
 
     @property
     def skip_pt(self) -> bool:
@@ -83,6 +108,7 @@ def skip_pt(self) -> bool:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
         return CommonTest.skip_pt
 
@@ -112,6 +138,7 @@ def additional_data(self) -> dict:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
         return {
             "ntypes": self.ntypes,
@@ -125,6 +152,7 @@ def build_tf(self, obj: Any, suffix: str) -> tuple[list, dict]:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
         return self.build_tf_fitting(
             obj,
@@ -141,6 +169,7 @@ def eval_pt(self, pt_obj: Any) -> Any:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
         return (
             pt_obj(
@@ -159,6 +188,7 @@ def eval_dp(self, dp_obj: Any) -> Any:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
         return dp_obj(
             self.inputs,
@@ -200,6 +230,7 @@ def rtol(self) -> float:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
         if precision == "float64":
             return 1e-10
@@ -215,6 +246,7 @@ def atol(self) -> float:
             resnet_dt,
             precision,
             mixed_types,
+            sel_type,
         ) = self.param
         if precision == "float64":
             return 1e-10
@@ -222,3 +254,39 @@ def atol(self) -> float:
             return 1e-4
         else:
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown precision: {precision}")
+
+    def test_tf_consistent_with_ref(self) -> None:
+        """Test whether TF and reference are consistent."""
+        # Special handle for sel_types
+        if self.skip_tf:
+            self.skipTest("Unsupported backend")
+        ref_backend = self.get_reference_backend()
+        if ref_backend == self.RefBackend.TF:
+            self.skipTest("Reference is self")
+        ret1, data1 = self.get_reference_ret_serialization(ref_backend)
+        ret1 = self.extract_ret(ret1, ref_backend)
+        self.reset_unique_id()
+        tf_obj = self.tf_class.deserialize(data1, suffix=self.unique_id)
+        ret2, data2 = self.get_tf_ret_serialization_from_cls(tf_obj)
+        ret2 = self.extract_ret(ret2, self.RefBackend.TF)
+        if tf_obj.__class__.__name__.startswith(("Polar", "Dipole", "DOS")):
+            # tf, pt serialization mismatch
+            common_keys = set(data1.keys()) & set(data2.keys())
+            data1 = {k: data1[k] for k in common_keys}
+            data2 = {k: data2[k] for k in common_keys}
+
+        # not comparing version
+        data1.pop("@version")
+        data2.pop("@version")
+
+        if tf_obj.__class__.__name__.startswith("Polar"):
+            data1["@variables"].pop("bias_atom_e")
+        for ii, networks in enumerate(data2["nets"]["networks"]):
+            if networks is None:
+                data1["nets"]["networks"][ii] = None
+        np.testing.assert_equal(data1, data2)
+        for rr1, rr2 in zip(ret1, ret2):
+            np.testing.assert_allclose(
+                rr1.ravel()[: rr2.size], rr2.ravel(), rtol=self.rtol, atol=self.atol
+            )
+            assert rr1.dtype == rr2.dtype, f"{rr1.dtype} != {rr2.dtype}"