Dog fencing is important for the safety of our pets, but long gone are the days when we need to rely on physical barriers. Many dogs (I won't say all) respond very well to invisible fencing. While these products became a household name thanks to systems with an underground buried wire, advancements in electric dog fence technology have made it possible to create GPS signal-enabled, fully wireless systems around your home and property. If you're considering an invisible fence boundary, we're helping by weighing the pros and cons of several common technologies after testing them out for ourselves.
The Most Common Invisible Dog Fence Options
There are three main types of invisible dog fences: traditional in-ground wired systems, wireless radio fence systems, and GPS-enabled wireless systems. Each relies on a wireless dog fence collar that leverages a beep sound or level of shock to caution a pet as it nears a hidden fence.
- Traditional in-ground wired systems involve burying wires underground and through your driveway to create a customizable boundary. These systems require significant installation effort, especially if you're encompassing 1+ acres, and they aren't portable once installed. Plus, electrical surges during storms can easily damage equipment (ask me how I know, and how many times I replaced our main power source before switching to GPS).
- Wireless radio pet fence systems use a transmitter to create a circular boundary radius. These wireless dog fences are a nice DIY program because they're portable and easy to set up—useful for temporary locations or smaller properties—but since they're limited to circular boundaries, they won't sync to square property boundaries. The collar beep warnings can also experience interference from metal objects or terrain. This wasn't a fit for us! Our property is a more of a rectangular parallelogram, and a circle limited the radius and forced the dog to stay very close to the house... couldn't even reach her favorite poop zone.
- GPS-enabled wireless systems, such as SpotOnFence (the product we were sent to test) use GPS signals to define boundaries. These wireless dog fences offer highly flexible boundaries that can be adjusted via mobile apps, though they can face signal interference in certain areas. If you live in a highly populated area, or in an area with poor cell reception, connectivity is hit-or-miss. While GPS data can shift slightly (usually within 3-10 feet), if your lines are within 15 feet of your boundaries or the road, you're safe. (Spoiler alert, this is our favorite!)
Making the Case for GPS-Enabled Systems
- The flexibility and customization of GPS wireless dog fences are unparalleled; boundaries can be defined anywhere without physical barriers and easily adjusted via a mobile app. Surround a half-acre or 100,000 acres, including across difficult terrain and rivers and creeks. You can also create wireless zones, such as to prevent your dog from entering your garden bed, or to keep them away from the compost pile (again, ask me how I know). It doesn't work as well if your property is less than a half acre, but GPS is free, and you can access the technology without a cellular subscription.
- Affordable. $1,000 isn’t nothing, but compared to installing a physical fence or hiring a company to install an underground invisible fence, it’s a bargain.
- It's easy to keep tabs on your pet. Advanced features include real-time pet tracking, activity monitoring, and alerts for boundary breaches. These features come with a monthly subscription. (Remember: it's an optional subscription.)
- The convenience of no physical installation makes these systems perfect for large properties, irregularly shaped yards, or multiple locations.
- Comparing SpotOn against Halo fence collars? Here’s a good blog post that breaks down the technology, functionality, and costs.
Our Experience
We tested and successfully trained our Bernedoodle using the SpotOn GPS Fence after it was offered as a press sample. The customer reviews were great, and product has been independently proven to be the most accurate GPS smart fence. Our home's previous pet containment system was a buried underground wire, and that system burned out three times in three years after power surges. We didn't replace it after its last burn-out ($$), so the underground wire has been deactivated for some time.
The new GPS dog fence was easy to set up and mapped directly to our property lines in minutes. Unlike the previous invisible fence, the wireless dog fence system allowed us to extend her boundary around our shed, an area that is still usable but was previously too close to the underground training wire.
Our dog needed to be fully re-trained on the GPS collar and responded well (with an appropriate amount of fear) to her new boundaries. We like the beep frequency as she approaches the barrier, and we did not use any static or shock training as she learned the new boundaries.
Other Perks of the SpotOn GPS Dog Fence
- 7x more accurate than their closest competitors for setting and maintaining parameters
- The only GPS fence with an active dual-feed antenna and receiver system with a constant connection to 25-30 satellites across a network of 128 global satellites
- No subscription plan is needed; you only need to pay monthly for Boundary Boost™ if you want real-time tracking insights, or to use the app to call your dog home or activate the collar's light for visibility in low-light conditions.
- Fully charges in one hour and has a 25 hour battery life.
- Includes two alert tones and (optional) static correction or vibration. Plus, the system knows not to correct a dog returning into the fence boundary if it escaped for an outdoor adventure.
- SAR Compliant, minimizing RF exposure and health risks
- Static level correction isn't a factory setting. It's completely optional! If you choose to use shock settings when training your pet, you can easily customize the levels of shock.
- Designed and Assembled in New Hampshire, USA
- Waterproof rating of IP67
FAQ
What's the installation process like for a GPS wireless dog fence system?
Very straightforward. Unlike traditional wired systems, there’s no need for digging or burying wires. Using the app, you'll connect your device to the collar using Bluetooth. Then, you can create, edit, and save a GPS map out the desired boundaries. To set our boundary to the shape of our property, we walked the perimeter instead of using predefined coordinates. Once the boundaries are set, the system is ready to use, and the collar will start working within the defined area — no additional Bluetooth connection is necessary.
Are GPS collars safe to wear inside?
Yes, GPS fence collars are safe for pets to wear inside, but we choose to take ours off. While we chose a collar suitable for the size of our dog, I wouldn't say it offers maximum comfort. It's still pretty bulky compared to a traditional collar.
Do wireless fences break when the power is out?
Traditional wireless fences that rely on a base station or transmitter may experience disruptions during a power outage; however, GPS-enabled systems like SpotOnFence use satellite signals rather than a local power source. The signal works as long as the collar's battery is charged. Once the collar loses its charge, you'll need to recharge it on the docking station, which uses a USB plug. So, even if the power is out, you can maintain your collar's charge using a plug found in most modern vehicles, or a portable power bank.
Will a physical fence interfere with the placement of a GPS fence?
No, it won't interfere with the placement or functionality of a GPS fence. In fact, GPS fences can only complement physical fences by adding an additional layer of security for your furry friend. The virtual boundary created by the GPS system operates independently of any physical structures including landscape features and bodies of water, allowing for versatile placement and use.
