If you’re a dog owner with a small yard, keeping your dog safe while outside can be as simple as adding a fence. Of course, that’s not always the case for dog owners with bigger properties. You can install a small fence to confine your dog to a defined area, but it limits your usable land.
Invisible fences might seem like the obvious choice. But even they tend to be clunkier and less effective than advertised. If you’re like most dog owners, you’re always hunting for better ways to keep your dog safe.
One way to do that? The SpotOn GPS dog fence.
The online reviews for SpotOn’s virtual fence intrigued me. So, I decided to try it out—and I’m glad I did!
In this SpotOn GPS fence review, I’m going to share my first-hand experiences with the SpotOn dog collar. My review covers everything you need to know, from initializing the collar to setting up your first fence. And, of course, evaluating the boundary systems from a dog’s perspective.
First, a quick note. This is the most hands-on review of SpotOn GPS you’ll read online. Why is that, you ask?
Because unlike other reviewers, I actually wore the collar and got shocked. I knew this would help me better understand the product from a dog’s perspective. Having said that, I don’t recommend anyone try this at home. I also included here new updates on the features of the SpotOn Collar.
Who is SpotOn GPS Fence For?
The SpotOn GPS fence trains your dog to stay on your property and tracks their location. That’s why it’s an outstanding choice if your property is larger than a half-acre and you’re willing to train your dog.
If neither of those sound like you, then you might be better off looking at other options.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE USING SpotOn GPS Fence
Subscription
SpotOn actually does not require a subscription, whereas most of the other GPS fences do. However, I think a subscription with the SpotOn is worthwhile as it gives you the ability to receive escape and low battery notifications on your phone, and it also allows you to track your dog’s location in real time.
They say it updates every six seconds, but I feel like I’ve seen it faster than that in my experience. Regardless, the fence works as an invisible fence without a subscription. Completely.
If you do want that subscription, it is reasonably affordable. It’s right about $10/month billed monthly or $6/month billed every two years at the time of filming. Plus, they offer a 90-day free trial.
Boundary Training
Of course, as with any invisible fence you’ll need to undergo boundary training with your dog before you let them roam unleashed.
It must be remembered that the static correction can be quite painful. Although the collar allows you to go as high as 30, a setting of 10 was more than enough for me to try out. You really want to train your dog to understand how the fence boundaries work. Regardless, it’s ideal to limit your use to the vibration setting with no static at all.
SpotOn offers tons of resources for training your dog. Generally, they say an average of 15 minutes of training per day for 1-2 weeks is enough for most dogs. Even if your dog takes a little longer than this, don’t worry. Eventually, a bit of commitment and consistency will get you there. And if you need a little bit of extra assistance, they even offer a free 30-minute consultation with a professional dog trainer.
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, SpotOn advertises that you get about 22 hours out of a charge in containment mode, versus about 14 hours when the collar is in tracking mode. And it takes about 1 hour to get a full charge on a completely dead battery.
Setting up the SpotOn GPS fence
The first thing I did was plug in and charge the SpotOn collar. If you decide to use the contact points for static correction, go ahead and install them at this point. The contact points are not required and the static correction is off by default.
Since I was putting the collar to the test, I installed the shorter contact points for short-haired dogs (much like myself).
Next, I downloaded the app. You can scan the QR code in the instruction manual and it will take you straight to the App Store or Google Play.
Once you’ve installed the app, it will prompt you to set up your dog’s profile. You’ll upload their photo, select a color for their GPS map tracking icon, and add their name.
It will ask you for your collar’s serial number. Type it manually or scan the QR code on the back.
Then add your dog’s breed, gender, and birthdate.
Next, the app prompts you to connect your cellular subscription plan. This is necessary if you want to track your dog’s location and receive notifications by phone.
Once activated, the app will search for the collar and connect over Bluetooth, and you’re good to go. This entire process was fast and only took me three minutes.
Finally, it was time to set up my first fence.
Creating Fences
Setting up a virtual fence is easy as pie. Tap “Create Fence” in the app. You can either manually draw the fence or choose “Walk The Fence Perimeter.” Then start walking the boundary while holding the collar. Make sure to keep the GPS icon facing the sky as you walk.
What sets SpotOn’s fence setup apart is that as you’re walking the boundary using that second method it automatically drops fence posts for you, because the GPS is accurate enough to allow for it. Plus, it supports up to 1,500 fence posts, which is way more than some of the other options.
Another nice thing is that you can create overlapping fences with the SpotOn, because you turn each fence on and off individually. So say for example you have one fence that covers your whole property, and then you have another fence that contains your dog just to a certain area, while you mow your lawn for example. This seems pretty straight forward, but it’s actually not something every GPS dog fence can do.
Some reminders when creating fences…
Keep in mind that SpotOn has automatic alert and warning zones about 10 feet in from the boundary line. But even the best GPS systems can drift a little throughout the day. SpotOn says their fence boundaries usually shift by less than 10 feet.
Set the boundary at least 15 feet from any hazards, such as roads. Likewise, keep passageways at least 30 feet wide. SpotOn recommends a minimum fence size of a half acre. Even a properly set-up fence in a smaller area won’t leave much room for your dog to run free.
CLICK HERE: Get my EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for the SpotOn (applied at checkout) →Once you’ve saved your fence, you can adjust the size and shape in the app by dragging the fence posts.
You can also create more than one fence. This versatile feature makes the collar easy to use in different locations. Simply upload the specific fence to the collar whenever it’s time to use it.
FIELD TESTING THE SPOTON COLLAR
Here’s how it works. About 10 feet from the boundary, the collar emits an alert tone using alternating beeps. Within 5 feet of the boundary, the collar will make a warning tone which sounds like alternating high and low beeps. This warning tone is solid beep, and perhaps a bit louder than the alert tone.
When the collar reaches the boundary, it will vibrate. It will also apply static correction (if you choose to use it).
Fortunately, there’s a way to verify the static correction is working without shocking yourself. Use the included static contact tester, which will light up whenever the collar applies a shock.
Now, as soon as your dog crosses the boundary the collar switches over from containment to tracking mode.
However, once the boundary correction starts it should continue for 10 seconds and then stop as a safety feature for your dog—particularly if you’re using the static correction. If your dog turns around and comes back within the boundaries before that 10 seconds is up the collar will return to just issuing the alert tone so that your dog will understand where the boundary is.
New updates on the SpotOn Collar
Escape Reports
One of the new features that SpotOn has implemented is escape reports, so if it becomes a pattern you can figure out what might be enticing your dog to cross the boundary and correct it.
Forest Mode On
Creators of SpotOn made it so that forest mode is always on. So if you’re in an area with dense tree coverage—that is, if you can’t really see the sky through the leaves in the canopy above you, it should be able to handle it just fine.
GPS-based Safe Zones and Keep-Out Zones
Another great development that the SpotOn team released earlier this year was the inclusion of GPS-based safe zones and keep out zones in the virtual fences.
So that’s how it is supposed to work, and after my field test, suffice to say it has always worked exactly as expected. It’s really quite clear that this collar was designed by a team who knows what they are doing.
They used to make devices for the United States military. Their products had to work because soldier’s lives depended on them. And that’s what you’re getting with the SpotOn. Better yet, even to this day the SpotOn collar is manufactured right here in the US.
Is This The Wireless Dog Fence For You?
While I don’t want to bore you with too many technical details, the SpotOn collar’s technology is astounding. Unquestionably, SpotOn is truly high-end in the world of GPS fencing. As such, it comes with a high-end price tag.
Remember to use my link below to apply an exclusive discount for our readers if you do choose the SpotOn collar for your pup.
CLICK HERE: Get my EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for the SpotOn (applied at checkout) →As great as this smart dog fence is for dog owners, it’s obviously not for everyone. With its high price point and its wide range of features, it’s actually a bit much for some dog parents. Many ultimately decide to choose alternatives such as the Halo Collar.
However, if you want the best of the best, or if you like playing with cutting-edge toys and don’t mind paying a little extra for great performance, you’re definitely in the target audience.
Additionally, if your home has more than half an acre of land and you’re willing to put the time in to train your dog properly, then there is no more well-designed GPS dog fence than the SpotOn—it is a great tool, and those who choose it will definitely get their money’s worth.
CLICK HERE: Get my EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for the SpotOn (applied at checkout) →General Product Details
| Item Weight | Approx. 1.5 pounds |
| Battery Life | 22 hours of containment/ 14 hours of tracking time |
| Time to full charge | 1 hour |
| Water Resistance | IP-67 rating |
| GPS Coverage | GPS, GLONASS, Galelio, Beidou |
| Cellular Service | Verizon or AT&T LTE-M |
| Pet Location Accuracy | Within 3 feet under open sky/ 10 feet under heavy tree cover |
| Minimum Dog Neck Size | 10 inches |
Source: https://spotonfence.com/products/spoton-gps-fence
Virtual Fence Technical Details
| Number of Virtual Fences | Upto 1500 automatic gps fence posts + customizable fences |
| Minimum Recommended Plot Area | 1/2 acre |
| Maximum Fence Area | No Maximum Limit |
| Minimum Recommended Fence Width | 80 feet |
| Minimum Recommended Distance to keep between Fence Borderline and Road | 15 feet |
Still of the fence? (Arf, arf…) Read my SpotOn Virtual Fence and Halo Collar comparison, my Wagz Freedom Collar and SpotOn Fence comparison, or check out my guide to today’s best invisible dog fences.
CLICK HERE: Get my EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for the SpotOn (applied at checkout) →