Hold the Tail Wagging is supported by pet mother and father. I sometimes earn a fee (at no extra value to you) while you click on by means of an affiliate hyperlink to one in every of my favourite merchandise. Thanks on your help. Learn Extra
I acquired a SpotOn GPS Fence coaching collar for Apollo in change for my sincere ideas. I initially deliberate to return the collar to the corporate as a result of I did not need the smoke from the canine coaching neighborhood. Fellow canine lovers jogged my memory that it is important to maintain an open thoughts and proceed studying, so I charged the collar and headed outdoors to create my first fence.
What’s the SpotOn GPS Fence?
The SpotOn GPS Fence is a device that helps us practice our canine on the boundaries of our property. The collar makes use of sound, vibration, and static to warn our canine (and us by means of a smartphone app) as they method the property boundary. The GPS permits us to trace and find a canine precisely ought to they cross the boundary.
The fencing system has a coaching collar, two units of connectors (in several sizes), a charger, and an instruction booklet. Canine homeowners obtain a smartphone app that’s used to:
- mark boundaries
- monitor the canine
- flip off/on the vibration and static options
On this article, I will be sharing my ideas after utilizing the SpotOn GPS fence for a number of weeks with our canine Apollo, a 4 12 months previous Husky/Golden Retriever cross.
Is the SpotOn GPS Fence a Shock Collar?
No. the SpotOn collar does have an choice to ship a static correction after a canine has ignored the sound and the vibration. Nonetheless, this function is elective. I examined each the vibration and static on myself. The vibration looks like when a cellphone vibrates in your pocket. The static feels just like putting your tongue on a battery at stage 4; I could not really feel something on ranges 1, 2, or 3. I did not increase it past stage 4.
I didn’t check the static on Apollo, however I did strive the vibration. He heard the tone, and he felt the vibration and neither appeared to hassle or deter him.
I selected to not use the static function as a result of I am not comfy utilizing aversive coaching strategies with out the direct steering of an expert canine coach. This collar does have the ability to trigger ache and concern – a pair that used the static right shared an expertise the place the canine was repeatedly corrected whereas contained in the yard.
SpotOn GPS Fence: Marking Boundries
It was straightforward to mark the boundaries. I charged the collar and carried it across the property with my smartphone. The app tracked me as I walked out property line. The warnings (sound, vibration) begin a number of toes from the boundaries – additional than I appreciated. Whereas this wasn’t an enormous deal given the dimensions of our property, this can should be adjusted for small yards.
SpotOn GPS Fence: Coaching with out Static Correction
What I appreciated concerning the collar was having the ability to join it with a command. Each time Apollo approached the boundary, I might get a notification by means of the smartphone app. I might say, “again within the yard,” and reward Apollo with a deal with.
SpotOn GPS Fence: Does it Work?
The SpotOn GPS Fence will not preserve my canine on our property, though there are critiques of it safely containing canine. Our canine have a 300 foot yard utilizing the PetPlaygrounds fencing system, and it does a superb job conserving our canine safely contained contained in the yard whereas conserving wildlife out of the yard. The SpotOn collar permits us to benefit from the unfenced portion of our property safely.
Whereas I do not doubt that many canine may be educated to remain within the yard with or with out the static correction, Apollo’s drive for consideration and his love for our neighbors won’t be detered by a tone or vibration.
SpotOn GPS Fence: Will it Hold Predators Out?
No. That’s not how this fence works. Some trainers will inform you that this collar…
- isn’t assured to maintain your canine within the yard
- will stop your canine from safely making it into the yard
- will go away your canine susceptible to predators
- will go away your canine susceptible to different canine utilizing a GPS collar
- native storage door openers will sync to the GPS fence
The one assertion that’s 100% true is the primary assertion. It is necessary to notice that the SpotOn GPS fence would not provide a assure. How properly the system works is as much as canine homeowners and coaching.
Utilizing the tone and vibration, Apollo did not have a difficulty coming out and in of the yard. If he left the property to say “hello” to the neighbors, he would come dwelling with out hesitation. Our canine aren’t left unsupervised when outdoors of their yard. Our main native predator is a coyote, they usually preserve a distance after we’re outdoors. Different canine coming onto our property won’t set off the SpotOn GPS fence as a result of these canine aren’t registered on our system. And the GPS fence is not linked to storage door openers. It is solely linked to the SpotOn GPS app.
SpotOn GPS Fence: Can it Double as a Coaching Collar?
This is not an choice in case you’re searching for a coaching collar that can be utilized as a GPS collar. There is not a separate distant that can assist you ship a tone, vibration, or static correction. These corrections solely occur when the canine approaches the boundaries beforehand set by the canine proprietor.
SpotOn GPS Fence: Is GPS Protected for Canine
GPS collars are believed to be protected to make use of on canine. Though it does use mobile networks to ship information, it is mentioned that the EMF (electromagnetic area) produced is on the very low finish and never dangerous. Nonetheless, there are not any research that I discover confirming the security of EMF at any stage, and a few within the canine lover neighborhood consider some canine are delicate to wi-fi techniques.
SpotOn GPS Fence: The Price
On the time of this publish, a collar prices $1,295. There’s additionally an elective subscription service.
- $9.95/month
- $7.95/month in case you prepay for one 12 months
- $5.95/month in case you prepay for 2 years
The subscription provides you entry to GPS companies in low service areas, lets you find your canine on the contact of a button, and it offers automated alerts and monitoring in case your canine leaves the boundary.
The Execs of the SpotOn GPS Fence
1 – Static Correction is Elective
The primary motive I needed to overview this collar is the elective static correction. As a result of I haven’t got expertise with coaching collars, I do not really feel comfy utilizing a product that delivers a static or shock correction. This function makes this collar an choice for canine homeowners who do not need to use static corrections or really feel that they’re unsafe or inhumane.
There are a number of canine trainers who’re spreading misinformation concerning the SpotOn GPS collar. On the time of this overview, no canine have been electrocuted, nor had the collar exploded on a canine’s neck. That is propaganda being unfold by individuals who don’t like coaching collars.
2 – Boundaries are Simple to Set Up and Change
The SpotOn GPS fence is simple to arrange, and we will make a number of boundaries (as much as 1,500) by means of varied kinds of terrain. This enables canine homeowners to maneuver with out further prices or journey with the collar. If a boundary is not vital, it may be deleted. I used to be in a position to arrange a boundary that crossed ponds, timber, and excessive brush with ease.
3 – No Building Needed
The SpotOn GPS fence would not require the set up of an precise fence or digging holes to put wire for an invisible fencing system. This makes the SpotOn fence a greater choice for renters, individuals who journey with their canine, and householders on a good finances.
4 – Coaching is Simple
Apollo picked up on the boundaries rapidly. If I selected to proceed with the collar, I do know that I might have the ability to obtain constant conduct (staying within the yard) out of my canine. Apollo is not meals motivated, so I needed to discover a top quality deal with (turkey hotdogs), and limiting coaching to 2 10-15 minute classes day by day labored finest.
5 – Mobile Service is not Needed
As a result of the collar makes use of GPS, mobile service is not vital, making this collar an important choice if cell service is spotty in your space. And the collar will not eat up the information in your cell plan.
6 – Subscription is Elective
The elective subscription service is a singular function with SpotOn GPS Fence. After spending greater than $1,000 on a collar, it ‘s good to know that we do not additionally should pay for a month-to-month service we might not want.
7 – The GPS is Correct
The GPS is correct inside three toes when looking out beneath a transparent sky, ten toes below heavy tree cowl, or close to buildings.
The Cons of the SpotOn GPS Fence
1 – The SpotOn Fence is Costly
Though this collar could also be cheaper than fencing the yard, it is nonetheless an funding that is not reasonably priced to everybody. When you dwell in a multi-dog dwelling, every canine wants a collar and subscription plan, though all may be monitored on one app.
I can consider two choices that will work higher for some canine homeowners:
- Put money into a canine coach as a substitute.
- Take a look at the PetPlaygrounds canine fencing system.
- Add an Airtag with a canopy to your canine’s collar.
2 – The Collar At all times Must be Charged
I solely used the collar after I was outdoors the canine yard with Apollo. He did not put on the collar 24/7, and the ability would drain if not left on the charger. This wasn’t an excessive amount of of an enormous deal as a result of I cost my cellphone each night time, so I started charging the collar too. However it did take some getting used to.
3 – Irresponsible Use of Static Corrections
Though the static correction is elective, there are individuals who will purchase this collar and lean too closely on this aversive choice in coaching; the static correction has 30 ranges. Whereas this may occasionally work for some canine, it can hurt others, making a concern of going outdoors. This is the reason I selected to not use the static function of this collar.
4 – GPS and EMF Could Be Dangerous to Canine
There’s concern that placing collars that emit EMF so near our canine’ thyroid and mind can have a destructive long run impression. Nonetheless, I could not discover constant info exhibiting that these merchandise are dangerous. This was one more reason to take away the collar when it wasn’t in use.
5 – Some GPS Trackers are Susceptible to Hacking
I attempted to seek out info on how SpotOn is protected from hackers. However what I did learn concerning the frequent vulnerabilities is regarding. READ: Are Pet Trackers With GPS Protected to Use?
Remaining Ideas on the SpotOn GPS Fence
I believe the SpotOn GPS Fence is a wonderful choice for accountable pet mother and father who’re prepared to do the work to coach their canine. If somebody is searching for a shortcut, then this device could also be abused. Happily, the SpotOn GPS staff is offered to assist pet mother and father, and if it is in your finances, you’ll be able to work with a canine coach as you introduce your canine to this technique.
I might relatively spend the cash on a PetPlaygrounds system. It is a DIY system that may be constructed on the weekend for a lot of websites. And it may be moved in case you transfer. And for monitoring, I am going forwards and backwards between the Fi Canine Collar, which gives health monitoring, and Airtags for my canine’ collars.
I did admire having a device that helped me higher talk with my canine with out harming my canine.
Learn Extra About Canine Coaching
