If you pay attention to the latest pet tech trends, you’ll notice that GPS Dog Fences are becoming more and more popular as a pet containment system than the classic invisible dog fences. Why? For one simple reason: they’re easier to use. You no longer have to dig up your property and bury wires in the ground. These dog fences can easily create borders using a mobile app through GPS technology.
The technology behind invisible dog fences is more expensive and requires training your dog to use it. But looking at the benefits it can provide, it’s extremely worth it.
I’ve tested and reviewed over 10 different GPS dog fence models. Honestly, many of these failed my stringent tests. However, four passed (and my #1 pick passed with flying colors!). Here’s a list of all of the units I tested. The bold ones are included in my “top 4” list below. Where applicable, click the links to go to my full in-depth standalone review.
- SpotOn GPS Fence Collar
- Halo Collar 2+ Dog Collar
- Wagz Smart Collar
- Findster Duo+
- Link AKC
- Tractive
- WIEZ GPS Wireless Dog Fence
- Pawious GPS Dog Fence
- BHCEY GPS Wireless Dog Fence
As I said, out of all of the models I tested, I can confidently recommend only four GPS dog fences in 2023. Let’s take a closer look at them, shall we? One quick note: this post includes affiliate links. If you decide to purchase one of these wireless pet fences through my links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
Table of Contents
1. SpotOn Collar (Top Pick for 2023)
Before we dive into why this one is my top pick for the best invisible dog fence, I just want to share a bit of good news with you. As of 3/10/23, the price of the SpotOn GPS Fence dropped from $1500 to $1295. Even better news, I have an amazing SpotOn coupon for you! Save $100 by using the code BARK.
It was extremely easy to pick the #1 GPS Dog Collar Fence that currently exists on the market. The SpotOn dog collar is one of the most innovative devices on the market and one that has been tested by many dog owners. Even with the decrease in cost in March, the price is still on the high side for many, but it is so worth it.
So, if you have an extra budget for GPS Dog Fence, you can never go wrong with SpotOn Collar. It’s a premium option and no surprise it’s considered the best GPS dog collar fence among dog owners including me. They also have decent financing options.
With SpotOn collar, you can create and keep up to 20 unique fences in areas ranging from 0.5 to 1,000 acres. This is the most accurate GPS fence which has four satellite navigation systems and patented True Location™ GPS technology combined to better contain and track your dogs.
The SpotOn GPS collar continuously tracks your dog’s location and direction so you always know where your pet is thanks to its connection to 25-30 satellites.
To set up the invisible fence system, you can walk the boundary and see the perimeter built in real-time as you walk. Or, you can also just draw an instant fence in the app.
Additionally, SpotOn has a Forest mode that enhances GPS reception in areas with lots of trees. Indoor detection is not available when Forest mode is activated. Make sure to take off your dog’s SpotOn dog collar when he enters the house to prevent erroneous corrections.
Last, but so far from least, SpotOn dog fence collars have 30 levels of static correction, which is twice as many as Halos. With proper training, you can set it at an extremely low level so it’s not quite as shocking (literally and figuratively) when your dog gets too close to the boundaries.
As with any product (even the best of the best), there are some drawbacks. First, you need a subscription to make full use of the collar. That’s pretty common with all GPS collars, but Spot On’s subscription is one of the pricier options for a dog tracker. I HIGHLY recommend going with a 2-year subscription because it’s almost half the price of a month-to-month plan.
Second, SpotOn virtual fence system requires a cell phone if you want to actually track your pup. I don’t think that’s such a huge “con” though because honestly, nearly everything requires a smartphone and an app these days.
For a more in-depth look at the pros and cons, don’t forget to read my detailed SpotOn collar review here and make sure to get it from the official website only to avoid scammers and resellers.
2. Halo Collar 2+ Fenceless Dog Fence
- Smart fences
- Limitless locations
- Prevention tracking
- Integrated with GPS and the Halo Collar’s automated internal logic
- Smart fences
- Limitless locations
- Prevention tracking
- Integrated with GPS and the Halo Collar’s automated internal logic
The Halo Collar 2+ is one of the best GPS dog fence systems so far since it uses training techniques developed by the renowned dog behaviorist and trainer Cesar Millan. It is a smart four-in-one dog training system & GPS dog fence that aims to promote freedom, safety, and communication.
Halo’s in-built navigation system uses cutting-edge GPS & GNSS technology on par with autonomous cars to direct your dog to stay inside wireless fences.
It is specifically made to work with the Halo App, which uses real-time activity tracking to provide feedback to keep your dog out of harm’s way. The collar is completely adjustable and works with the way your dog learns best using static, sound, and/or vibration.
You can quickly create up to 20 wireless GPS dog fences by simply walking around the perimeter or using the Halo App (available for iOS and Android). Additionally, the Halo has a long battery life (20+ hours), allowing your dog to go on more adventures while you can stop worrying about charging it frequently.
The Halo Collar no-dig electric dog fence uses Cesar Millan’s extensive training expertise to offer personalized feedback that is ideal for your dog. Activity training provides a feedback log with daily metrics on your dog’s walks, activity, and safety in addition to keeping him healthy, content, and safe.
As far as drawbacks go, there are a couple of minor ones. First, there’s the cost. While the price dropped quite a bit since the Halo was first released, it’s still rather expensive compared to some models.
Also, again, you need a subscription to take full advantage of the GPS pet tracker features. I do like that they give you plenty of options in terms of plans, though. The Basic Plan is only $4.49 per month for the 20 fences I mentioned above. Most people will never need more than 20 wireless dog fence systems.
The other major drawback, in my opinion, is the lack of correction levels compared to SpotOn (15 compared to 30). I prefer a collar that allows me to set it to a very mild “zing.” That said, you can opt to ONLY use sound or vibration versus actual static correction, so it’s not a dealbreaker.
Read my detailed Halo 2+ review for more details and make sure to get it from the official website only to avoid scammers and resellers.
3. Tractive Collar (Best Budgeted Pick)
Exciting update for July 2023: We have an exclusive Tractive coupon for you this month!
Use the coupon code TECHNOJULY to save 40% off your collar! Hurry, though, this coupon expires at the end of July!For a dog fence collar that fits right into your budget, you may also consider the Tractive GPS Tracker Collar with a virtual fence feature. It has great accuracy and long battery life that can last up to seven days!
With the Tractive dog collar, you can set up five GPS barriers that can be labeled as safe zones and no-go zones for your fur buddy.
However, Tractive allows for fewer boundaries overall than Halo and SpotOn, which is one of the limitations of this device’s features. But the price is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper overall, so it’s kind of a fair trade-off.
Tractive is primarily intended to be a GPS Tracking Collar and not much of a virtual fence. Again, though for the price (currently under $50), it’s a good deal and works well!
You can also set this collar in Live mode to get updates about your dog’s location every two-three seconds. Just bear in mind that the battery life of the tracking mode depletes much faster in Live mode. Live tracking automatically shuts off after five minutes to conserve battery power, but you can change this time frame as you see fit.
One neat feature of Tractive, especially when you factor in the price, is that it also has a sleep activity tracker. This lets you monitor your pup’s sleeping pattern and habits. It is an excellent extra feature and I love it!
To increase battery life, Tractive also includes a feature that allows you to connect the tracker with up to five Wi-Fi networks in secure locations where your pet spends a lot of time, such as at home or at a pet daycare.
The device no longer reports your pet’s GPS location when you are in a Power Saving Zone and the Live tracking feature isn’t available. Instead, it checks to make sure your dog is still within reach of that reliable Wi-Fi network every few minutes.
Read my detailed Tractive collar review and make sure to get it from the official website only to avoid scammers and resellers.
4. Pawious Dog GPS Fence Collar
The next dog GPS fence on this list is a newer entry to the market. Although it doesn’t really compare to more expensive brands like Halo and SpotOn, I can say that it is still a good option and worthwhile trying.
The Pawious GPS fence coverage range is much smaller than Halo and SpotOn’s (98 feet to 3280 feet) (33-1000 yards). Like other GPS dog fences, it is not advised for use in small yards or indoors; it is best suited for farms or open fields.
With the size of this collar, it is also suitable for medium to large-sized dogs. You just can’t really use on small breeds as the collar may fall off or be a bit bulky and heavy for them.
When dogs escape the boundary, the Pawious training collar beeps, warning Fido that he’s approaching the boundary. Your dog’s collar will issue two warnings if he crosses the line.
Unfortunately, if he doesn’t return, the collar will stop vibrating. It won’t be activated if there is no GPS signal, either. So keep those limitations in mind as you shop. You can check the current price on Amazon.
GPS Dog Fences That We Would Not Recommend
As I mentioned earlier, I really only feel confident recommending the 4 invisible pet fences above. Let’s take a look at some of the others I tested to find out where they fell flat.
Wagz Freedom Dog GPS Fence
You can train your dog with shock-free geofence containment using the Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar as a GPS dog fence.
The use of vibrations and tones with no shock to keep your dog within his boundaries is a fantastic feature. It functions by using vibration, ultrasonic, and audible signals for correction. That’s the good news (and something that I really do love about Wagz).
I also love that this gadget has a real-time GPS location tracking feature that allows you to monitor your dog’s activity and health.
The bad news? You will need to invest A LOT of work training your dog to ensure that Fido actually responds to the types of “correction” that it uses.
I wouldn’t use Wagz’s as a GPS fence solution for my dogs because I think it is inconsistent and inaccurate. My dog once crossed the geofence I made during our second week of use because the sounds didn’t deter him. I had to search for him for a while.
Another thing I find quite disappointing with Wagz is its battery life. The battery life of Wagz does not come near or at par in comparison to Halo 2+ and SpotOn Collar. Even so, there is a spare rechargeable battery that you can bring in case you intend to use the collar all day.
Wiez GPS Wireless Dog Fence
The Wiez GPS wireless dog fence has a maximum coverage area of 776 acres and a maximum radius of 3,281 feet. Its control distance is adjustable between 98-3281ft. It also has three levels of adjustment for both the electric shock and vibration intensity.
What I find disappointing about this product is its battery. It keeps shutting down for some reason and does not even last a full day. Although our usage improved after charging the device every night, I still don’t find it all that great.
I think the materials used are also subpar compared to the other options I mentioned above. It’s not as waterproof as it promises, but rather merely water-resistant. The screws also rust easily. We only had this device for a month and the screws are already covered in rust.
The manual included is also a bit confusing. However, you can easily find videos online on how to set it up if you decide to ignore my opinion and go with this fenceless dog containment system.
Freesea GPS Wireless Dog Fence
The GPS dog fence has a radius coverage of up to 3000 feet and uses satellite signal technology to pinpoint your boundary in an easy setup.
Although this dog fence is easy to set up, its performance is quite disappointing. We were able to set the center point, but when we tried to place our marker flags, the collar would occasionally beep.
The GPS is also inaccurate as it cannot locate the exact and correct location of my pup. I wouldn’t suggest getting this collar for the safety of your dogs.
Advantages of GPS Wireless Dog Fences VS Invisible In-Ground Dog Fences
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GPS Dog Fences FAQs
How does a GPS Dog Fence work?
Wireless dog fences use satellite maps and geo-fencing to set boundaries. They do not use wires or fixed radio signals. To protect your dog, GPS-based fences have circular boundaries as well.
The location-tracking features typically give you the most precise indication of where your dog is. The collars also often warn your dog as he approaches the established boundary, as is the case with most invisible dog fences.
Do they really work?
Yes, but there may be ambiguous boundaries because, depending on the collar your dog is wearing, there is a certain margin before the signal is activated.
Can a dog run through a GPS fence?
Because of the system’s flexibility, mistakes could happen and the boundaries might not be exactly what you want them to be.
Depending on the overall system, the error may travel up to 30 feet and the dog may not receive the alert as quickly as you would like. Therefore, GPS dog fences are not recommended for use in small yards or areas.
Is a GPS dog fence a shock collar?
While some collars employ corrective shock, others do not, e.g. SpotOn GPS dog fence collar. For those brands that use shock, the voltage levels of the electric dog fence aren’t very high as they only need to attract the dog’s attention. 100 milliamps are the maximum output, which is only 2% of what would be needed to cause an electrical burn.
Is a GPS fence for dogs reliable?
GPS is always available, works everywhere, and is inherently more accurate than cellular because the signal won’t become erratic. Your dog’s location is automatically corrected, making his boundaries and position more precise.
Final Thoughts
GPS dog fences significantly improved my life as a dog owner. I recommend my fellow fur parents use this device to ease their worries about their fur babies’ safety. If you wish the best for your dog, definitely go with Halo Collar or SpotOn Collar depending on your budget and needs.
Author
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. 2023-09-27
Curious about the BCH whatever, which is only sold by Amazon. You listed it but did not mention.
Live on an 82 acre ranch with poor cell coverage. The top two you recommend are totally overpriced. I have two young Samoyeds.
I was very hopeful when I saw your recommendation for Pawious. However, after reading reviews on Amazon it seems this brand is cheaply made and unreliable / does not last.
Unfortunately, as another commenter said the first two recommendations are terribly over priced, and your “budget friendly” recommendation does not appear to be a wireless fence (it is a tracker).
I’d love to see a review that covers affordable options that are reliable. Don’t need all the bells and whistles, just a simple and reliable wireless fence capable of supporting a very large (multi-acre) safe zone.
First I want to say great job on the review Mark. I too came to your same conclusions initially and tried 5 of the ones you listed for myself before finding the right one for me. That said I’m not trying to take anything away from the review. I’m only wanting to address Larrys question of an inexpensive option. This is my own personal experience and is not intended to disparage any of the products listed. Spot on and Halo cost me a small fortune and was problematic for me because of being rural and locking onto the gps signal while making the boarder in every area I tried. Marking multiple points for the barrier then having to keep doing it repeatedly was time consuming and frustrating. I too wanted a simple and cost effective method. The Pawious and Weiz that Mark talked about are very similar. With both you drop only one gps radial point. To keep this one point from moving was as simple as turning it off and charging it at night when going to bed. I too had some quality issues with the early model Pawious but it was an easy cost effective option that got the job done. It was still working but I needed a two collar option for the new pup. The 2023 Weiz Brand DO23 model and DO10 (two collar option) has addressed those earlier quality control issues Mark mentioned. This new model Currently has 4.8 stars on Amazon. Weiz was kind enough to replace my earlier model with rusty screws with this one. I haven’t had this new one long enough to give a fully unbiased review but I can attest to it being a cost effective, easy to use solution.
Me too! Have you found one?
Me too. Need a fence for a farm. Did you find one yet?
The Halo collar does not stay connected to GPS in Southern Idaho. The pin can be as far as a mile off and will stick so it continues to correct the dog. Two collars later and hours of troubleshooting it still doesn’t work. Sadly returning!
I read your reviews and I’m a little confused about how to proceed, I am really looking to keep my 2 dogs from going into the neighbors yards. I have a 70lb 3 yr old pit bull and a 120lb 11 yr old great pyranese.
What would be my best option
We have a dog on a large farm that likes to run across the road. Would the tracktive collar work to keep him off the road? It’s a farm dog and though we take good care of him we don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on it.
Hi Jackie, unfortunately, no, Tractive won’t really work for that. It’ll alert you when your dog leaves his boundaries, but it doesn’t do as much to actually prevent that from happening as the Halo or SpotOn.