Choosing the right pet fence system for your dog can be a challenge, especially with so many options available on the market today. Among the top contenders are the PetSafe Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar and the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence. Both of these systems offer innovative GPS technology to keep your furry friend safe and contained, but they cater to different needs and preferences.
Below, we’ll compare them side-by-side, breaking down their general features, subscription requirements, battery life, GPS tracking capabilities, invisible fence functionalities, and more. By the end, you’ll know which system is right for you and your pooch.
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Guardian GPS + Tracking Vs Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence Features
Let’s start with a quick overview of the features side-by-side. We’ll dig a little deeper into the most important ones in a moment, but this will give you a good starting point.
Min/Max Fence Size:
3/4 acre, no max size
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Min/Max Fence Size:
3/4 acre, no max size
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GPS Coverage:
AccuGuard™ tech with GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI
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GPS Coverage:
AccuGuard™ tech with GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI
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Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
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Flexible Fence Shapes:
Yes
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Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
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Multiple Fences in One App:
Yes
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Number of Unique Fences:
20
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Number of Unique Fences:
1
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Portable (Take Anywhere):
Yes
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Portable (Take Anywhere):
Not Really
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Subscription Optional:
No
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Subscription Optional:
Yes
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Right off the bat, you can see that the biggest differences between the two are the number of unique fences you can create and the subscription requirement. Beyond that, they’re pretty evenly matched.
Virtual Fence Features
Description: The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar by PetSafe uses AccuGuard™ tech to blend GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI to ensure advanced protection. Create and store up to 20 custom wireless dog fences for any property larger than 3/4 acre. |
Description: The Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence also uses AccuGuard technology with real-time motion detection. However, unlike the GPS + Tracking collar, this one only allows you to store one fence at a time. Plus, it uses a home base to communicate with the collar. |
The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar by PetSafe uses AccuGuard™ tech to blend GPS data, real-time motion detection and AI to ensure advanced protection. Create and store up to 20 custom wireless dog fences for any property larger than 3/4 acre.
The Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence also uses AccuGuard technology with real-time motion detection. However, unlike the GPS + Tracking collar, this one only allows you to store one fence at a time. Plus, it uses a home base to communicate with the collar.
This, along with GPS tracking features (which we’ll cover next), is where the collars significantly differ. While both collars allow you to create and manage fences right in the PetSafe App, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence only lets you create one at a time.
This is primarily because it relies on communication with a base unit. However, if the power or Wi-Fi goes out, the collar still works. I was actually surprised to learn that.
That reliance on the home base also means that the virtual fence system isn’t really all that portable. At least not in the sense that the GPS + Tracking collar is. I mean, I guess you could take the home base with you on vacation, but you would need to set it all up again, then yet again when you come home.
GPS Tracking Features
Description: The Guardian provides live tracking and precise GPS location let you see your dog’s real-time movement on the map. The AI technology adds an extra layer of precision by predicting where your dog is likely to move next, making it much easier to locate them quickly. |
Description: As it is meant to work solely as a virtual fence, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence doesn't have live tracking features. |
The Guardian provides live tracking and precise GPS location let you see your dog’s real-time movement on the map. The AI technology adds an extra layer of precision by predicting where your dog is likely to move next, making it much easier to locate them quickly.
As it is meant to work solely as a virtual fence, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence doesn't have live tracking features.
It’s easy to see why the GPS + Tracking is the winner in this category, but in case you can’t see the table (hey, it happens, technology is weird sometimes), let me spell it out for you: the GPS Connected Customizable Fence doesn’t actively track your dog’s location outside of the set boundary.
Correction Levels & Feedback
Description: The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction when your dog attempts to leave the set boundaries. |
Description: The Guardian GPS Connected collar also allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction. |
The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction when your dog attempts to leave the set boundaries.
The Guardian GPS Connected collar also allows you to choose between sound, vibration, and 10 levels of static correction.
This category is a dead tie, since both collars have the exact same types and levels of feedback.
Design & Durability
Both collars are equally durable in my opinion, but design-wise I definitely feel like the newer Guardian GPS + Tracking collar is nicer to look at. To me, it looks a bit more like a regular collar than the GPS Connected Customizable Fence model.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I don’t think that any invisible fence dog collars are particularly lovely. They all have a “clunky” element to them, mainly because they have to house all sorts of sensitive tech. But overall, I do think that the GPS + Tracking model is one of the least-clunky options out there right now.
Battery Life
Battery Life:
Up to 48 hours
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Battery Life:
Up to 24 hours
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The newer GPS + Tracking collar lasts up to twice as long as the older fence-only collar. I found that really interesting because these types of collars typically last longer when you’re only using them as a fence, versus using tracking features, too. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that the GPS + Tracking model is using much newer technology.
Subscription Requirements
Description: The Guardian® GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar requires a subscription for every feature. In fact, you'll need to subscribe to even activate the collar |
Description: The Guardian® GPS Connected Customizable Fence, on the other hand, is completely subscription-free. However, the trade-off is that it's not as portable and that it can't actually track your dog. |
The Guardian® GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar requires a subscription for every feature. In fact, you'll need to subscribe to even activate the collar
The Guardian® GPS Connected Customizable Fence, on the other hand, is completely subscription-free. However, the trade-off is that it's not as portable and that it can't actually track your dog.
Since it doesn’t require a subscription at all, the Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence wins this category. However, keep in mind that there are trade-offs. You can’t use it as a tracking collar and it’s not nearly as portable.
Still, if you really just need ONE good virtual fence for your property and you don’t need to track your dog, it could be a worthwhile tradeoff.
Winner: Guardian GPS + Tracking Collar
While the Guardian GPS + Tracking collar costs more upfront and requires an ongoing subscription to use it, the added features, design, and longer battery life more than make up for it. Plus, it’s the only one of the two that actually allows you to track and find your lost dog.
The Guardian GPS + Tracking Dog Fence Collar by PetSafe offers advanced real-time tracking and customizable virtual boundaries to keep your dog safe and secure. With features like AccuGuard™ technology and a user-friendly app, this collar is designed for ease of use and reliability for dogs over 30 pounds.
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