How SpotOn GPS Dog Fence Boundaries Work – and How to Reinforce Them Anywhere

July 30, 2025

Dog with tennis ball returning to safety, after nearing a virtual gps dog fence boundary.

SpotOn GPS Fence is built for freedom—on your terms. Whether you have ½ acre or hundreds, SpotOn lets you create custom virtual fences in any size or shape, even through water or wooded terrain. Your dog learns the boundaries through tones, not buried wires. And with SpotOn’s new Manual Feedback feature, you can now reinforce those boundaries anytime, from anywhere—whether you're 10 feet away or 10 miles from home.

Your Dog Is Trained to the Tones

With SpotOn, your dog is trained using tones, vibration, and an optional static correction. Unlike other systems, SpotOn uses a sequence: two distinct tones, then a vibration, and finally an optional static correction—all designed to guide your dog back to safety.

Don’t worry if you can’t hear the tones—your pup can. And once trained, your dog will respond to these cues with minimal correction.

The collar features a specialized GPS antenna that communicates directly with satellites, determining your dog's location and sending the appropriate signal as he approaches the boundary. This precise communication ensures your dog receives timely cues to stay safely within bounds.

Image that shows how SpotOn collars are powered by GPS satellites to create virtual fences, and how cellular towers power the tracking data to get sent back to your phone.

Alert & Warning Tones

As your dog approaches the fence boundary:

Alert Tone – A friendly tone sounds about 10 feet from the boundary. It signals your dog is getting close.
Warning Tone – A firmer sound plays 5 meters from the edge. If your dog continues, this is followed by a vibration and optional static correction.

This sequence helps your dog learn to stay within the safe zone—no guesswork, no harsh surprises. Other systems often use a single tone just before correction. SpotOn’s dual-tone approach gives your dog time to think and react.

Plus, thanks to SpotOn's patented directional algorithms, your dog will never be corrected while returning home. book.

Diagram showing when SpotOn's collar issues alert tones, warning tones, and boundary feedback.

Planning & Making Custom Fences

Before you build your fence, know where the Alert tones will trigger. Ensure your fence is at least 80 feet wide at its narrowest point so your pup has room to roam freely.

Be Sure to Add a Buffer Zone! GPS accuracy can vary slightly due to natural GPS drift (up to 10 feet). Always leave a 15-foot buffer between your fence boundary and any unsafe areas like roads, drop-offs, or ponds. book.

Learn How to Issue Manual Feedback

With SpotOn’s Manual Feedback, you can quickly deliver on-demand cues (tone, vibration, or static correction) to your dog using the app. Whether you're 10 feet away from your dog in the yard or 10 miles away at work, Manual Feedback should reinforce commands your dog already knows—not replace training.

Manual Feedback is available with a SpotOn tracking subscription. Plans are flexible and can be canceled anytime.

With a Little Training, Your Dog Will Be Ready to Go!

The SpotOn training guide walks you through teaching your dog to respond to tones using positive reinforcement. The goal is for your dog to return to the safe zone whenever they hear the Alert or Warning tones.

Once your dog understands the cues, you can create new fences anytime, anywhere. From your yard to a campsite to a vacation home, SpotOn travels with you.