How SpotOn GPS Dog Fence Boundaries Work
Reinforce Your Dog's Boundaries Anywhere!
SpotOn GPS Fence is built for freedom—on your terms. Whether you have ⅓ acre or hundreds, SpotOn lets you create custom virtual fences in any size or shape, no buried wires required. Your dog learns the boundaries through a sequence of tones designed to guide them back to safety. 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.
How SpotOn Teaches the Boundary
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.
Keep in mind as you begin the training program that you may not hear the tones emitted from the collar, but your dog can. And once trained, your dog will respond to these cues with ease.
The collar's specialized GPS antenna communicates directly with satellites to pinpoint your dog's location and deliver the appropriate cues as they approach the boundary. This precise positioning ensures your dog receives timely cues to stay securely within bounds.
Understanding Alert & Warning Tones
As your dog approaches the fence boundary:
- Alert Tone – A friendly tone sounds about 10 feet from the boundary. It lets your dog know they're approaching the boundary.
- 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 gradual sequence gives your dog time to recognize the cue and turn back before any correction is needed. 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.
Design Your Custom Fence
Before creating your fence in the app, make sure there's enough space for the Alert Tone zone. Ensure your fence is at least 80 feet wide at its narrowest point so your dog has room to roam freely.
Be Sure to Add a Buffer Zone! GPS signals naturally fluctuate by a few feet so always leave a 15-foot buffer between your fence boundary and any unsafe areas like roads, drop-offs, or ponds. This fluctuation isn't a product flaw - it's caused by GPS drift, a natural occurence that impacts any product that uses GPS.
Reinforce Commands with 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 is designed to 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.
Teach Your Dog the Boundary Cues
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 boundary cues, you can create new fences wherever your adventures take you. From your yard to a campsite to a vacation home, SpotOn travels with you.
Ready to See How SpotOn Works for Your Dog?
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