Full review
Longer notes from the same comments we summarized above.
What people reported
Some owners found the SpotOn GPS Virtual Fence system effective for containing their dogs, particularly on larger properties. One owner with a Pyrenees mix living on several acres near a busy road reported it "saved her life" and provided worry-free freedom. The ability to create and save numerous virtual fences for different locations was a significant advantage for owners who travel with their dogs or have multiple properties. Several owners praised the exceptional and superb customer service and tech support, describing interactions as polite, professional, and knowledgeable. SpotOn even replaced collars out of warranty in some cases. The collar also includes a three-stage warning and correction system with vibration settings.
Problems people mention
A major concern was product reliability and durability, with collars breaking multiple times within a year, power buttons failing, and not holding up for active dogs. One owner reported being "out a grand" after the collar broke on a lazy dog, with the company offering no support. Many owners experienced inconsistent GPS tracking and connectivity issues. The app might only refresh location 30% of the time, show a dog in the house when it's outside, or require frequent "power resets." This often led to a lack of confidence in accurately pinpointing a dog's location. Software and firmware updates frequently caused problems, with one owner stating that "about every other time" an update stopped the collar from functioning correctly, including disabling the tracking feature. These issues often required collar resets, app reinstallation, and redrawing fences, with no option to turn off updates. For some dogs, particularly those with high prey drive or stubborn temperaments, the static correction was not strong enough to ensure containment, even at maximum settings. Dogs might show minimal reaction or no response at all when crossing boundaries. The warning signal volume was reported as too low, making it difficult to use effectively for training.
Where owners disagree
While some owners found the collar rugged and reliable, others reported it was fragile and broke easily, even with less active dogs. The effectiveness of the static correction also varied significantly; some owners found it sufficient for training and containment, while others reported their dogs largely ignored it.
Who it's for
The SpotOn GPS Virtual Fence could be suitable for owners who need the flexibility of creating multiple virtual fences for various locations and value long battery life. It may work well for dogs that are not highly driven by prey or extremely stubborn and respond readily to corrections. However, potential buyers should be aware of recurring reports of durability issues, software glitches, inconsistent GPS tracking, and the possibility that the static correction may not be effective for all dogs, especially those with strong escape drives.
