PetSafe Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence Review – Or: How I Accidentally Taught My Dog to Fear the Outdoors
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Purchased: September 18, 2023
Price: $600
Duration of Use: 2-3 months before abandoning in defeat
Let me tell you about the time I spent $600 to give my dog an anxiety disorder.
Hobbes is our bernedoodle – and if you know anything about bernedoodles, you know they’re the bougie choice of the designer dog world. Think $3,000+ purchase price, grooming appointments that cost more than my haircuts, and a personality that somehow combines the stubbornness of a poodle with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever who just discovered deer exist.
The Problem
Our rural yard is bordered by tall hay grass, and Hobbes had two favorite hobbies that were slowly driving us insane:
- Running up and down the muddy ditch on the side of our property until he looked like a chocolate-covered disaster
- Chasing the approximately 47,000 deer that live in our back field, occasionally getting a bit too close to the road for our comfort
He’s actually pretty well trained – most of the time he respected the boundaries. But every once in a while, he’d either forget or decide that deer > obedience, and we’d end up with either a filthy dog or a near heart attack watching him near the road.
Why I Thought GPS Was the Answer
Our yard is too large for a traditional underground wireless fence, and honestly, Hobbes seemed easy enough to train that burying wire felt like overkill and a waste of money. So when I found the PetSafe Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence at $600 – significantly cheaper than the usual GPS fence options – I thought I’d found the solution.
I’d read reviews mentioning GPS boundary inaccuracy issues, but this model had a base unit that was supposed to improve signal accuracy and extend coverage. Seemed legit. What could go wrong?
Narrator voice: Everything. Everything could go wrong.
Setup: Actually Pretty Easy
Credit where it’s due – setting up the perimeter in the app was straightforward. You walk the boundary with your phone, and it maps out your containment area. For our rural property, this worked well enough. The training protocol recommended by PetSafe was relatively simple, and training Hobbes on the boundaries went quickly since he mostly already knew where he was supposed to stay.
The base unit did its job improving signal coverage, and for a while, I thought we’d actually solved the problem. We were weeks into using it, everything seemed fine, and I was feeling pretty smug about my $600 purchase.
When the Wheels Came Off
Then came the bad weather.
The first time it happened, I didn’t immediately understand what was going on. Hobbes started getting warning beeps in the middle of the safe zone – the area where he should have been totally fine. The GPS accuracy had gone completely erratic.
Here’s what the training is supposed to do: Dog gets warning beep near boundary → Dog backs up into safe zone → Everyone’s happy.
Here’s what actually happened: Dog gets warning beep in the MIDDLE of the safe zone → Dog backs up as trained → Still getting beeped → Dog has no idea what to do → Dog freezes in confused terror.
The Trauma Spiral
We tried using the shock function on low to see if that would help reinforce the “back up to safety” behavior.
It did not help.
Instead, Hobbes became so traumatized that when the collar went off, he would just… freeze. And sit there. Getting shocked. Because he had no idea which direction was “safe” anymore when the GPS was telling him he was out of bounds while standing in the middle of the yard.
And here’s the worst part: I didn’t always know this was happening.
I couldn’t hear the warning beeps from inside the house. By the time I realized something was wrong and got outside, the damage was done. I couldn’t stop it remotely – the app didn’t have a quick “oh god abort everything” button that I could find in the moment. Every time we went outside, I was thinking “are we going to torture the dog today?”
And I’m pretty sure Hobbes was thinking the same thing, because after a few incidents, he wouldn’t leave the porch unless the collar was off.
Why I Kept Trying (Spoiler: I’m an Idiot)
You might be wondering why I didn’t immediately return this thing after the first traumatic incident. Well, I assumed it was user error. Specifically, MY error. Which, let’s be honest, is usually a safe bet. I kept thinking I must have set something up wrong, or maybe the weather would get better, or maybe I just needed to adjust the settings.
The system only completely failed maybe 3 times over those 2-3 months of use, but those 3 times were enough. You can’t build trust and consistent training when the system randomly decides to traumatize your dog. Each failure undid weeks of progress.
The GPS Lock Problem
Oh, and I almost forgot – even when it wasn’t actively torturing Hobbes, there was a delay getting a GPS lock when he first went outside. Sometimes in bad weather, it really struggled to acquire a signal. So you’d let the dog out, and there’d be this period of “is the fence working right now or not?”
Great for peace of mind, that.
What Actually Works
After abandoning the GPS nightmare, we switched to a simple manual remote training collar. Just the beep function – we don’t even use the shock.
It works SO much better. When Hobbes starts pushing boundaries or getting too interested in deer, we hit the beep, and he corrects the behavior. We almost never have to use it anymore.
There’s only one lasting side effect from the GPS trauma: he still freezes in place when he hears the beep instead of coming back. We’ve just adapted to it – at least he stops the unwanted behavior, even if his response is “stand perfectly still until the scary sky voice stops.”
The Honest Truth About Training
Look, I know some people are completely against training collars of any kind, and I get it. But here’s the reality: we’re just not good enough at consistent training.
We tried the treats and positive reinforcement approach. Hobbes figured out within about 15 minutes when we had treats and when we didn’t. He’s not dumb – he’s a poodle mix, which means he’s smart enough to lawyer his way around any loophole in your training system.
The manual beep collar gives us a consistent consequence that works with his personality. The GPS fence gave us inconsistent trauma that broke both his trust and ours.
The Verdict
The PetSafe Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence gets 2 stars because it sort of worked, some of the time, when the weather was perfect and the GPS gods smiled upon us.
But “sort of works sometimes” is not what you want in a $600 system designed to keep your dog safe. The GPS inaccuracy in bad weather isn’t just annoying – it’s actively harmful to training and can traumatize your dog.
What Went Wrong:
- GPS accuracy became dangerously unreliable in bad weather
- Warning system activated in safe zones, creating impossible confusion for the dog
- No effective way to remotely shut it down when malfunctioning
- Delay in GPS lock when first going outside
- App and syncing were “okay, not great”
What Went Right:
- Initial setup was actually pretty easy
- Walking the boundary with your phone to map the containment area worked well
- Base unit did improve coverage area
- It technically worked… when it worked
Who This Might Work For
In fairness, this system might work adequately if you:
- Live in an area with consistently clear weather and excellent GPS reception
- Have a dog with a very different temperament than a sensitive bernedoodle
- Can constantly monitor the system and intervene when it malfunctions
- Are willing to accept occasional accuracy failures as the cost of doing business
Who Should Avoid This
You should definitely skip the Guardian if:
- You live in an area with frequent overcast or rainy weather (so, like, most places)
- Your dog is sensitive or anxious
- You need reliable, consistent boundary enforcement
- You can’t or don’t want to constantly monitor the system
- You’re considering this as a safety device to keep your dog away from roads
- The thought of accidentally traumatizing your dog makes you queasy
Final Recommendation
Save your $600. If your property is too large for an underground fence and your dog is reasonably trainable, invest in a quality remote training collar instead. You’ll have full control, consistent results, and far less stress for both you and your dog.
If you truly need automated boundary enforcement and can afford it, consider spending more on a higher-end GPS system with better reviews for accuracy – though honestly, I’d just bite the bullet and install an underground fence at that point.
The PetSafe Guardian might represent a technological solution to an old problem, but sometimes the technology just isn’t there yet. In this case, simpler really is better, and your dog’s mental health is worth more than the convenience of app-based boundaries.
Have you tried GPS dog fencing? Did it work better for you, or did you also accidentally give your dog trust issues? Let me know in the comments – misery loves company.
When GPS Dog Fencing Becomes Psychological Warfare: A $600 Lesson in Canine Trauma
Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence Review – Or: How I Accidentally Taught My Dog to Fear the Outdoors
Rating: 2/5 Stars (It technically worked… sometimes)
Let me tell you about the time I spent $600 to give my dog an anxiety disorder.
Hobbes is our bernedoodle – and if you know anything about bernedoodles, you know they’re the bougie choice of the designer dog world. Think $3,000+ purchase price, grooming appointments that cost more than my haircuts, and a personality that somehow combines the stubbornness of a poodle with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever who just discovered deer exist.
The Problem
Our rural yard is bordered by tall hay grass, and Hobbes had two favorite hobbies that were slowly driving us insane:
- Running up and down the muddy ditch on the side of our property until he looked like a chocolate-covered disaster
- Chasing the approximately 47,000 deer that live in our back field, occasionally getting a bit too close to the road for our comfort
He’s actually pretty well trained – most of the time he respected the boundaries. But every once in a while, he’d either forget or decide that deer > obedience, and we’d end up with either a filthy dog or a near heart attack watching him near the road.
Why I Thought GPS Was the Answer
Our yard is too large for a traditional underground wireless fence, and honestly, Hobbes seemed easy enough to train that burying wire felt like overkill and a waste of money. So when I found the Petsafe Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence at $600 – significantly cheaper than the usual GPS fence options – I thought I’d found the solution.
I’d read reviews mentioning GPS boundary inaccuracy issues, but this model had a base unit that was supposed to improve signal accuracy and extend coverage. Seemed legit. What could go wrong?
Narrator voice: Everything. Everything could go wrong.
Setup: Actually Pretty Easy
Credit where it’s due – setting up the perimeter in the app was straightforward. The map interface was fairly easy to use, and training Hobbes on the boundaries went quickly since he mostly already knew where he was supposed to stay.
The base unit did its job improving signal coverage, and for a while, I thought we’d actually solved the problem. We were weeks into using it, everything seemed fine, and I was feeling pretty smug about my $600 purchase.
When the Wheels Came Off
Then came the bad weather.
The first time it happened, I didn’t immediately understand what was going on. Hobbes started getting warning beeps in the middle of the safe zone – the area where he should have been totally fine. The GPS accuracy had gone completely erratic.
Here’s what the training is supposed to do: Dog gets warning beep near boundary → Dog backs up into safe zone → Everyone’s happy.
Here’s what actually happened: Dog gets warning beep in the MIDDLE of the safe zone → Dog backs up as trained → Still getting beeped → Dog has no idea what to do → Dog freezes in confused terror.
The Trauma Spiral
We tried using the shock function on low to see if that would help reinforce the “back up to safety” behavior.
It did not help.
Instead, Hobbes became so traumatized that when the collar went off, he would just… freeze. And sit there. Getting shocked. Because he had no idea which direction was “safe” anymore when the GPS was telling him he was out of bounds while standing in the middle of the yard.
And here’s the worst part: I didn’t always know this was happening.
I couldn’t hear the warning beeps from inside the house. By the time I realized something was wrong and got outside, the damage was done. I couldn’t stop it remotely – the app didn’t have a quick “oh god abort everything” button that I could find in the moment. Every time we went outside, I was thinking “are we going to torture the dog today?”
And I’m pretty sure Hobbes was thinking the same thing, because after a few incidents, he wouldn’t leave the porch unless the collar was off.
Why I Kept Trying (Spoiler: I’m an Idiot)
You might be wondering why I didn’t immediately return this thing after the first traumatic incident. Well, I assumed it was user error. Specifically, MY error. Which, let’s be honest, is usually a safe bet. I kept thinking I must have set something up wrong, or maybe the weather would get better, or maybe I just needed to adjust the settings.
It only completely failed maybe 3 times over a few months of use, but those 3 times were enough. You can’t build trust and consistent training when the system randomly decides to traumatize your dog. Each failure undid weeks of progress.
The GPS Lock Problem
Oh, and I almost forgot – even when it wasn’t actively torturing Hobbes, there was a delay getting a GPS lock when he first went outside. Sometimes in bad weather, it really struggled to acquire a signal. So you’d let the dog out, and there’d be this period of “is the fence working right now or not?”
Great for peace of mind, that.
What Actually Works
After abandoning the GPS nightmare, we switched to a simple manual remote training collar. Just the beep function – we don’t even use the shock.
It works SO much better. When Hobbes starts pushing boundaries or getting too interested in deer, we hit the beep, and he corrects the behavior. We almost never have to use it anymore.
There’s only one lasting side effect from the GPS trauma: he still freezes in place when he hears the beep instead of coming back. We’ve just adapted to it – at least he stops the unwanted behavior, even if his response is “stand perfectly still until the scary sky voice stops.”
The Honest Truth About Training
Look, I know some people are completely against training collars of any kind, and I get it. But here’s the reality: we’re just not good enough at consistent training.
We tried the treats and positive reinforcement approach. Hobbes figured out within about 15 minutes when we had treats and when we didn’t. He’s not dumb – he’s a poodle mix, which means he’s smart enough to lawyer his way around any loophole in your training system.
The manual beep collar gives us a consistent consequence that works with his personality. The GPS fence gave us inconsistent trauma that broke both his trust and ours.
The Verdict
The Petsafe Guardian GPS Connected Customizable Fence gets 2 stars because it sort of worked, some of the time, when the weather was perfect and the GPS gods smiled upon us.
But “sort of works sometimes” is not what you want in a $600 system designed to keep your dog safe. The GPS inaccuracy in bad weather isn’t just annoying – it’s actively harmful to training and can traumatize your dog.
What Went Wrong:
- GPS accuracy became dangerously unreliable in bad weather
- Warning system activated in safe zones, creating impossible confusion for the dog
- No effective way to remotely shut it down when malfunctioning
- Delay in GPS lock when first going outside
- App and syncing were “okay, not great”
What Went Right:
- Initial setup was actually pretty easy
- App mapping interface was fairly user-friendly
- Base unit did improve coverage area
- It technically worked… when it worked
Who This Might Work For:
Honestly? I’m not sure. Maybe if you live somewhere with perfect weather and a dog who’s less neurotic than a bernedoodle? But if you’re looking at GPS fencing because your yard is too big for traditional options, I’d seriously consider just getting a basic remote training collar instead. It’s cheaper, more reliable, and won’t leave your dog afraid to go outside.
The $600 Question:
Did I try to get a refund? Nope. Just chalked it up as an expensive lesson learned and a cautionary tale for other dog owners who might be considering GPS fencing.
Save your money. Save your dog’s mental health. Get the $50 remote collar and call it a day.
Have you tried GPS dog fencing? Did it work better for you, or did you also accidentally give your dog trust issues? Let me know in the comments – misery loves company.
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