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Today’s invisible pet fences use GPS to create boundaries around your home and collars that, with training, humanely deter dogs when they approach those boundaries – no electric shocks like the invisible fences of decades ago. However, these GPS systems cannot be used anywhere where it is difficult to acquire a GPS signal, such as inside your home, and they have a margin of error of 10 to 15 feet. Wagz has therefore released an accessory for its GPS-based pet fence product, the Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar ($299.99), which aims to address these issues, Wagz Tagz ($39.99 for one or 99 $.99 for three). These credit card-sized devices use Bluetooth to create small, more precise virtual no-go zones indoors.
The Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar uses sound, vibration, and ultrasonic waves to deter your dog from entering your Tagz No-Go Zones, just like it stops your dog from escaping your invisible GPS-based fence. The Tagz measure 2.6 x 1.4 x 0.1 inches, making them easy to slip under sofa cushions or stick on a wall near a room’s entrance. In the app, you set up a no-go zone which can be as small as one foot or as large as ten feet from the Tagz. You calibrate the Tagz by holding the Wagz collar up to your dog at the entrance to the deterrent area.
I love the concept of the Wagz Tagz, but it’s expensive. You spend $299.99 for the necklace, an additional $39.99 each for the Tagz, and you have to subscribe to the Wagz service for $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year — even if you just wanted to use the Tagz. Additionally, the batteries are not user-replaceable and have a one-year lifespan, at which time you will need to replace your Tagz.
Reviews of the Freedom Smart Dog Collar tend to split into very good or bad reviews based on how well the GPS works in and around the user’s home. Fortunately, Wagz has a 60-day return policy (only if you buy direct from Wagz), so you can be sure the system works for your pet and your setup.
[Image credit: Suzanne Kantra/Techlicious]
For the past 20+ years, Techlicious founder Suzanne Kantra has explored and written about the world’s most exciting and important science and technology issues. Prior to Techlicious, Suzanne was Technology Editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Technology Editor for Popular Science. Suzanne has been featured on CNN, CBS and NBC.