PetSafe Guardian® GPS 2.0 Dog Fence Review (I Tested it in August 2025)

Last Updated on August, 2025

PetSafe Guardian was already an excellent product—reliable, effective, and hard to beat for the price. There weren’t many competitors that could truly keep up.

The new Guardian 2.0 follows in those same footsteps. After using it for about three weeks, I can confidently say this: you won’t need to spend a fortune to get premium performance.

It takes everything that worked in the original and makes it better, subtly, but noticeably. You get more fences, better GPS accuracy, a lighter collar that fits more dogs, and a user-friendly experience right out of the box.

What’s in the Guardian® GPS 2.0 Box?

The Guardian 2.0 comes in a much smaller package than its predecessor, that’s thanks to the trimmed collar size. 

Seeing the contents inside the box, it’s pretty much the same.

As mentioned already, it’s the same stuff you get with the original Guardian collar, no difference here. 

What’s New in Guardian® GPS 2.0?

Even though there are not many new things in the box, when it comes to the features, there are some notable improvement, below I’ve listed all of them. 

Increased Fence Capacity

Previously, you were able to store up to 20 fences, now that wasn’t bad by any means, it was still much more than what most of the competitors would allow. 

But with the 2.0, you can store 50 fences right on the app and use them without any hassle in the areas you originally set them up. 

This upgrade eliminates the hassle of deleting old fences just to create new ones, giving you far more flexibility. You can simply have a fence ready wherever you go, whether it is the park or the neighbor’s house, all you have to do is open the app and select the fence.

If you’re comparing multiple options before deciding, the Petsafe Wireless Fence Review offers another reliable solution that’s simple to set up and ideal for pet owners who want portability without sacrificing performance.

Now Suitable for Smaller Dogs

You no longer have to punch extra holes in the strap and cut and fiddle with it for a perfect fit. 

Smaller and Lighter Collar Design

This is one of, if not the biggest upgrades of the PetSafe Guardian 2.0. This is a perfectly sized collar now, not too big, or not too small, and looks good on any dog. 

Most GPS collars, even if they fit smaller dogs, when you actually put it on them, it feels like they’re wearing a tactical vest, but not this one. 

It’s not just about looks, the smaller size means a snugger, more secure fit that doesn’t slide around like those clunky, oversized collars do. 

Dual-Frequency GPS for Greater Accuracy

The introduction of Dual-Frequency GPS makes the collar much more accurate now. 

While I’m not so sure what all that means, from my experience, the performance has gotten much better compared to the old one. 

I noticed the difference during my very first impressions with the collar. Areas where the original struggled, the 2.0 has no problems now. 

The original Guardian had no issues as long as the weather conditions and the area you were in did not have dense tree, and a lot of buildings.

So there’s definitely an improvement to the performance, the device is more consistent and reliable from what I’ve seen throughout my time with it. 

Improved Minimum Yard Size Compatibility

Now, this is a slightly minor upgrade. 

That said, this makes the Guardian 2.0 much more appealing to dog owners in suburban areas. Instead of requiring a minimum ¾ acre property, now you can set up the fences in properties as small ½ acre.

If you’ve been thinking of trying out an invisible fence for your dog but worried your yard might be too small, the 2.0 changes that. 

It also means that now, you can take it to more places, like vacation homes or family properties, that may not have as much open space.

Key Features of the Guardian® GPS 2.0

There are quite a few highlight features of the Guardian, all there for your peace of mind and to improve the safety of your dog.

Customizable Virtual Fences

Guardian 2.0’s fence customization, similar to the original, is top-notch, you are provided full authority to set up the fence the way you need it. 

As discussed already, you are now able to create fences in properties as small as ½ acre. 

The largest fence size you can create is not disclosed, but I drew a fence of up to 6 acres in my uncle’s farm and there were no issues. My guess is, you would be able to go more than that. 

Setting up a fence is an easy process, and is done through the PetSafe App. 

You can create boundaries in two ways, one is by drawing them on the app and the other option is carrying the collar along with the phone and walking the boundary, the app will do its job. 

When it comes to convenience, drawing the fences on the app is excellent, especially if you have a large yard, you can get it done within seconds. 

50 is the maximum number of fences you can store, each one can be of any shape and size you need, no limitations.

Considering everything, the fencing capability of the Guardian is exactly what you can expect from a brand like PetSafe. The original did not disappoint, and the same can be said for the 2.0.  

Location Tracking

This is one of the areas a clear improvement over the original Guardian is noticeable, all thanks to the Dual-frequency GPS. 

Location tracking in the Guardian 2.0 is much better, interruption from Trees, Buildings, Bad Weather are all very minimal, in most cases non-existent, not just that, it was a second or two faster and more accurate. 

Does not seem like a huge upgrade, but still, better than nothing. 

I should’ve mentioned this earlier, but anyway, whenever your dog goes past the boundaries, you will be notified instantly, via the app. This allows you to take quick action and get your dog back to the safe zone. 

There’s not much to report when it comes to location tracking, the Guardian 2.0 simply does what it’s supposed to without any issues. 

Customizable Feedback

Nothing has changed when it comes to corrections, Guardian 2.0 comes with the same set of corrections as the original, Tone, Vibration and Static Stimulation. 

The corrections are all customizable, you can pick what you want to stop your dog from escaping the boundary. Static correction also comes with 10 intensity levels, allowing you to go with what fits your dog without going all in. 

Corrections are managed through the app, and you can change them the way you want.

From my experience with both the Guardians, I’ve always gone with vibration, it has been more than enough to get my dog’s attention. 

But as always, training your dog is very important, you should not expect the collar to work without any sort of training prior to using it. 

Best In Class Battery Life

Battery life is one of the best in any GPS dog collars. 

On paper, you’re looking at a max 70 hours of runtime on a single charge. I typically let my dog wear the collar for no more than 8 hours a day. With that usage pattern, the collar lasted a full 8 days and still had about 16% battery left — much better than I expected.

That said, this was purely for testing purposes. In practice, I always make sure to fully charge the collar every two days. That way, in case my dog ever escapes the fence, I can be confident there’s enough battery to track them.

So yeah, I’d say the PetSafe Guardian 2.0 has one of the best — if not the best — battery life of any invisible fence collar.

Durable Collar

Guardian 2.0 is small, but that does not mean it’s compromised when it comes to build quality. It’s well-built and sturdy, and overall, can handle a lot of abuse your dog throws at it. 

The collar is waterproof rated as well, so there’s nothing to worry when the dog’s takes a dip in the pool with the collar on. 

You don’t have to worry about the build quality due to the collar being small, it’s still better than most other invisible fences priced close to it. 

About My PetSafe App

As you may have noticed, the My PetSafe App is more like the brains of the collar. You cannot use the device without the app installed. 

Setting up boundaries, adjusting the correction, intensity levels, updates on the dog’s location, almost all the functions are tied to the app. 

The app for both Android and iOS devices. 

Guardian® GPS 2.0 Price and Subscription Plan

Guardian 2.0 is the best GPS dog fence in its price bracket. It comes in at 399.95 and what you get for that is unmatched. 

Just think about putting up a physical fence for that money, forget it. 

Subscription Plan

What are Others Saying About the Guardian® GPS 2.0?

The reviews for the Guardian 2.0 on Amazon are positive, with most of them appreciating its fencing capabilities. I’ll attach the screenshot of some of the reviews below:

*Kathy praises the Guardian GPS for its easy setup and peace of mind, upgrading after 13 years with PetSafe to gain tracking for their young Golden Retriever’s safety.

*The reviewer found the fence setup very easy and praised its accuracy, noting their dog loves the added freedom it provides.

*Shae calls the PetSafe GPS collar unbeatable for real-time tracking and safety. Setup was easy, customization was simple, and their dog responded instantly to just the beeping sound.

If you’d like to check out more reviews, visit their review page where they have a 4.4 rating. Click to check it out.

Pros and Cons of the Guardian® GPS 2.0 Dog Collar

Should You Buy the Guardian® GPS 2.0?

You can go for it without any issues. The 45-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of peace of mind, and PetSafe’s customer service has always been excellent—so there’s really nothing to worry about. 

For the price, you’re not going to find a better GPS fence in the market. Here’s a list of GPS dog fence alternatives worth exploring.

FAQs

Final Verdict

Not the biggest upgrade from the original, in fact, I’d say it’s more of a refinement. They’ve taken the solid foundation of the first Guardian and polished every weak spot: better fit, more accuracy, smoother app experience, and broader usability. It’s not a total redesign, and it doesn’t need to be. What you get is a smarter, more reliable version of an already excellent product, one that just works better in the real world.

Whether you’ve got a small dog, a smaller yard, or travel often, the Guardian 2.0 quietly solves the limitations that used to be dealbreakers so get the Guardian® GPS 2.0 and experience the difference.