PetSafe Stay + Play Wireless Dog Fence
Pros
- Rechargeable collar
- Improved boundary responsiveness
- Smallest wireless collar
- Transmitters can be overlapped
Cons
- Circular only boundaries
- Long retreat response
- Limited boundary radius
Rating
Retail Price
399.95
Our Price
299.95
Availability: In Stock
Orders before 1pm ship same day
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Summary: Basic Wireless System
The Petsafe Stay + Play is the update on the decade old PetSafe Wireless PIF-300. It features significant improvements to the range and accuracy of the system, as well as adding rechargeable collars.
The Stay + Play creates a circular wireless boundary around your property without the need for any buried wire. While more convenient, the tradeoff is less accurate boundaries and less flexibility than wired systems.
The PetSafe Stay + Play is a decent wireless system, but is ultimately overshadowed by the Havahart Radial 2 which has more features and better performance at the same price point.
Improved But Not the Best
The PetSafe Stay + Play improves the boundary accuracy over it’s predecessor the PetSafe Wireless, with boundary wobble around 30% less. But, it still lags far behind the benchmarks set by the Havahart Radial 2.
Rechargeable Collar
The Stay + Play adds a fully rechargeable lithium ion battery to the system. It gives around two weeks of battery life from a single 2 hours charge.
Smallest Wireless Collar
The PetSafe Stay + Play has the smallest and lightest wireless fence collar. It is still by no means small, but is significantly smaller than it’s competitors and can be used with dogs as small as 12 lbs.
Unlimited Number of Dogs
The PetSafe wireless systems can support an unlimited number of collars on the system. In contrast, the competing system can only support two dogs on the system at the same time.
Collar
The PetSafe Stay + Play’s best feature is it’s smaller, lighter, and rechargeable collar.
Smaller Collar
The PetSafe Stay + Play Collar is significantly smaller than the collars on competing wireless systems. The collar receiver weighs only 2 ounces, and the collar plus the full length of collar band weight just over 3 ounces, a 20% reduction on it’s next nearest competitor the Havahart Radial 2 Small Dog.
While the Stay + Play is still not as small as the smallest wired collars such as the PetSafe Little Dog, it can be used with dogs as small as 12 lbs.
Rechargeable Battery
The Stay + Play uses a rechargeable lithium ion collar battery. The battery is charged by plugging the supplied adapter into the collar for around 2 hours. A full charge lasts around 2 weeks. And as the collar battery level gets low, the collar signals you to recharge it with a flashing red light.
The battery is integrated into the collar so cannot be remove unlike the Havahart and Perimeter systems, which means that the collar needs to be returned to the factory if it ever needs replacing. However, we general find these lithium ion batteries to have a long lifespan that usually extends beyond that of the fence.
This represents a major upgrade over it’s predecessor the PetSafe Wireless PIF-300, which used a disposable proprietary battery.
Five Correction Levels
The collars have five correction levels that are set using a button on the collar. The correction levels can be set individually for each dog and provide a sufficient range of correction that they can be used on most dogs.
Middle Performer
The Stay + Play Collars performs in the middle of the wireless pack. They are a lot better than the Perimeter Technologies Wifi system and the old PetSafe Wireless, but is markedly inferior to the Havahart Radial and Havahart Custom systems.
In the primary test of boundary integrity, we measure how much the boundary moves minute-to-minute on the wireless systems. The Stay + Play performs around the middle of the pack with an average boundary movement of over 3 feet. This amount of boundary movement is at the upper end of acceptable, but makes training your dogs more challenging than with a more accurate system like the Havaharts.
(a smaller number is better)
As well as the middling performance in the boundary wobble test, we found that the Stay + Play was one of the slower systems in stopping correcting the dogs once they returned to the safe area (retreat response).
Long and Short Prongs
The systems includes both long and short prong options for long and short hair dogs respectively. The collar prongs can be simply unscrewed from the collar receiver and the new prongs can be screwed into place.
Cloth Strap
The receiver fastens with a cloth collar strap and a quick-snap buckle. This is our preferred collar band combination. The collar band can also be easily removed for replacement with your own collar band.
Transmitter
PetSafe has put their transmitter on a diet for the Stay + Play, shrinking the transmitter by about half to the size of a half-gallon tub of ice cream.
0.75 Acre Coverage
The boundary radius of the Stay + Play Wireless transmitter can be adjusted up to a maximum of 105 feet, providing a coverage area of 0.75 acres. The boundary radius is adjusted using a dial on the side of the transmitter.
This is one of the smaller coverage areas of a wireless fence. It is significantly less than the 2.8 acre coverage available from it’s direct competitor the Havahart Radial 2. However, 0.75 acres is still sufficient to cover most suburban lots.
Circular Boundaries
Like all other conventional wireless systems, the Petsafe Stay + Play transmitter can only create a circular boundary. (The exception is the $800 Havahart Wireless Custom, which allows you a completely custom shaped boundary, but has some basic functionality issues.) Circular containment areas are a problem in a world where land is usually sold in rectangular parcels!
You can partly mitigate this issue by overlapping transmitters as discussed below.
Overlapping Transmitters
Multiple Stay + Play transmitters can be combined and overlapped to create a larger coverage area. You can for example overlap two transmitters to create a boundary area that is more rectangular as seen on the illustration on the left.
Note, the manufacturers specification claim a maximum radius of 400 yards. In our testing, we found this was unrealistic and lead to very unstable boundaries and poor reliability. We would avoid setting the boundary at more than 200 yards in real-world conditions.
Wire Free Installation
The PetSafe Stay + Play can be installed within 15 minutes. Simply plug in the transmitter, adjust the boundary radius dial, plant the boundary marking flags, and you are ready to start training your dog. This ease of installation is the primary appeal for a wireless fence over it’s wired counterparts.
The ease of installation also allows wireless systems to be used in temporary locations such as rental homes, vacation homes, trailers, or at a friend’s house, where running a wire boundary would be impractical.
Obstacles
Wireless systems have maintaining good reception when there are large obstacles in the containment area. Obstacles such as wooded areas, large metal objects (metal roof, sheet metal, etc), and downhill slopes (sloping down as you head away from the house) all tend to create problems.
In trying to determine if a wireless fence would work in your home, a good rule of thumb is that if an obstacle (excluding the house walls) would block your line of sight to the dog, it would probably block the system signal.
Accessories
The Stay + Play includes a collar charger, 50 boundary flags, a tester tool, and a collar prong tool.
Collar Charger
The collar charger plugs into your power outlet and into the wireless collar to recharge the unit. A full charge takes around 2 hours and generally last for around 2 weeks (a little less during the training period when the collar gets a more vigorous workout).
Collar Tester Tool
The collar tester is held against the collar probes, and lights up when the correction is trigger at the collar. This helps you test that the collar is working properly. It is also helpful as you are trying to mark the boundary location.
Collar Prong Tool
The collar prong tool fits around the collar prongs and allows you to easily loosen and tighten the collar prongs. The inclusion of this tool is a nice touch that avoids you needing to find a pair of pliers to remove and replace the collar prongs.
50 Boundary Flags
The system includes 50 flags for marking the system boundary to give your dog visual cues as they learn the boundary. These flags are removed once your dog develops confidence using the system.
The 50 flags are only enough to mark around 0.2 acres, although additional flags are cheaply available ($10 per 50).
| Boundary Radius (feet) | Area (acres) | Flags Required |
| 50 | 0.2 | 50 |
| 75 | 0.4 | 75 |
| 100 | 0.7 | 100 |
One Year + Limited Lifetime Warranty
The Petsafe Stay + Play has a one year comprehensive warranty. After that time you get a limited lifetime warranty, which really means you get a discounted repair for the rest of the life of the system. The average repair usually costs $30 – $50 depending on the part that breaks.
Conclusion
The PetSafe Stay + Play Wireless system is a significant improvement on the previous PetSafe Wireless PIF-300 system. Capacity is upgraded, boundary integrity improved, and the collars made rechargeable. But the improvement does not go far enough and leave the system significantly lagging the Havahart Radial in terms of performance and features.
Most notably, the Stay + Play boundary moves around more than twice as much as the Havahrt, making training harder and making the dog more skittish around the boundary. The system is also too slow in switching off the correction when the dog returns to the safe zone. The system also lacks the boundary alarm, and 2.8 acre capacity that are standard on the Havahart.
The Stay + Play does shine in a few areas. You can overlap transmitter, to make a more customized layout. The collars are around 20% smaller than the Havahart Small Dog allowing you to use the system with dogs as small as 12 lbs. But, if you don’t need either of those things, the Havahart is a much better system at the same price.
Specifications
| Model | Petsafe Stay + Play |
| Type | Wireless |
| Collar Battery | Rechargeable (Lithium Ion) |
| Correction Levels | 5 Levels |
| Beep Only Training Mode | Yes |
| Collar Warning beep | Yes |
| Collar Vibration | No |
| Independent Correction Levels | Yes |
| Collar Dimensions | 1.4” (L) x 2.4” (W) x 1.3″ (D) |
| Collar Weight (with band) | 3.1 ounces |
| Collar Weight (without band) | 2.0 ounces |
| Collar Neck Size | 6″ – 23″ |
| Collar Water Resistance | Waterproof |
| Collar Fit Test | No |
| Maximum Number of Dogs | Unlimited |
| Minimum Dog Size | 12 lbs |
| Minimum Age | 6 months |
| Maximum Containment Area | 0.75 acres |
| Boundary Radius | 40 – 105 feet (adjustable) |
| Control Box Dimensions | 6.3 (L) x 6.9″ (W) x 6″ (D) |
| Control Box Power Source | Wall Outlet (110V) |
| Control Box Battery Backup | No |
| Indoor Pod Compatibility | No |
| Outdoor Pod Compatibility | No |
| Included Boundary Flags | 50 |
| Training Materials | Manual |
| Other | Collar tester tool, collar prong tool |
| Package Dimensions | 18″ (L) x 8″ (W) x 12″ (D) |
| Package Weight | 9 lbs |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime |
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Containment Guarantee
Your dog will be completely contained to your satisfaction within 30 days, or we will give you a full refund. That is a better deal than you would get from a $2,000 invisible fence. You have nothing to lose.
FREE Dog Fence Guide
The PetSafe Stay + Play come with a FREE copy of our Dog Fence Experts Book on installing a dog fence and training your dog (instantly downloadable in PDF form). The book has 90 pages of great information and tons of illustrations to make installation easy, and training effective. It will save you hours and get you complete containment faster.
You get the book immediately with your purchase. Your order confirmation email will include an instantly downloadable copy of our book. Value $24.95.
30 Day Easy Refunds
If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason you can return your system within 30 days for a full refund of your purchase price. Getting a refund is easy, just email us at returns@dogfencediy.com or call on (888) 936 – 4349.
Our returns are easy and hassle free:
- It is no problem if you used the system, that was the point! We will still take it back even if there is some wear-and-tear
- Did you use the system and get it a little scuffed. No problem.
- The 30 day period starts from the time you receive the package so you have plenty of time to do the installation and training. If you need a little extra time, let us know.
- The only time we don’t take returns is if it is well after the 30 days, or the unit is seriously damaged.
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12,000 Happy Customers
We had more than 10,000 happy customers last year, and are hoping to have even more in 2012. We understand how important it is to keep your dog safely contained, and understand the trust you place in us when you make an order. We want to make containment as easy as possible. We value your business, and we want you to refer your friends.
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We strive to have the lowest prices of any PetSafe authorized retailer. If you find any of our products at a lower price from an authorized retailer, please let us know and we will be happy to match the price. For a price match, call us on (888) 936 – 4349 or email pricematch@dogfencediy.com.
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We are a PetSafe authorized retailer. This means you are guaranteed the full manufacturer’s warranty, and a brand new system. Beware of unauthorized retailers that sell grey-market systems. Systems coming from unauthorized retailers do not receive a warranty.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, I have two dogs. One cocker-spaniel mix is 30lbs and my puppy is 7 months and 12lbs. Am I able to get a wireless system that will be appropriate for both sizes?
ADMIN – Hi Dawn,
The pup is a little smaller than I would like to see for a wireless system (usually 15 lbs is my cut-off). But, since he is only 7 months old, I am confident that he is going to grown into it. Of the wireless systems, the PetSafe Stay + Play has the smallest collar and would be your best bet.
Will any wireless systems work with a house that has aluminum siding, the roof is regular shingles?
ADMIN – Hi Sara,
Afraid the aluminum siding is going to be a problem with any of the wireless systems.
I live in a cement house. Will the PetSafe stay & play transmitter work through cement block?
ADMIN – Hi Marty,
The PetSafe Stay + Play (and the other wireless systems) can usually get through cement block, and cinder block walls without problems.
I have the petsafe play and stay collar with the old wireless system. My collar has stopped holding a charge completely. Is this something that is common? I have only had this collar 9 months! Do I have to replace the whole collar, or is there a battery I can buy?
ADMIN – Hi Jessica, your collar is covered under the manufactures limited lifetime warranty. You qualify for a replacement for sure. Make sure to contact PetSafe directly.
Hi! My 4-yr old 70 lb. English Pointer responded really well to the wired system at our home but we are now looking for a wireless system to use when we travel to Grammy’s house and more regularly for use at a lake-side cabin. The cabin is a small one-story building (about 750 square feet) with a metal roof on 1/3 acres. Does the metal roof make the Pet Safe Play and Stay wireless NOT an option? The building was formerly a boat house so, it is literally over and on the water so we like that this Pet Safe system is waterproof. My English Pointer does not like the water, but if he does go in the water is it truly waterproof? Will the metal supports of the dock also be an issue? Thank you!
ADMIN – Hi Lori, unfortunately, the metal roof will block the signal and prevent any wireless fence from operating properly.
We are looking for a wireless fence for our 4 month old springer spaniel. We live in a rural area and have a large area in the back of the house with as a large front yard. We do have a small shed with a metal roof? The property is bordered on all sides by woods. We are looking to prevent her from going into the woods too far as well as running into the road. Will the wooded area or the metal roof be an issue with this model? Cindy
ADMIN – Hi Cindy,
A small shed roof, away from the transmitter is unlikely to cause any problems. The wireless signals will find their way around the obstruction.
Any word on the rechargeable collars loosing charging ability within 3-6 months? I’ve read some reviews on other websites where the collars won’t hold a charge and beep after a few hours.
Admin- Hi Megan,
In our experience with the PetSafe Stay + Play, the rechargeable batteries lasts around 2-3 weeks between charges. We have not had a notable problem with any of the rechargeable batteries dying after a few months. The rechargeable lithium ion battery typically last several years.
We are wanting a wireless fence for a Yorkie. I just can not face the look of a wired fence when we live on a golf course. The dog is actually my daughters and may move with her in the next year or two and I would like something more portable than an in-ground fence. I realize that the PetSafe Stay and Play system is not your favorite of the two you offer but I like the idea of a rechargeable collar. Do I need to buy a small dog collar separately for the only dog we own? Or can I purchase the PetSafe Stay and Play system with a small dog collar that is a wireless system?
Admin- Hi Gayanne,
The collar for the PetSafe Wireless system is going to be to big for a Yorkie. The PetSafe wireless collars fit uncomfortably on dogs under 20lbs. Also, the correction level is set too high for a Yorkie. Unfortunately the best system for a small dog will be the PetSafe Little Dog, which is a wired system. It is the only collar which fits nicely on smaller dogs and has appropriate correction levels.
I would like to purchase the wireless system, however, I have not been able to find information on the smallest radius this system has. We have a small front yard but a larger back yard (lot is 60X126). Could the radius be adjusted to 40 ft?
ADMIN – Hi Deb,
You can make the radius as small as you want, 40 feet would be fine. However, not that when you make the radius that small, the dog only gets about a 30 foot safe zone they will feel comfortable using.
If one has already purchased a Stay & Play and has encountered all the situations you have mentioned is the best solution to purchase the older model PIF-300 or to start from scratch with a Havahart wireless?
ADMIN – Hi Nancy,
I would switch to a Havahart radial, or even better a wired system. The wireless systems all have similar limitations, the wired systems are for now the preferable way to go.
What if I bought the Pet Safe Wireless model and a new rechargeable collar separately?
Would that work? Thanks, Veronica
Admin- Hi Veronica,
Absolutely, the PetSafe Stay & Collars are backwards compatible with the older PetSafe wireless PIF-300.