The Best GPS Tracker for Dogs & Puppies
Find the Perfect Dog GPS Tracker for Your Pup
A GPS tracker could be one of the most useful devices you could purchase for your pet. These devices help you track your dog’s location and may even track their activity like a FitBit.
Our team has researched and reviewed the best dog GPS trackers on the market to make your search for this great tool even easier. Keep reading to learn more!
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Best GPS Tracker for Dogs
Best GPS Tracker for Dogs
Our top picks by your dog’s needs
The Scoop
Pros and cons
Whistle
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Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker & Activity Monitor
The Scoop
Whistle 3 is a GPS location and activity tracker intended for cats and dogs. It utilizes GPS and cellular technology via the AT&T network.
Pros and cons
This device essentially serves as a sort of cell phone for pets, so it does require a subscription to a cellular network. You get an alert via text or email or through the Whistle 3 app every time pets leave a safe place. These safe places are designated via a Wi-Fi network. Whistle 3 also enables you to track your pet’s location over the previous 24 hours. Even daily activity and rest periods can be monitored, helping you keep your dog in good physical condition. We generally like the accuracy of the Whistle 3’s GPS tracking, although results can sometimes be delayed by a few minutes. Delays tend to be longer in areas where AT&T coverage isn't optimal. The app is pretty useful, with similar performance on iOS and Android platforms. Even those of us who purchased the Whistle 3 to monitor their pets find themselves getting a lot of use out of the physical activity tracking feature. Battery life is also pretty good, lasting about seven to 10 days between charges.
Tractive
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Lightweight and Waterproof Dog Tracking Device
The Scoop
The Tractive 3G is a GPS tracker that allows you to locate your dog from anywhere in real-time. This durable and waterproof device works via a paid service that you access with your smartphone.
Pros and cons
With the app, you have total access to your pet’s location history and can even monitor their physical activity. Tractive 3G has a LIVE Tracking feature that lets you see where your pet is at any given time. Your pet’s location is updated every couple of seconds and is displayed on a map that you can see via the app or on the Internet. Tractive 3G also lets you know when your pet leaves a designated area and where he has been. We like how accurate the Tractive 3G is, and appreciate how precisely the location of our pet can be pinpointed. There is some tradeoff to this accuracy with quite a team members having initial difficulties operating the system. The real-time monitoring does appeal to most of us, and the mobile app is a lot more useful than the apps on other similar systems. One important note is that the collar may come off too easily. Some pets could, in fact, remove it simply by rolling around.
Findster
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GPS Tracking Collar and Activity Monitor for Dogs
The Scoop
Findster Duo+ is a GPS pet tracking system that serves as a pet locator and fitness and activity tracker. Unlike other tracking systems, it doesn't entail any monthly fees.
Pros and cons
Findster Duo+ allows for real-time tracking via GPS. It utilizes a waterproof wearable device that works in almost any location, even in places where there is no cellphone service. You also get your own device, which can be used to monitor your dog wirelessly over a three-mile radius. With the app, you can designate safe areas for your dog and get alerts when they leave that space. Findster Duo+ also enables the tracking of more than one pet without any additional fees. The ease of use of the Findster Duo+ app is what many members of our team really appreciate. Apart from the accurate tracking, we also like the opportunity to be informed of how much exercise our pets are getting. The wearable device is convenient and lightweight and are very resistant to exposure to water and even mud. Battery life isn't as long as with other similar devices–about 10 hours per charge–although charging time is pretty fast.
DogGear Philosophy
A good GPS tracker can be a tremendous help for owners of active pets. Particularly for pets that have a tendency to wander off, GPS trackers can help prevent them from getting lost entirely. The best models even come with activity monitoring features that help you keep tabs on your pet’s exercise and physical activity.
Read on to find out how to pick the best GPS Tracker for your dog and to learn about the DogGear team’s favorite kinds.
- Fit
- Accurate Tracking
- Battery Life
- Web Application Interface
- Range and Signal Strength
- What To Do In Poor Reception Areas
How to Choose the Best Pet GPS Tracker for Your Dog
Lots of gadgets have been introduced in the 21st-century, such as GPS trackers for dogs. This is wearable technology, in the form of a collar, that lets you track your dog’s location, which is helpful if your dog runs off or gets lost. The family dog is not only a pet but a member of the family, and millions of dogs are lost or stolen every year. However, these trackers reduce the anxiety and fear of losing your beloved dog. The GPS technology, typically placed in your dog’s collar or attached to the collar, locates your pet’s position and sends the information to your smartphone via Android or iOS. Keep in mind that this technology is not the same as a microchip. A microchip is a small device embedded just under your dog’s skin and is a permanent electronic identification device. Dog tracker collars, on the other hand, can be removed daily if you wish.
When shopping for a GPS tracker, you need to consider the tracking range first and foremost. You need to be able to monitor the location of your pet within a reasonably large area. This is especially important for pets that consistently wander off.
A particularly helpful feature is one that enables you to designate a “safe zone” and alerts you whenever your pet strays out of that area. This will enable you to go after your pet quickly and retrieve him before he gets lost for good.
There are lots of these trackers on the market, but the best trackers are pet-specific, which means that they aren’t general trackers and are designed to fit onto a collar or are embedded within a collar. The best GPS trackers for dogs are also obtained from reputable manufacturers and not companies with no websites or contact information. When you work with a reputable manufacturer, if something goes wrong with the tracker, you know you can contact the manufacturer for help. Here are specific things to look for when researching a GPS tracker for dogs.
- Fit
Collar size considerations are important when it comes to a tracker for your dog. If the collar with the tracker attached or embedded is too big, it can be an uncomfortable option for your dog, causing neck or back pain for your pet. Also, if your dog is active and enjoys getting into bushes and digging under things, a loose-fitting tracker can get dislodged. Determine the size of your dog and then follow the manufacturers recommendations on what size collar/tracker you should purchase. For example, a tiny dog may do well with a collar that is no more than nine inches whereas a large dog may do well with a collar that is 25 inches.
- Accurate Tracking
How accurate is your dog tracker? If it fails to do what it is intended to do, it’s not a reliable device that you can count on. There will be a safe zone that you indicate with a tracker. If the dog leaves that zone, the app associated with your tracker should immediately notify you. Then, on the app’s map, you should be able to locate and follow your pet’s position with live tracking. A decent tracker app will have a decent refresh rate so that you remain in real time when trying to track your dog. Look for all of these features when researching a tracker.
- Battery Life
Decent tracking is great. However, a GPS tracker is associated with battery life. So the best trackers respect battery life while providing you the most updated information. What is the battery life like for the GPS Tracker for dogs? If the tracker runs out of battery frequently, you’ll soon find that the tracker isn’t of much use when you need it. Therefore, choose a tracker that last long between charges. For example, a tracker that last seven days between charges may be more beneficial than one that lasts three days between charges. Your goal is to work with a device that is there when you need it.
- Web Application Interface
The vast majority of GPS tracker for dogs use apps for iOS or Android. There are a few that provide a web application interface or the ability to track on your computer, but most don’t. Also, those that do offer a web application interface still require you to have a smartphone for some of the features. Therefore, if a web application interface is important to you, you’ll need to do your research to find a GPS tracker that provides one and what it entails.
- Range and Signal Strength
For a GPS tracker to be beneficial for you and your pet, you need to be able to rely on finding a signal because most trackers run off cellular signals. If you live in an area where finding a signal is not a problem, such as in the city, range and signal strength should not be an issue. However, many pet owners live in rural areas. Therefore, you want to find a tracker that uses multiple signals and that will work well in rural areas. A dog tracking manufacturer that provides both cellular signals and satellite signals works well for dog owners who live in rural areas.
- What To Do In Poor Reception Areas
A GPS dog tracker is a superior way to track your dog. However, if you live “out in the middle of nowhere” a GPS tracker may not be your best option due to poor reception. Your other option, in this case, is a radio frequency pet tracker which works like a wireless walkie-talkie. These devices do not give you the exact location of your dog like a GPS dog tracker does, instead, they let you know the direction of where your dog is headed. However, if cellular and satellite coverage is weak, a radio frequency pet tracker is an option and has a good battery life over a GPS tracker that has to be frequently recharged.
Follow these tips for finding the best GPS tracker for your dog. This technology eliminates the fear and anxiety associated with losing your dog and not being able to find it. Keep in mind that many GPS dog tracker apps require a monthly subscription fee. The best place to research these trackers is online, where you will find all of the information you need to determine the best tracker for your needs.
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