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Keep an Eye on Your Dog’s Location With the Best GPS Dog Tracker

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By Jarett Gilpin
Last updated: 24 Oct 2024

One of the best ways to care for your pet is to monitor their health and wellness so you can ensure they remain active and healthy. Pet trackers are highly efficient and provide you with feedback on how many miles your dog walks or the number of calories they burn in a day. You can set specific goals to ensure your dog or cat continues to thrive as they grow and develop by meeting their daily activity goals. Finding the right GPS tracker for your pet is essential to ensure you can keep a close eye on your animal at any age, whether they're young or a senior. Also, a reliable dog GPS tracker is great for ensuring that your pet is safe and easily located, giving pet parents peace of mind. To help you make a good choice, here are our top picks for the best GPS dog tracker options in 2024 to consider, thanks to their reliability and ease of operation.

Show contents
Our Favorite GPS Dog Trackers of 2024 in Detail
  • 1 Whistle GPS Dog Tracker
  • 2 Tractive GPS Dog Tracker
  • 3 PetFon GPS Dog Tracker
  • 4 CAT TAILER GPS Dog Tracker

Buyer's Guide: Considering the Greatest GPS Dog Trackers

Pet trackers can be beneficial not only for tracking your pet’s location, but also for monitoring your pet’s overall activity and health. There is a wide range of trackers available in the market, each offering a unique set of features that make it easier for you to check up on your pet. While some GPS trackers only offer basic tracking capabilities, others are available with plenty of extra features (like heart rate tracking) that offer more utility for pet owners. A dog owner doesn’t always have to consider entirely new GPS dog collars, as these small tracking devices can usually attach to existing dog collars. The type of GPS pet tracker you should get depends on your unique requirements, but there are some considerations you must make before making a final buying decision. Here’s how you can find the best GPS dog trackers for your consideration.

What Is a Pet Tracker?

A pet tracker is a GPS tracker that you can put on your pet’s collar. We all know that pets can wander off and go missing when we least expect it. That’s why this invention is pretty handy if you are a pet owner, especially if you spend time in rural areas. They can help dog walkers rest assured that their pup is safe while off leash. Also, some trackers include many other features, and these can allow you to measure your pet’s activity level so you can adjust their diet accordingly to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

Why Do You Need a GPS Tracker?

If you don’t want to lose your pets, and go through the hassle of printing missing signs and posting on social media just to find them, you can prevent all the fuss by using a tracking device. Apart from finding your pet, there are plenty of other reasons why you should get a GPS pet tracker.

For finding your pet

The first use of this type of tracker is for tracking your pet, of course. You don’t want your little furry friends to get lost when they get distracted and wander off into the unknown. If you live near the woods or open fields and your dog loves to wander off and run far, it is ideal to use a GPS dog tracker so you can always find them. Active pets also have a lot of energy and usually run off to nowhere, which makes it more ideal to have a tracker on them at all times. The same goes for untrained pups and kittens who cannot find their way home yet.

It can be very tough to locate your pet if they run away from you, and you can’t rely on their sense of direction to find their way back to you. To ensure you always know the location of your pet, a tracking device is essential. To see a GPS dog tracker in action and witness its accuracy, take a look at this video from McCann Dog Training:

 

For hunting

If you like to go hunting occasionally, you can use a tracker for your hunting dog, especially if they run fast.

For pets with health issues

If you have a pet with serious health issues, it is also ideal to get a tracker, so you know their location at all times.

For swimming

Dogs usually love to paddle and swim, just like humans. If you go to the beach with your dog, make sure you get them a 100% waterproof GPS dog tracker. If the current gets too strong, it is better if you can track your canine companion.

For monitoring your pet’s health

A tracker with fitness tracking features can report the activity levels your pet has accumulated in a day, and some advanced versions also report the number of calories burned and the distance traveled by your pet. By monitoring your pet’s activity levels, you can modify their diet to ensure they remain within the ideal weight class. This way, you can prevent them from becoming overweight and ensure they live a long and healthy life.

For keeping your pet within a designated space

Many GPS trackers come with a geofencing feature that allows you to set a virtual boundary for your pet, usually your house. If your pet goes outside this pre-designated zone, the connected app will provide an instant notification on your phone to alert you that your pet has gone outside the designated area. This way, you can take prompt action and bring your pet back inside. This can definitely come in handy in rural areas.

Things To Consider Before Buying a Tracker for Your Pet

Size

Trackers for pets are relatively small, but it is still best to get the right size for your purpose. For small dogs or cats, it is best to get a lighter and smaller one so that it won’t bother them when they are running. Many options will easily attach to an existing cat or dog collar, making them extremely convenient.

Features

These GPS trackers are not just for tracking your pet’s location. Some options come with cool additional features, such as health trackers, lights, sounds, and waterproof features. Some options can send notifications directly to your email address or phone when your pet leaves the safe zone you created, which is an excellent feature if you are very protective of your furry friends.

Some options also come with features that allow you to add more contacts if your pet has gone missing. When choosing the right tracker, make sure you get one with the features that you know can help locate your pet in case they become lost.

Quality

Considering different features may be necessary, but the quality you choose is also very important. You don’t want a tracker that will break upon the slightest impact. Make sure you invest in an option that will last longer than cheap ones.

Battery life

Some options come with excellent battery life, so you don’t need to charge them frequently. If you get a rechargeable tracker, make sure it can notify you when the battery is almost dead.

Services

Some options offer subscription services, which are more reliable when it comes to GPS tracking. You can get a subscription for a small price each month, charged for using the satellite service.

Ease of use

If you are not the tech-savvy type, make sure you get a GPS dog tracker that is easy to use. Some options are more straightforward than others, so make sure you choose something that does not require a lengthy setup process.

Our Favorite GPS Dog Trackers of 2024 in Detail

1

Whistle GPS Dog Tracker

– Best Overall
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Buy on Amazon
THE SCOOP

This GPS tracker sends you proactive pet alerts and notifies you via the app, email, or text message. It includes real-time location tracking and features health monitoring. It can turn any old dog collar into a GPS dog collar. You will require a subscription plan to use the tracking services. It comes at a cheap price of only $9.95/month, with yearly and 2-year options available as well. The tracker provides real-time location updates of your pet, even if they are thousands of miles away. It can work with AT&T’s cellular network and Google Maps. You can also specify a designated area for your pet, and get notified when your pet moves outside of it to take prompt action and bring them back. 

Pros
  • Features a long-lasting battery life, providing 10 days of backup on a single charge
  • Provides information on health and pet behavior, including scratching and licking
  • The sleek design makes it look modern and stylish when you’re on the go
Cons
  • May be too bulky to attach to certain collars
2

Tractive GPS Dog Tracker

– Most Neutral Color
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Buy on Amazon
THE SCOOP

This pet tracker features live tracking and location history with a virtual fence to designate a safe area when fastened to a dog collar. Pet parents can pinpoint the exact location of their pet at any time, and receive real-time prompts whenever they leave the designated safe zone. The GPS tracker does a wonderful job of monitoring your pet’s activity levels, allowing you to make necessary diet changes to suit their lifestyle. With cheap subscription plan options that start at only $4.99 per month, you can keep track of your pet across the globe through location tracking with just a push of a button. It connects to several different cellular networks.

Pros
  • Completely waterproof construction holds well, even if your pet enters a body of water
  • This unit may be smaller than other brands and easily mounts with rubber on the collar
  • Light weight makes it less bulky and comfortable for the pet
Cons
  • The battery life may only last an average of 3 days before you have to recharge it
3

PetFon GPS Dog Tracker

– Best Tracker with Nightlight
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Buy on Amazon
THE SCOOP

With real-time location tracking, this tracker offers long-distance wireless technologies for accurate positioning, without requiring a dog owner to pay any monthly fee. The item is small, durable, and waterproof for indoor or outdoor use. It can transform a regular dog collar into the high-tech convenience of a GPS dog collar. It comes with its own smartphone app that is easy to use and seamlessly connects to the tracker. The range of its connection is limited to around 0.65 miles if operating in a dense area and up to 3.5 miles if operating in an open space, which is suitable for most pet owners. The GPS tracker allows you to create a virtual fence and provides prompt notifications on the connected app whenever your pet goes outside this geofence. 

Pros
  • Only takes five minutes to set up by downloading the app and connecting to Bluetooth before you begin using it
  • The tracker comes with a bright light, making it easy to spot your dog or cat when you use it at night
  • Sleek and stylish look with a futuristic design 
Cons
  • Does not provide accurate tracking outside the designated house zone, and requires adjustment if going out on a walk
4

CAT TAILER GPS Dog Tracker

– Most Compact
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Buy on Amazon
THE SCOOP

This tracker ranges up to 328-feet under line-of-sight conditions and is ideal for indoor or limited outdoor use. The device is easy to update through the app and is small and compact, making it easy to mount on your pet’s collar. The location tracking utilizes Bluetooth technology to provide the estimated distance of your pet from your location, although finding the exact location might not be possible on the screen. It features a notification setting that you can trigger to receive prompt notifications on your connected device as soon as your pet is nearby.

Pros
  • The app is straightforward and easy to use after spending a few minutes setting it up
  • The green blinking light makes it easy to find your pet in dark hiding spots, like under a couch or in a closet
  • The lightweight construction of the unit prevents it from feeling uncomfortable for pets of all sizes
Cons
  • Some dog owners may not care for the cat graphics on the front of the tag

People Also Asked

Q: How do pet trackers work?

A: Pet trackers are GPS devices you can place on your pets, allowing you to track their locations through your smartphone at all times. They utilize satellite services or a Bluetooth/WiFi connection, depending on the variant you've purchased. This you to see their location over long distances.

Q: Can you use pet trackers for other purposes?

A: Yes, GPS trackers for pets often feature activity tracking that allows you to easily monitor your pet's daily activity levels. This can be a great health tool for your pet, allowing you to modify their food intake accordingly to ensure proper weight management. 

Q: Do I need a subscription service to use a dog tracker?

A: While some pet trackers can run on WiFi and Bluetooth connections, more long-range trackers require you to get a monthly subscription for GPS tracking to work. This fee is usually capped at around $9.99 per month (although you can find cheaper options, too). The tracker uses satellite-based GPS tracking to provide accurate tracking for your pet. This offers superior utility to you compared to simple trackers as you get your money's worth. 

Q: Are all pet trackers waterproof?

A: Most are, but some are not. Be sure to double check this feature and how far it can go before buying – water resistant and waterproof usually mean different things.

Q: What is the average range in which a dog tracker will work?

A: The range varies and heavily depends on the specific tracker you choose. Some claim to be able to track your dog from thousands of miles away, while others are limited to a few hundred feet or a couple miles. 

Contributors

author-image
Jarett Gilpin
Notre Dame Police Detection Dog Handler
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