
We wish our pets to be secure and glad. However permitting your canine to discover your property and different off-leash areas unleashed can improve his danger of hurt. Balancing “secure” and “glad” will get simpler while you add a great GPS canine tracker to your pet’s collar!
GPS canine trackers have gotten more and more well-liked. However how efficient are they? And does your canine really want one? If that’s the case, that are one of the best GPS canine trackers to contemplate to your furry pal?
We’ve solutions for all these questions and extra! That can assist you sift by means of the choices, we examined six well-liked location monitoring units you need to use to your canines.
How Properly Do Canine GPS Trackers Work?
Most canine GPS and exercise trackers work by means of a mix of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile, and satellite tv for pc alerts. Some even work off radio frequencies. However even with all these sign choices, one of the best GPS canine trackers are nonetheless not good and won’t work in all situations.
The efficiency of a location tracker is primarily decided by sign high quality. Poor sign can result in delayed location updates or false location updates (which means it may point out your pet is someplace it’s not). Quite a lot of components can affect this:
- Cloud cowl
- Thick tree canopies
- Tall buildings
- Being inside a car or constructing
For instance, on this map, you may see a normal path of the place Hercules traveled. Throughout this journey, the Fi GPS monitoring app was not at all times in a position to get a sign for his exact location when he was within the woods. He adopted his nostril and wandered round much more than these straight strains point out. However it’s nonetheless extraordinarily useful to know the final space your canine is in in the event that they’re misplaced!
One other issue to contemplate is cellular phone reception. The mobile networks these units use are the identical ones your cellphone makes use of, such because the AT&T or Verizon LTE networks. Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter which provider you utilize to your cellphone. The monitoring units join to those networks immediately (e.g., Fi makes use of LTE-M through the AT&T community), and that’s what the subscription charges cowl.
What does matter is how effectively the tracker can entry its designated sign in your space? When you have a tool that works through the Verizon community, however you may’t get a great Verizon sign close to you, the tracker won’t work in addition to you’d hoped!
Do You Want A GPS & Exercise Tracker For Your Canine?
I used to be that pet proprietor who thought my canine would by no means get misplaced. Then final summer season, within the time it took me to enter our campervan, pour a cup of espresso, and are available again out, Hercules had disappeared. A nightmare for any canine proprietor! It took 5 individuals looking virtually three hours earlier than we discovered him.
That have fueled my curiosity in getting a GPS system. However a probably misplaced canine (and even canine theft) isn’t the one motive to get a location tracker. Listed here are 5 causes you may want a GPS pet tracker to your pup:
1. Security And Prevention
Not solely do these monitoring units assist you to discover your pet in the event that they get misplaced or wander too far, however in addition they assist you to stop that from taking place.
Many monitoring system apps allow you to arrange secure/unsafe zones. For instance, I get a notification from the Tractive GPS system when Cool Whip leaves our house/secure zone (inexperienced circle) or enters the alert zone I arrange across the highway (purple rectangle). That’s my cue to name her again nearer to the campervan earlier than she wanders right into a harmful space.
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2. Monitor Your Canine Walker Or Pet Sitter
Clearly, you belief this particular person in case you’ve employed them to take care of the one you love pet. However it’s nonetheless comforting to know when and the place they’re taking your canine for a stroll.
Most GPS canine tracker apps will present you precisely how lengthy and the place your canine was energetic. Some trackers additionally allow you to share your canine’s location with different canine walkers or members of the family. This fashion, they may also help discover your misplaced pup in case you’re not within the space.
3. You Hike With Your Canine
Sure, a pet GPS tracker may also help you discover your canine in the event that they get misplaced throughout a hike. However they’re additionally a good way to report your journey! You’ll be capable to see precisely the place you hiked, the space you hiked, and the way lengthy it took you.
With some canine tracker apps, you may even take footage alongside the way in which that save with the occasion. What an ideal reminiscence to look again on!
4. You Need To Log Your Canine’s Exercise Stage
Minutes energetic, distance traveled, time spent napping—all of those contribute to your canine’s general exercise stage. Many GPS and exercise trackers assist regulate your canine in case you’re not there to look at them 24/7.
You’ll know in the event that they’re working across the yard all day whilst you’re at work, or in the event that they take an eight-hour nap. This may also help you determine how a lot to feed or stroll them to keep up a wholesome weight. Plus, when extra about your canine’s every day habits, it could assist you to establish attainable diseases.
5. It Is Enjoyable!
A number of of the monitoring apps supply social options, corresponding to leaderboards exhibiting how your canine’s exercise stage ranks in opposition to different canines with the identical system. These rating classes usually embody all system customers, associates inside the app, your canine’s breed, and your state, metropolis, or native space. It would even result in new friendships!
What Is the Finest GPS Canine Tracker?
So, you perceive how GPS trackers work and also you just like the potential advantages of a monitoring system. However with a wide range of pet monitoring units in the marketplace, how do pet mother and father decide the fitting one for his or her furry companion?
We’ve you lined! These are six of one of the best monitoring units for canines. And we examined each to see how effectively they work in the actual world.
- Fi Sensible Collar
- Hyperlink My Pet
- LynQ Sensible Compass
- Tractive GPS
- Whistle Well being & GPS
- Apple AirTag
Cool Whip and Hercules every wore three units for a number of weeks in northern Minnesota. The panorama there’s a mixture of open fields and thick forests. We bought a really feel for a way every system would carry out in optimum sign places (open fields with a transparent view of the sky) and probably troublesome areas (forests with heavy tree canopies).
Learn on for a breakdown of the important particulars of every monitoring system plus a few of our favourite options.
“GoPetFriendly could earn fee or income on some gadgets by means of the hyperlinks beneath.“
Fi Sensible Collar — Examine Amazon Value + Subscription
The Fi good collar is the slimmest GPS tracker for canines and prices round $149, plus the subscription charge. The precise monitoring system sits in step with the collar (versus on high of it). It’s a smooth design that’s hardly noticeable as something greater than a daily collar.
The Fi canine tracker maps your canine’s location and their steps. Inside the app, you may set step objectives to your pup and see a breakdown of steps by day, week, and month.
In the event you activate the social characteristic, it’s also possible to see how your pet ranks in opposition to all different Fi customers in addition to by your canine’s breed, state, metropolis, and age group. You may even observe his associates and make new associates inside the app.
Attachment: This tracker requires a Fi-compatible canine collar. One collar (your alternative of shade) comes together with your monitoring system. You may buy extra collars by means of different makers listed on the Fi web site. This system is for pets that weigh 10 kilos or extra.
Subscription: The Fi good collar requires a subscription for full entry to its monitoring capabilities. You may arrange billing for one yr ($99), two years ($186), or three years ($248). The system works with out a subscription, however you can’t monitor your canine’s location in the event that they transcend the vary of your smartphone, base station, or Wi-Fi. Fi makes use of AT&T’s LTE-M mobile community.
What we love about Fi:
- Unbelievable battery life
- A really low-profile system; seems like a daily canine collar
- Social—it’s enjoyable monitoring steps with the group rankings
Hercules wore the Fi tracker, and I like that it was arduous to note there was a tool on him. The placement monitoring doesn’t replace as continuously as the opposite trackers, which preserves battery life. It labored nice within the fields however had hassle finding Hercules within the woods.
The app is the shining star although. The way in which Fi designed the step-ranking platform is so enjoyable—day by day I checked to see what number of locations Herc moved up or down in every of his classes.
Hyperlink My Pet — Examine Amazon Value + Subscription
Hyperlink is the choice for canine mother and father who need the whole lot bundled into one system. For round $135 plus subscription, it’s a GPS canine tracker, exercise monitor, coaching system, information keeper, and extra.
Hyperlink’s exercise monitoring contains minutes energetic, energy, steps, and miles. Your canine’s time spent energetic is categorized as working or strolling, so that you get an intensive image of their train. The coaching options embody tone and vibrate capabilities to assist reinforce optimistic habits.
Inside the app is a bit to add vet information in order that they’re at all times at-hand, set temperature alerts, create exercise objectives, and extra. You even have entry to Hyperlink Vet, a symptom checker that will help you decode your pet’s well being and habits.
Attachment: Hyperlink attaches to your canine’s current collar through an elastic strap or plastic clip. The Hyperlink system is white and black, however you may apply a wide range of wraps everytime you desire a new shade.
Subscription: Utilizing the Hyperlink canine tracker requires a subscription. You may arrange your billing cycle as one month ($12.99), one yr ($99), two years ($186), or three years ($248). Hyperlink makes use of Verizon’s mobile community.
What we love about Hyperlink My Pet:
- The choice to trace your adventures and embody footage
- Coaching controls (tone and vibrate)
- One-stop-shop GPS tracker, exercise monitor, and well being assist
I actually like what number of options include the Hyperlink app. And their customer support reps are extremely useful when you’ve got questions or simply need to discover ways to maximize your system. Additionally, you will get a Hyperlink Puck, which is sort of a Bluetooth beacon that helps strengthen the sign and protect battery life.
Hercules wore this tracker and it delivered the fewest false location updates. Numerous wins with Hyperlink. It’s the tracker that Myles from GoPetFriendly wears!
Lynq Sensible Compass — $409 (Two Gadgets)
The Lynq Sensible Compass is just a little totally different from the opposite trackers. It’s strictly a location monitoring system, with no exercise monitoring. So, your canine received’t put on the Sensible Compass until you’re on an journey.
And reasonably than speaking together with your cellphone utilizing a mobile community, you get two (or extra) units that pair with one another (like GPS walkie talkies). So in case you discover locations with little or no mobile sign, this can be a nice possibility!
Once you’re able to go on an off-leash hike or to let your canine roam your property, activate the Sensible Compasses. Then await the 2 models to connect with GPS and pair collectively. As soon as they’ve discovered one another and a satellite tv for pc, you may clip one to your canine’s collar and the opposite system stays with you.
On the display you’ll see your canine’s distance from you. Alongside the outer fringe of the display is a marker that signifies your canine’s path from you; and it will get bigger as you get nearer.
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Attachment: One finish of the Sensible Compass is a carabiner-style attachment. You may clip one system on to your canine’s collar, harness, or backpack. The opposite system can clip to your backpack, belt, and many others.
Subscription: The Lynq Sensible Compass doesn’t require a subscription.
What we love about Lynq:
- No mobile sign required
- No subscription charge
- Quite simple to make use of
- Helpful for a wide range of adventures with or with out pets
Whereas the Sensible Compass is the biggest system we examined, I like how straightforward it was to trace Cool Whip’s location. I additionally like that it’s not one thing it’s a must to depart in your canine’s collar 24/7. These units are at all times energetic and must be recharged each few days.
If you would like one thing easy and also you’re not serious about well being or exercise monitoring, undoubtedly think about a Sensible Compass.
Tractive GPS — Examine Amazon Value + Subscription
At a value of round $50 plus subscription, the Tractive GPS tracker is a formidable possibility for canine homeowners. The Reside monitoring possibility updates the situation each 2-3 seconds—leaving hardly any time to panic while you’re attempting to determine the place your canine is wandering.
The exercise monitoring contains minutes energetic, energy burned, sleep time, and calm time. Tractive additionally has a leaderboard the place you may see the way you rank by minutes energetic regionally, globally, and amongst your canine’s breed and associates.
A characteristic I didn’t discover with some other units is Tractive Care. It’s an insurance coverage possibility to your system. You may declare a free alternative in case your tracker is broken, misplaced, or stolen.
Tractive additionally affords a GPS cat tracker, for cats who love adventures and small canines. Most canine GPS trackers match canines who’re 5 kilos or extra, so it may be arduous to search out one that matches the smaller canine breeds.
Attachment: The Tractive system attaches to your canine’s current collar (as much as 1 inch extensive). This system is for canines 8.8 kilos or extra.
Subscription: The Tractive GPS tracker requires a subscription plan. Billing for the Primary plan is month-to-month ($12), one yr ($84), or two years ($120), which incorporates GPS monitoring and Reside monitoring.
Billing for the Premium plan is one yr ($96), two years ($144), or 5 years ($300), and contains GPS and Reside monitoring, household sharing, twelve months of location historical past, worldwide protection, and extra. Tractive makes use of AT&T’s mobile community.
What we love about Tractive:
- Location monitoring may be very responsive in Reside mode
- Simple to arrange a wide range of secure or alert zones
- Free alternative system with Tractive Care
Cool Whip bought to put on the Tractive GPS system as a result of she is the canine probably to lose one thing. (I triple knot her bandanas, and so they nonetheless come untied and fall off!). The Tractive Care is precisely the kind of service I need for a canine like her.
Additionally, the choice for secure and alert zones was extremely useful. They may very well be arrange wherever, corresponding to alongside the highway that I didn’t need her close to.
Whistle Well being & GPS — Examine Amazon Value + Subscription
There are a number of totally different units obtainable from Whistle. One solely tracks your pet’s well being and exercise and two supply location and exercise monitoring:
Whistle – Well being: Tracks your canine’s exercise (minutes energetic, distance, energy, relaxation) and well being corresponding to licking, sleeping, consuming, distance traveled, and minutes energetic. This system prices round $50, however has no GPS location monitoring.
Whistle – Well being + GPS: Tracks well being, exercise, and placement for round $150 plus subscription prices. You may see precisely the place your pet is and get notifications in the event that they depart any secure zone you create. That is the system we examined.
Whistle – Well being + GPS + Health: For round $199 plus subscription, this system tracks well being, exercise, and placement. It attaches to its personal collar and has two interchangeable batteries. So there is no such thing as a have to take away the system to cost it—simply swap batteries!
Attachment: The Well being & GPS tracker can connect to any collar. The Well being & GPS+ system requires a appropriate collar (one comes with the system; extra variations can be found for buy). Each units are for canines weighing 25 kilos or extra.
Subscription: Whistle monitoring units require a subscription. You may arrange billing for month-to-month ($12.99), one yr ($99), or two years ($192). Whistle makes use of AT&T’s mobile community.
What we love about Whistle:
- Detailed location monitoring
- Quick updates in Discover My Pet mode
- Exercise and wellness monitoring
Hercules wore the Whistle Well being & GPS system (previously known as the Whistle Go Discover). The Whistle gave me probably the most false notifications once we had been contained in the van (automobiles can block alerts). Nevertheless, once we had been outdoors, it was probably the most correct system, which is why it is among the hottest GPS canine trackers.
When Herc snuck away one afternoon (whereas carrying three trackers), the Whistle tracker gave probably the most frequent and exact location updates. Every of the orange dots exhibits the place the app up to date his location. There have been hardly any delays, even whereas he was deep within the woods.
We drove a four-wheeler down an off-road path to gather him, and he popped out from the woods precisely the place the app was exhibiting his location. It was like watching your journey progress on Google Maps.
Apple AirTag — Examine Amazon Value
Powerful the Apple AirTag just isn’t a GPS tracker, it’s price mentioning on this put up. This system is the smallest and, at a value of $29, the least costly solution to monitor your canine.
It’s a Bluetooth tracker, which suggests it operates on Bluetooth alerts solely. When a appropriate cellphone or system utilizing a Bluetooth sign passes close by, the situation updates.
The AirTag just isn’t one of the best pet tracker for sparsely populated areas as a result of there are so few appropriate units to select up the Bluetooth sign. Nevertheless, in case you fear about your canine happening the lam within the metropolis, this is a wonderful possibility.
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An enormous plus for the AirTag (the small white disc within the image of charging units) is that there is no such thing as a battery charging required. The battery is designed to final one yr or extra. When the battery dies, you buy a new AirTag.
Attachment: Attaches to your canine’s current collar. You have to buy your personal attachment system corresponding to a silicone cowl that slides onto your canine’s collar or a collar specifically designed for the AirTag.
Subscription: No subscription required.
What we love about Apple AirTag:
- The least costly possibility obtainable
- No subscription or battery charging required
- Small and simple to connect
The AirTag is the smallest and lightest system we examined, and I hardly discover it on Cool Whip’s collar. As a result of we spend most of our time within the wilderness away from populated areas, the AirTag just isn’t an efficient on a regular basis possibility for us.
Nevertheless, it’s so small and cheap that I believe it’s price having as a backup on the canines’ collars for once we go to extra populated areas.
The Finest GPS Canine Trackers For Your Pet
Every monitoring collar or system has barely totally different options and advantages, simply as every canine has totally different wants. The perfect GPS canine collar finally is determined by what you need to your pet.
- Fi Sensible Collar is smooth and maximizes battery life.
- Hyperlink’s app hosts a wealth of information and choices.
- Lynq is ideal for adventures the place there is no such thing as a mobile service.
- Tractive is nice for organising digital boundaries and alerts.
- Whistle is quick and exact with its mapping.
- AirTags are small, cheap, and good for metropolis life.
Go to our Amazon retailer to study extra merchandise we depend on to make touring with pets simpler, safer, and extra enjoyable!
Do you have already got a monitoring system to your pet? Go away us a remark to tell us what you want about it and the way it’s labored for you!
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