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By Rachel Burns
To any dog owner losing their four-legged friend is a nightmare scenario. But days of Lost Dog posters are in the past, thanks to dog tracking devices, telling you where your pet is at any moment. With such an important role how do you choose the best one? Find out in this article.
Owning a dog is just like having an extra family member. It’s hard to imagine what you would do without them. So if the worst case scenario happens and they run away, or someone leaves the door unlocked, and they get out, it is inevitable for you to panic. Surely, many outdoor dogs come back on their own, but what if it gets scared or lost? How will you track them and bring them home?
Thanks to technology, the best solution for tracking them is with pet tracking technology, i.e., GPS trackers. There is a whole host of them available in the market, but they do vary in quality and sophistication.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Tracking Device
If you have no idea where to begin, the following essential elements will help you get started:
- The accuracy of location tracking
- Activity tracking
- Notification and alert system
- Weatherproofing
- Safe zones
The Best Tracking Devices for Dogs Available Today
Below, we’ve collected the best tracking devices for dogs available today:
One of the most popular products in this market is the Whistle 3. It’s a device that combines location tracking with an activity monitor. The monitor lets you know how much the pet has exercised and rested during the day.
You’ll be able to set up more than one virtual “safe place†for your pet. Once it leaves this area, the device provides proactive alerts which you can program to receive as either email, app or text notification.
It uses WiFi to give these alerts, and you can track it in a current location before it gets too far. You can also see your pet’s movement over the past 24 hours. Other exciting features include a waterproof design and up to seven day battery life!
The Link AKC sophisticated smart collar is a newer option in town. It allows you to track your pooch with GPS, receive ambient temperature alerts, monitor its activity, set up multiple virtual “safe zones,†log vet records and much more.
You can connect it to the Link AKC app enabling you to take a more active and informed role in managing its wellbeing. When purchasing the smart collar, included will be a Latigo leather collar. Depending on the size of your pet, you can choose from S, M, L or XL. You’ll also get a collar carrier, a Link AKC tracking unit and a base station with a charging cord.
Does size matter to you? If you’re going for a small device, the Pod 2 is the tracker for you. It is the smallest and lightest GPS tracker and activity monitor designed to any size collar. You can locate your buddy on demand, and monitor their activity. You’ll also be able to record their adventures on a computer browser or smartphone app.
The Pod depends on your 2G coverage, therefore, be sure to check your location against the coverage checker tool on their website. We can’t forget to mention that it has rechargeable batteries which last for up to 6 days.
The tractive is yet another small tracker in the market best suited to smaller breeds. It provides real time location information. Same like a majority of trackers, it also has features such a virtual “safe zone†settings and a smartphone app. You can view the location via a web browser or smartphone app. It uses several carriers to get location data such as T-Mobile and AT&T meaning a broader coverage.
It also has features such as waterproof, a lightweight design, and built-in light. If your pet gets lost at night, you can activate it for easier tracking. Or if you take walks at night, it will provide illumination when walking in the dark.
Unlike many trackers, Find My Pet combines WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth signals to track your pet from anywhere in real time. It has outstanding features to other trackers such as viewing your dog’s location from the past year! It provides alerts once it leaves the safe zones or if there are changes in movement speed.
You also have the option of tracking your pooch via your smartphone app or computer browser. Inclusive is an SOS button which allows you to broadcast its current location to other contacts on your list, such as family and friends.
Conclusion
We sincerely hope that this article has shed light on some of the best GPS trackers for your pet. As much as the above trackers are our top 5, your best option should be one that has a combination of both location and activity tracking.
If you’re on the fence on purchasing one, bear in mind that they come in handy, especially if your dog walks off leash in new locations or has tendencies of escaping. They prevent your dog from getting lost. They are easy ways for you to establish peace of mind and safety for your life companion!
Do you use any of the above trackers? Please share with us how useful you’ve found them (or not) in the comments section.
About the Author: Rachel Burns is an animal lover and journalist based in Dallas. She’s currently an editor of AllPetsExpert.com, a web site that helps pet owners learn more about animal behaviors, their training, health, food, etc. Read and take over her useful insights!
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