Dogs are master escape artists – leave them unattended for a few seconds and they’ll immediately run or hide from you. And while this behavior is normal for canines as they’re naturally playful, not knowing where they flee can take a toll on their safety. This is especially true if your home is located near streets or highways.
To lessen your stress as a pet owner and ensure that your dog still gets to roam around, you can invest in dog GPS trackers. This tracking device is built into your dog’s collar with an antenna that can help you locate where your fur baby is. GPS pet trackers relay information about your pet’s location to a connected device real-time.
What Should You Consider When Choosing Dog GPS Trackers?
You’ll never run out of options when you choose to buy a GPS pet tracker for your fur baby. The market is bombarded with all sorts of GPS trackers with different styles, sizes, and prices. But what should you really consider in order to end up buying the best GPS dog tracker?
If you’re still clueless on how to narrow down your options, take note of the information presented in this section. Here, we’ll discuss the most important factors you should consider when buying a dog GPS tracker.
Think About Your Preferred Specifications
All dog trackers are made for dogs but this doesn’t mean that buying any model out there will give you the best results. Dogs have different needs, which is why you should make sure that the GPS dog collar you buy for them fits the bill.
For example, if your dog is sporty, it might be best to invest in a GPS dog tracker that has more accuracy in your dog’s location. If your dog is diagnosed with a health condition, opt to buy a GPS pet tracker that can help you track your dog’s health, such as being able to determine your dog’s heart rate and sleeping patterns.
Your most important consideration when buying a GPS dog tracker should be your dog and their needs. Find one that makes your life easier as a pet owner without compromising the lifestyle and enjoyment of your dog.
Determine The Size Of Your Dog
Buying a GPS dog collar that is too big or small for your dog defeats the purpose of the device. Buy one that’s too big and your dog will likely lose the device when they’re out and about. Give them something that’s too tight and they’ll feel uncomfortable wearing it to the point where they would refuse to move.
Always check the size of your pet before buying a GPS dog collar for them. If possible, take your dog to the pet store, so they can try on the GPS tracker. The GPS collar you buy for your dog should fit snugly in their necks and allow you to slip one finger.
Assess The Functionality
All GPS dog trackers can determine your dog’s location but some have additional features. For example, most GPS trackers today are waterproof, which means that you can still track your dog’s location regardless if it’s raining or they’re splashing on a pool. A waterproof GPS tracker is a smart investment, especially if your fur baby loves the water. You can also buy GPS trackers that allow you to track more than one dog simultaneously.
Check The Battery Life and Durability
The battery life and durability of the GPS tracker are important considerations because they affect the quality and quantity of information you get whenever your dog is out and about. Buying a dog GPS tracker that has poor battery life will make it very challenging for you to track your down as it might die shortly after your dog wanders.
Assess the battery life of the dog GPS tracker you’re eyeing to buy and make sure that it has a long battery life. Most GPS trackers today can last for up to 96 hours without a single charge. This will enable you to easily determine where your dog is no matter how late you noticed that they’re nowhere inside your house.
Don’t Forget About The Cost
Pet owners spend a lot of money to ensure that their dogs are happy and healthy. When it comes to buying a GPS pet tracker, don’t forget to think about the cost as this can affect your ability to take care of your pet in the long run. Buying a GPS dog tracker that’s way beyond your budget will likely require you to compromise some of your pet’s needs, including vitamins and vet visits.
Buy a dog GPS tracker that suits your budget. With the number of dog GPS trackers available in the market today, you can easily find one that will not require you to break the bank. You just need to exert a lot of patience and compare options.
What Are The Best GPS Pet Trackers Today?
Now that you know what are the factors to consider when buying a GPS tracker for dogs, it’s time to determine what your best options are. We’ve compiled 12 of the best GPs pet trackers today (and detailed why we love them) to help you choose the best one.
Whistle Go Explore Dog GPS Tracker
The Whistle Go Explore comes with tons of features, including a quick real-time tracking powered by Google Maps. Pet owners who are looking for health features will also love this GPS tracker as it offers data for the dog’s behavioral insights and provides health recommendations.
This GPS dog tracker can last up to 20 days depending on your usage. It also comes with a built-in night light with three different flash settings to keep your fur baby visible at night. One thing we love about the Whistle Go Explore is its attractive, minimalist design. Put this on your dog’s collar and they will immediately look cuter.
Pros:
- Provides automatic weekly wellness reports
- Long battery life
- 3,000-mile tracking range
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with any sound feature
Fi Smart Dog Collar
The Fi Smart Dog Collar has been one of the most popular dog GPS trackers in the market – and it’s very easy to see why. This dog GPS tracker has an amazing battery life as it can last up to one month between each charge. It also allows pet owners to set different “safe zones”.
Pros:
- Durable
- Great battery life
- Fun social features
Cons:
- Not ideal for dogs below 10 pounds
Garmin TT 15 Dog GPS Tracker
Thanks to its pro-grade, high-quality receiver and antenna attachment, the Garmin TT 15 Dog GPS Tracker will give pet owners peace of mind knowing where their pets are. This device also enables you to communicate and train your dog using audible tones and vibrations.
The Garmin TT 15 Dog GPS Tracker is extremely rugged and durable, which means you can rely on it to help you track your dog’s location no matter the weather conditions. It has a high-sensitivity receiver that can pinpoint your pet’s location within a 9-mile range. This GPS dog tracker has two antennas that don’t only extend the tracking range of the device, but also guarantees reliable tracking even if your fur baby travels under trees or other obstructions.
Pros:
- Comes with an extended-range antenna
- Water-resistant for up to 10 meters
- 3,000-mile tracking range
Cons:
- Not ideal for small dogs as it weighs 10 ounce
FitBark Dog GPS Tracker
If you’re looking for a GPS dog tracker with several bells and whistles, the FitBark Dog GPS Tracker is the perfect option for you. This dog GPS tracker has all the tech features you’ll need to easily determine your pet’s location – from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, to 3-axis accelerometer. These techs lets you sync your preferred devices to the tracker, so you can receive data on your dog in the most convenient way possible.
Aside from being an accurate pet tracker, the FitBark Dog GPS Tracker also provides data about your pet’s health. It monitors your dog’s sleep patterns, health, and behavior 24/7. It also analyzes the data collected and then provides insights through an easy-to-read dashboard.
Pros:
- 24/7 activity and sleep monitoring
- Sends notifications for any behavioral changes
- Cellular network, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi enabled
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with any built-in lights
Bartun Dog GPS Tracker
What makes the Bartun Dog GPS Tracker different from other dog GPS trackers is that it offers unlimited tracking range (yes, you’ve read that right) and can be used in more than 150 countries. This GPS dog tracker only weighs 0.7 ounces, which means that you can take it anywhere and not worry about your dog feeling any discomfort when they wear the device.
Although this dog tracker is small, it’s durable enough to withstand any weather conditions and has a shockproof and waterproof exterior. These features will help you pinpoint your dog’s location within minutes regardless of how active they are.
Pros:
- Can be used in more than 150 countries
- Comes with a shockproof and waterproof design
- Uses a magnetic charging system
Cons:
- Because it’s too small, it might not fit snugly in large dogs
Whistle 3 Dog GPS Tracker
Are you always worried about your dog’s location and health? Do you want to improve their lifestyle but don’t know how? Then the Whistle 3 Dog GPS Tracker is a must-buy for you. This GPS dog tracker offers superb activity and health features in its dedicated mobile app. It also provides insights on the minutes your dog is active and how long they were at rest. With this information, you can easily determine how much exercise your dog needs. This dog GPS tracker even recommends food portions ideal for your dog’s breed and size!
The Whistle 3 Dog GPS Tracker has a built-in accelerometer that accurately tracks your dog’s behaviors, such as drinking, scratching, and licking. This information can help you identify if your dog is showing symptoms of certain skin, health, or food allergies. If you find these symptoms alarming, you can easily chat with a vet through the tracker’s app.
Pros:
- Monitors dog’s problematic or unusual behaviors
- Allows you to chat with the vet through its app
- Set custom health and fitness goals
Cons:
- Battery life isn’t impressive compared to other models
Findster Duo + Dog GPS Tracker
What makes the Findster Duo + Dog GPS Tracker a great buy for pet owners is that it’s a powerful tracking device but doesn’t require any monthly fees. This GPS device enables users to access real-time GPS tracking using a dedicated mobile app. You can also set custom alerts at your preferred time intervals and share the ability to determine your pet’s location with other people.
The Findster Duo + Dog GPS Tracker also comes with a built-in radar feature that displays the distance between you and your guide, so you won’t have any problems getting to them. You can also view your dog’s location history with this GPS dog tracker. It can also collect data about your dog’s activities, namely their rest time, time walked, and distance walked.
Pros:
- Lightweight, making it ideal for small dogs
- Cost-effective because it doesn’t require any subscription or data plan
- Sends real-time tracking and location alerts
Cons:
- Its magnetic charging cord can be finicky
Garmin T5 Dog GPS Tracker
The Garmin T5 Dog GPS Tracker is an excellent option for canines who love to spend a lot of time outdoors. This GPS tracker for dogs is water-resistant up to 10 meters, shockproof, and has an extremely durable build. This GPS tracking device uses a high-sensitivity GPS/GLONASS receiver that offers a tracking range of up to nine miles. Because it comes with two antennas, you won’t have any problems tracking your dog with this GPS device even when you’re in the woods.
The Garmin T5 Dog GPS Tracker is powered by a lithium-ion battery that can last up to 40 hours after being charged. Unlike other pet GPS trackers, this one comes with built-in beacon lights that offer high-visibility up to 100 yards away. This feature is highly beneficial, especially if you and your dog love to take walks at night.
Pros:
- Uses high-sensitivity GPs technology
- Withstands pressure up to 1 ATM
- Included extended range antenna
Cons:
- Weighs 9.3 ounces, making it a heavy GPS dog collar
Tractive Dog GPS Tracker
Just because you have a limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t provide the best dog tracker for your fur baby. The Tractive Dog GPS Tracker is proof that you can still enjoy top-notch safety and tracking features without the expensive price tag. With this GPS dog tracker, you can enjoy live tracking, activity monitoring, and location history at an affordable price point.
Although cheaper than the other pet trackers, this one offers different features, namely real-time tracking performance (you can receive alerts every two to three seconds) and heatmap where you can receive insights on where your dog spends most of their time during the day.
Pros:
- Sends live location updates every two seconds
- Shock-resistant and waterproof
- Adjustable collar clasp
Cons:
- Its battery life is less efficient compared to other dog trackers
PetFon Dog GPS Tracker
Just when you thought you’ve seen all GPS pet trackers, the PetFon Dog GPS Tracker comes along. This one offers tons of unique features that aren’t existent in other dog GPS trackers. For one, the PetFon Dog GPS Tracker relies on a combination of GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi for location tracking. It has a tracking range of 3.5 miles away, depending on the density of the area.
One of the best features of the PetFon Dog GPS Tracker is that you can pre-record voice commands and save it on the device. Because it comes with a high-definition speaker, your dog can hear the recorded audio every time you decide to play it. It also has built-in LED lights to increase your dog’s visibility at night.
Pros:
- Has a portable charging case
- Play pre-recorded voice commands through the GPS tracker
- Comes with built-in LED lights
Cons:
- Shorter battery life, especially with heavy use
Link AKC Plus Dog GPS Tracker
Your dog will definitely turn heads (as if they already don’t have this effect on people) when they have the Link AKC Plus Dog GPS Tracker on. This pet tracker has a leather exterior and streamlined design that will make your dog look fantastic. The brand behind this dog tracker uses high-quality brown leather that camouflages with your dog’s collar once worn.
Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, the Link AKC Plus Dog GPS Tracker has a dedicated mobile app that offers goal-setting, activity monitoring, and real-time tracking features. It also provides data on the temperature of the day to ensure that it’s not too hot or too cold when you take your dog out.
Pros:
- Devices clicks seamlessly onto its matching collar
- Has LED light and remote sound features
- Made from high-quality, weatherproof leather
Cons:
- May be bulky for puppies or small breed dogs
Halo GPS Smart Collar
If you’re on a mission to spoil your pet with various devices, buying the Halo GPS Smart Collar should be part of your to-do list. This is one of the best dog GPS trackers today because it has all the features you can possibly need to keep your dog safe. For one, this dog tracker has an encouragement feedback feature that allows you to guide your dog back home using voice, vibration, or static.
The Halo GPS Smart Collar also comes with an activity tracker that records the number of steps your dog takes and how long they rest during the day. One thing we specifically love about this pet tracker is that it doesn’t require any wires for installation and use.
Pros:
- Uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LTE technologies
- Water-resistant
- Covers up to 10 square miles
Cons:
- Expensive and requires monthly fees
Avoid Making Rash Decisions
As you can see, there are plenty of dog trackers available today – too many that you’ll see yourself overwhelmed with too many options. To end up buying the best GPS tracker for your fur baby, take the time to compare all of your options. The GPS tracker you’ll buy will affect the safety of your dog, so don’t rush the process of choosing one.