Top-6 GPS Dog Tracker 2019

A dog is rightfully considered one of the cleverest creatures on the planet. Four-legged human friends work as leaders of the blind; they easily distinguish their master from thousands of others and have an extremely keen nose. Unfortunately, sometimes they get lost. A pup can get scared in the crowd, he can foil the scent of his master; finally, he can get injured or stolen. If you are concerned about the beloved canine’s safety, there is a smart solution – a GPS dog tracker. Keep reading our unbiased review to find out what top GPS dog collar models of 2019 are.

In fact, a pet tracker is an extremely useful gadget for everyone having a dog, and even for some cat owners. Even if you have an indoor dog, you have to walk it, take it to the vet, or take it out for some other reasons. There are known cases when dogs were scared with loud music, men, or other dog and escaped from their harness. A dog can tear up a leash or a collar; it can escape right from the car; finally, it can be stolen. In most cases, this is a GPS dog collar or another type of pet tracker that helps you to find your pup as quickly as possible.

It goes without saying that a GPS pet tracker is a must-have for all hunting and sporting dogs, patrol dogs, living on farms, and cadaver dogs. Modern dog tracker devices have a range of up to 10 miles and last up to several days on a single charge, which makes it possible to use them under extreme conditions.

The Top-Choice GPS Dog Tracker: Whistle 3

This brilliant GPS tracker for dogs combines high effectiveness, excellent capabilities, an extremely long-lasting battery, sleek design, and ease of use. With a weight of less than one ounce, it is easily attached to the canine’s collar. As soon as the pet leaves the “safe zone”, you receive a relevant notification. The device effectively tracks and records the dog’s location. A nice extra feature is an activity monitor that shows detailed statistics on the dog’s activity throughout the day. The most amazing things about the tracker are the battery that lasts up to 7 days and a waterproof design.

Whistle 3 operates in the US cellular network AT&T. It is managed via a mobile app (iOS, Android) and requires a monthly fee. On the good side, it works everywhere in the US. On the bad side, it doesn’t work in other countries.

While 3 is perfect for home-loving doggies where you enjoy the calm, regular lifestyle of having your dog in your backyard, going grocery shopping with it and enjoy your suburban or hectic urban life. The same subscription can have multiple ‘owners,’ so your friends and family can track it, too. It’s compact, functional, and it works for an average doggie life

The Runner-Up: Find My Pet GPS Dog Tracker

This fantastic dog tracker is nearly as effective as Whistle 4 with just some subtle differences. Find My Pet lacks an activity monitor, and its battery life reaches 4 days instead of 7. But the numerous advantages of the device easily overweight these minor downsides. The GPS pet tracker tracks and memorizes the location of your four-legged friend. Unlike many other devices, it stores the data for a year! It means that one may check where his or her dog was a year ago. It also notifies a dog’s owner of his dog leaving the safe zone.

This pet GPS tracker can be managed both via a mobile and a web app, which adds flexibility, as some people still don’t have smartphones. There are monthly subscription fee, and the device works everywhere in the world, not just the US.

Key features:

• Worldwide coverage.
• Tracking via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS channels.
• Battery life up to 4 days.
• An SOS button for the location broadcasting.
• Keeps the data for a year.

Although this model’s activity tracker is not as sophisticated as may be in some other brands’, it offers great functionality and sturdiness. The device itself has a solid receiver and reflects data about your dog’s whereabouts accurately. The lighting helps find your doggy quickly in the night, rain, hot weather, or great distance. It is meant for sporty or medium or bigger dogs, though

The Best Budget Pick: Dynotag Web/GPS Enabled

It is a simple, elegant, and low-budget solution for those who care about their pets’ safety, but don’t want to bother with apps, smartphones, monthly fees, and battery charging. The Dynotag is a steel waterproof GPS dog tag that has a unique QR-code. By scanning this code, anyone who’ll find the dog will be directed to a special web-page containing detailed information about the pet and its master. Also, every tag has a message engraved on its surface, for example, “Help Me Get Home Safely” (there are 4 variations).

The best thing about such GPS tags is that they don’t need regular recharging or funding, which is great for oblivious people. This is a sort of a set-and-forget solution without monthly fees that will last for years. Oh, yes, it is fantastically cheap on Amazon.

Key features:

• Cheap, lightweight and easy to use.
• Waterproof and durable.
• No batteries required.
• No fees included.

The idea behind this budget solution is that you don’t go hiking or traveling with your dog. You use it as a precaution, so when your dog gets lost, the one who finds it can quickly deliver it back to you through the DOTT community. It’s a good, cheap way of adding something-something to increase the chances of finding your doggie should it get lost.

The Best GPS Dog Collar: Garmin Alpha 100 TT

Garmin Alpha is a top pick for the owners of larger dog breeds, especially those living outdoors – on the farms, in the camps, and so on. This dog GPS collar doesn’t require installation of any software. Actually, it doesn’t require a cellular phone at all. This independently operating two-piece set includes a collar with a built-in GPS transmitter and a receiver. Its range is impressive – up to 9 miles, which lets you track your dog on a vast open territory during walking or training. This pet tracker doesn’t require any subscription fees and allows controlling up to 20 dogs simultaneously!

Like other trackers, the GPS dog collar notifies you of the dog leaving the safe zone. The device needs recharging every 20-40 hours, which is a decent result. On the minus side, it is a bit heavy, so it is for larger breeds only.

Key features:

• Doesn’t depend on any cellular network.
• GLONASS support & preloaded maps.
• Battery life 20-40 hours.
• No subscription fees.
• Up to 20 dogs simultaneously.

It is a high-profile, military class GPS dog tracker that will help you be aware of your dog’s location anywhere in the world. Its damage-proof design and sophisticated receiver will ensure that it will keep you notified in real-time about where your dog is, and it won’t budge or die in heavy weather conditions. If you travel and hike with your dog much, this is the best option out there.

The Best Dog GPS: Dogtra Pathfinder

Key features:

• Total range of 9 miles
• Expandable to 21 dogs and hunters
• Includes offline maps. Fully Waterproof
• Precise and up-to-date maps. 3.5-hour rapid charge batteries
• Geo-fence option

You can establish a safe zone and the tag will notify if the dog breaches it. Since it doesn’t depend on the cellular network, it is connected through a GPS channel which is safer and more accurate. Plus, it works around the world, so you’ll keep tabs on your dog anywhere you go. It has a cheap monthly plan to make up for the initial price.

Dog Camera Ball: Ball Shape

Some people want to track their pets not only during walking. People who stay away all day long may want to know what their four-legged friends do when they are alone at home. The Ball Shape Mini Spy Camera is a smart solution that lets you track your canine and interact with it remotely. The dog tracker is controlled via a mobile or a web app on a smartphone and uses Wi-Fi channel for the data transfer.
Check more information about dog cameras

Thanks to the innovative pet tracker, you’ll be able to talk to your canine, play to it by moving the ball, take pictures and even stream videos remotely.

Key features:

• A 2-in-1 toy & camera device.
• Easy remote tracking.
• High-quality video streaming.
• Microphone and speakers for voice communication.

It’s a great and fun tool to see what’s up with your dog while you’re away at work or traveling. Not only can your dog play with it and not damage it, but you can also talk to it or call it if it’s out of sight. You can also place it somewhere the dog won’t find it, stick its USB in and use it as a webcam to watch your dog and your home..

Best GPS Dog Tag: PawPrintsID GPS Dog Collar

In fact, there’s no need to spend a fortune on your dog’s safety. PawPrintsID is an incredibly simple and still effective solution in the form of a thin plate that is attached to a canine’s collar. On the plate, there is a QR-code that contains all the information about your pet – from the owner’s contacts to medical records. Anyone who scans the code gets an access to this information can contact to you, while you get a notification every time somebody scans it.

The GPS dog tag doesn’t require any fees. It also doesn’t need recharging, which makes it a universal and easy-to-use option. Due to its lightweight and ergonomic design, it suits all breeds.

Key features:

• No subscription fees charged.
• All the vital data is encrypted in the QR-code.
• No batteries required.
• The system of free unlimited notifications.
• Durable and water-resistant.

It is more of a classy version of our budget pick, which needs no batteries or connections. It’s a more sophisticated version of your collar tag having vague instructions where to bring the dog. The finder can scan the QR code or enter data into the website; you’ll get a quick text about it and pick your doggie straight away.

Important Features to Consider

Nowadays, there’s no lack of dog trackers on sale, and many of them are just packed with features. That is why choosing the best GPS dog collar can be quite a challenge. While some of the frills added by the manufacturers are excessive, there are some crucial characteristics that everyone buying a dog GPS device must consider. If your dog is under control or you are scared about safety of your dog – gps tracker not the best choice. For such cases it is better to install wireless dog fence

Battery life:

It is one of the core parameters for those who go hiking or hunting with their dogs for more than one day. Usually, a GPS dog collar can last up to 24 hours. For longer trips, choose a more powerful pet tracker, such as Whistle 3 that can work up to a week on a single charge.

After the tracker staying on your pet, the most important thing is that it works, which depends on its battery life. Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Lithium Ion Polymer (Li-ion polymer) have the longest battery life among the batteries commonly used for common gadgets that require high power density in a slim package. 

Reusable alkaline are usually less powerful and lose their aptitude over time. Trackers that have built-in rechargeable factory batteries usually have the most shelf life. If outside batteries are required, be sure to ask the seller for maximum battery life according to the type your tracker demands. Battery life is what will define the speed and possibility of you finding your lost dog.

Water resist:

Water-resistant construction is another crucial characteristic of the best GPS dog collar. You never know for sure where your dog walks when it is far from you. Surely, you want to know that the GPS pet tracker will survive not just a small rain, but the dog’s swimming in a lake or a river as well.

Water per se may be of no particular harm to water-resistant trackers. It will drip off of the tracker and the rest will turn into vapor. However, if the conditions of your whereabouts are unusual or complicated, like a marsh or below-zero cold conditions, then water may become an issue.

During really cold weather, the water may get frozen in some of the parts it makes contact with the tracker and damage it with cold or by melting and slowly seeping inside it. In marshes, the mud is quite thick and may hang on the tracker for long enough for water to find the most miniscule cracks to seep through. Be wary of the weather conditions where you’ll take your dog.

Networks supported and coverage:

It is essential to understand whether a dog tracker is based on a cellular network, or has its GPS receiver. If a GPS dog tracker works only in a particular mobile network, it is limited by the coverage of this network, and the dog’s owner needs to have a compatible phone to install an app. A GPS collar with a separate receiver doesn’t depend on cellular networks, but it is a cumbersome and heavy.

GPS dog trackers that are connected to a separate receiver (not through a cellular network) will be visible wherever the dog goes as long as the battery lives. They are an excellent precaution, but they usually come built into a collar, are bulky and heavy, which is why they are not suitable for smaller or frail dogs.

The other type is a lightweight GPS tag that gets attached to the dog collar. It’s very compact and easy to use, but it requires a corresponding mobile app to track so be mindful that your cellphone has to be compatible with the app. The only issue is that they work through the cellular network, so if there is no coverage, you won’t be able to track your doggie. Do mind these features and issues.

A monthly fee:

Cellular-based dog trackers usually have a small subscription fee – 4-6 dollars per month. It can seem annoying to some of you, but taking into account the effectiveness and convenience of these devices it often makes sense to pay. Moreover, some providers offer good discounts when you buy a yearly plan.

Paying for such a service is rational since there is a team of people who support the system’s work, enhance the product and can help you out if the dog gets lost. Usually, the longer the plan you choose, like a yearly plan, the bigger the discount will be.

Also, brands offer trial versions for you to be able to get a taste of their tracker’s functionality and usefulness. Some features may become available only after you purchase a plan. Be sure to read through the terms of use and offers of the product before you purchase it to save a buck. 

Activity monitoring:

If exercising is a part of your canine’s life, opt for a pet tracker with a feature of activity monitor. It will measure the level of the dog’s activity and even give recommendations. You will always know whether your pet is under-exercised or over-exercised.

If you want to know all information about your dog – our decision is dog monitor camera

Since your dog can’t talk and sometimes you don’t understand if something is wrong with them, the built-in activity tracker can help you out a lot. An activity tracker can monitor your dog’s movement, calories expended, sleep, weight, mood, and other features. Be sure to read what the activity tracker you’re about to buy will monitor.

Weight and size:

Logically enough, a pet tracker that is ideal for a Labrador retriever, will not do for a toy terrier. Keep in mind that the device must not cause discomfort to a pet. The best GPS dog collar is the one that fits your dog perfectly.

Use a measuring tape at home to see what the collar’s diameter is, measure your regular collar and your dog’s neck. Consider the size and weight of your dog juxtaposed with the collar’s weight and size. Get some goods or dog food from dog food review by pet-shop24 with their weight on them to feel what it’s like. Mind your dog’s physicality.

In addition, keep in mind your dog’s lifestyle: if it’s out in the streets alone a lot; if you go out hiking and traveling a lot; if it’s naughty; what are the conditions around you. These things will also impact the type of tracker you’ll eventually buy. 

Frequently Asked Questions