The 4 Best Dog GPS Trackers
Yes, canines are man's best friend, but that doesn't stop them from running away and getting lost now and again. And don't take it personally. They are, after all, born to run. But what kind of best friend would you be if you didn't go chasing after Charlie when he slips under the gate and gets loose? Rather than worry about the nightmare scenario of having your dog disappear, a good GPS tracker can keep you continually informed on your pooch's whereabouts. After scouring the market, we've circled back to four products we feel we can stand behind, so let's dive right in.
Whistle 3
Whistle While You Work
Touting immense popularity in the pet-care community, the Whistle 3 has become known as the go-to pet tracker for most people’s needs. Rather than rely solely on Bluetooth like many other units do, the Whistle combines cell and GPS data to help you keep tabs on your dog. This combined approach gives the device a maximum functioning range of ~3,000 miles. (If your K9 is able to get more than 3,000 miles away before you find her, maybe it’s time to let her spread her wings and fly the coop.)
Aside from monitoring the dog’s location, the Whistle is able to monitor activity and create health profiles. While these are less sophisticated than the device’s tracking abilities, it’s nice to be able to receive analyses of Mini’s sleep and activity levels over time. These reports can be especially useful when utilized as preventative healthcare tools to catch changes in behavior that could be early signals of illness.
The unit itself is easy to use. Once everything’s all set up, all you have to do is sync it to your phone, affix it to a collar, and voila. Like most of these trackers, the Whistle does require regular charging, but the battery can last up to 7 days, so this isn’t too much of a drag.
Pros:
- Waterproof up to 3 feet for 30 min
- Create custom “safe places”
- Lightweight and unobtrusive
Cons:
- Requires a monthly subscription plan
- Won’t work well in remote locations
Tile Pro
Where's Waldo?
The Tile Pro isn’t just a tracker for dogs — people use it to keep tabs on all sorts of things, like keys, wallets, and phones. The small, sleek unit attaches to a key ring that you can place on your dog’s collar. It then utilizes Bluetooth to do its tracking. The drawback of this is that its range is only 400 ft. Now, if you’re a landowner with a large yard and big expanses of land, the Tile Pro clearly isn’t for you. But if you live in an apartment complex, or live in an otherwise highly-populated area, it’ll work well. Why? Well, the limited wireless range renders the device pretty useless on its own, because if your dog is lost, chances are you’ve already scoured the 400-foot radius that the Tile would be able to locate it within. However, here’s the cool part. Using Tile’s proprietary Community Find feature in the app, you can anonymously alert everyone on the Tile network that your Tile-tagged dog is lost. If there are many other Tile users in the area, as soon as your dog comes within their Tile’s range, they’ll be able to see it. This crowd-sourcing tracking method becomes more reliable as more people use it, of course, which is why its best use is in a city.
Pros:
- Replaceable battery has a long life
- Durable design
- Looks quite stylish
Cons:
- A bit too bulky for small dogs
- Loop can get caught on branches and the like
Eureka Technology MarcoPolo
Wannabe Escape Artists: Don't Quit Your Day Job
So maybe you’re not a city dweller, and maybe you’re not suburban, either. For those of us living in rural environments, here’s an option that doesn’t rely on the internet, crowd-sourcing, or subscription-based wireless technologies. The Eureka Technology MarcoPolo is a standalone, totally self-contained tracker that’s ideal for rural or off-grid situations. This one doesn’t need a cell network or any GPS signal, and it’s incredibly simple to use, too.
It works by utilizing radio frequency technology, essentially turning it into something of a personal radar system. The company estimates the unit’s range at about 2 miles, which isn’t immense, but it’s particularly useful for preventative monitoring. While you’re in the house, doing chores or enjoying your free time, the MarcoPolo will give you peace of mind, knowing that your furry friend is within the two mile radius.
After attaching the tracking tag, all you need to do is push a single button on the device to begin searching for your pup’s location. The tag itself comes equipped with a rechargeable battery that can last up to 6 weeks of continual use. If you’re not impressed with the product, Eureka offers a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.
Pros:
- Single system can expand to track up to 3 pets
- Instructions are clear and well-written
- Extremely rugged build
- Great for hikers and outdoors adventurers
Cons:
- Not responsive enough for moment-to-moment precision
Findster Duo+
You Can Run, but You Can't Hide!
Here’s another radio-frequency based, non-subscription option for you. Its 3-mile range is a bit larger than Eureka’s MarcoPolo, but it doesn’t work as well in densely populated areas, where you should expect a radius of something closer to 1 mile, or even half a mile. And when compared to the MarcoPolo, the Findster Duo+ is certainly not as sturdy. Sure, it’s rated as waterproof and shock-resistant, but it’s pretty low on the relative grading scale for both of these. Still, it’s much cheaper, and works pretty similarly. The Duo+’s companion app is something the MarcoPolo lacks, and the app itself is quite useful. Aside from serving as a live monitoring tool, the app stores historical tracking info of your pooch, so you can observe patterns over time.
Pros:
- Location updates every few seconds
- App receives frequent updates
Cons:
- Doesn’t work well indoors
- Performance is affected by weather
- Charging port is a bit wonky
Frequently Asked Questions
How do GPS trackers work?
This depends on what kind of tracker you buy. Some, like the Whistle, require a subscription. With this, you’re essentially paying to activate the device’s ability to communicate with cellular networks (in the Whistle’s case, AT&T), just like your phone’s GPS does. On the other hand, units like the MarcoPolo and the Findster Duo+ subvert this reliance upon network connectivity, opting instead for radio frequency comms. Finally, the Tile utilizes Bluetooth technology and relies upon crowd-sourced tracking in the case of a missing dog. Each of these systems has its advantages and disadvantages, and you’ll have to decide which one is right for your needs.
What should I look for in a GPS tracker for my dog?
This varies depending on your budget, location, and reason for using it. But typically the most important factors are the battery life of the device, its range, and its size/comfort level. The last one is rarely talked about it, but remember that whatever device you choose will probably be clipped to your dog’s neck 24/7, so buying your friend a comfortable unit is not only thoughtful, it’s the right thing to do.
Aside from this, you’ll choose depending on the features each one offers. Sure, it might be nice to have the ability to track up to 3 dogs, but if Buddy’s your one and only, then what good does that do you? On the other hand, some units may have features you’ll come to appreciate after the fact. The Whistle 3, with its fitness tracking capabilities, is a good example.
At the end of the day, though, it all comes back to how well it can track your dog, how long it lasts, and how expensive it is.
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