Many dogs are microchipped today. I got mine when I was a little puppy. That means if I get lost, my humans can find me. Right?
Wrong.
My humans can find me if someone else finds me and takes me to a vet or other establishment where they have a reader to find out what is stored on my “chip”. Then they will call my mom and she will come get me. All will be well.
But what will happen if I don’t get taken to the vet where they can read that information stored in my neck. Or even worse, what if no one find me and I am in the woods hiding from the coyotes who want to have me for dinner. I don’t even want to think about it.
So, that raises the question. Do I need a GPS?
A GPS tracking system keeps track of your dog’s movements. It can be embedded in a collar and the owner can keep track of the dog on his computer or other device like an iPhone. That would mean if I were in the woods where they coyotes hide out, my mom would know where I was.
I started thinking about this last week when my cat Benjamin disappeared. He’s been gone over a week now and I fear the worst. He has a microchip, but no one has called me to come get him. If he had a GPS, I could go get him wherever he is.
GPS means global positioning system and it keeps track of objects using satellites. If I had one in my collar, my mom could know exactly where I am at all times and, if I got in trouble, she would come get me FAST.
GPS tracking devices often are used by people who hunt with their dogs. During that activity, it’s inevitable that dog and hunter can get separated. Before the development of this technology, hunters had to rely on their dogs finding their own way home if they got separated. Sometimes they made it home. Sometimes they didn’t.
There are several different GPS trackers for dogs on the market today. Let’s talk about a few and help decide which one I should have.
A lot of people like Whistle GPS Pet Tracker. It can be used with the collar your dog already is wearing. It uses cellular and GPS technology to send signals and email about the dog to your phone. If your dog crosses the labeled “whistle zone,” you will instantly get a notification to your phone. Then you can check its location using the mobile app. In other words, if the dog gets out of his fence while you’re at work, you will get notification and will be able to fetch him, or have someone who is closer to his location do it for you.
This device is waterproof and goes wherever you dog goes. You can monitor stuff like how much and when the dog eats while you’re away. You will know if it leaves the house. His location will be shown on an interactive map.
The Whistle device is ideal for dogs weighing 15 pounds or more but it can be attached to a collar or harness that is at least one inch wide. In order for it to work, you must subscribe to a service plan or cellular connection with 24 hour service to be able to use it.
One other aspect of this device that you should remember is that it has a battery that will give you about eight days of moderate use. Then it needs to be recharged or replaced.
So, it has a lot of positive aspects to it like the advanced technology, the interactive map and the instant notifications. The negatives are the need to be constantly subscribed to a GPS service and the need to keep the battery powered up so the device will work when it need to.
The Tractive GPS Pet Tracker allows you to use free mobile apps to keep up with your dog’s location. It uses many cellular phone networks to enable you to always know your dog’s location.
It is lightweight and waterproof and has an integrated SIM card that identifies real-time location using the T-Mobile cellular network, It’s good for dogs weighing more than nine pounds. And, it can be used on cats, horses, pigs and even children.
The positive aspects of this device are that it gives you real-time information and creates a virtual fence around your dog. The negatives are the short battery life and the monthly service fee, which starts at $5.
The Link AKC Collar is a “smart” dog collar designed with sophisticated tracking technology designed to ensure your dog’s safety. It sends a signal to the dog’s owner if the dog passes outside a designated area.
This collar also contains a link to an app that helps you monitor temperatures so you will know if your dog is in an unsafe environment. It also stores vet records. It comes attached to a leather collar and a base station where you can use the USB connection to charge the collar and your cell phone.
Again, with this unit, you need a monthly that starts at around $10. It is recommended for dogs who weigh more than 10 pounds.
The positive aspects of this collar are that it comes with the base unit and it can monitor temperatures. The negative, and it is a big one if you have a dog that is left outside while you’re away, is that it has an active time of only about 90 minutes.
The Garmin Alpha 100 Tt15 is a whale of a device. It uses a free tracking technology that can monitor the dog’s movement up to 10 kilometers. When your dog crosses the “safe zone,” you are alerted with a silent, vibrating alarm.
The positives to this unit are that it has an extensive reach and a powerful system. The negatives are the battery life and the price. It’s expensive.
Okay, these are four of the top-selling devices. Which one should I get?
I think price will rule out the Garmin device for me. And the very short battery life of the Link AKC makes it less than desirable. That leaves the Whistle and the Tractive are left and I think they come in about equal.
I am going to have to think about this a little more, but I know I am going to get something. In a week or two, I am going to start my scent work training and I might be out in the woods some of the time. I don’t want to get lost.