As a dog owner, nothing is more important to you than keeping your dog safe. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of heartbreak and worry that comes when a pet escapes or gets lost is through a canine GPS system.
In the past, these products were price-prohibitive. But as with all technology the price has dropped over the years, so if you’ve ever considered investing in a tracker system for your pet, you now have several options. The following are some of the most popular products on the market. All of these systems are available on Amazon and other online stores.
Tagg the Pet Tracker
Tagg the Pet Tracker is a canine GPS system complete with a clip that enables you to attach the device to your dog’s regular collar. To set it up, you register the device online including its serial number, your billing details, and your pet’s name, weight, breed, and other information.
You then create a Tagg Zone (geofence) around your home. If the service notices that the GPS signal is coming from outside this zone, you will receive a notification in the smartphone app or as a text message that shows the position of the signal on a map. The device will continue to send notifications every three minutes for 30 minutes. If you are heading out of your Tagg Zone with your dog, you can simply put the device into “trip mode”.
Pros
- Fast and accurate location notifications
- Water resistant for short periods of time
- Unlimited range
- Easy to configure
- Doubles up as device to track activity level of your dog
- Tagg Zone radius is 75 yards.
Cons
- Expensive — costs $99.95 for the purchase plus $7.95 per month in service charges after the first three months. However, you can receive additional trackers for your other pets at a discounted rate of $89.95 per month with a monthly charge of just 95¢ per dog.
- At 1.49 by 3.18 by 0.77 inches and weighing 1.16 ounces, the tracker fits comfortably on medium and large breeds but may be too bulky for small dogs.
Dynotag
The Dynotag, its company claims, is a more modern alternative to keeping your dog safe than a microchip and has the added benefit that you can update your dog’s information whenever you want. A tag featuring a QR code attaches to your dog’s collar. When someone scans the tag with a smartphone, GPS information is sent to you and they will have access to your dog’s Dynotag webpage. Even if the person who scans the tag does not choose to share precise information, you will still receive an approximate location determined by the IP address.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Durable
- Affordable for any dog owner at just $14.95
- Waterproof and weatherproof
- Battery free
- No subscription plan necessary
Cons
- You only receive GPS information if someone scans the QR code. The device itself does not emit a signal.
PetTronix RoamEO
The PetTronix RoamEo is a canine GPS system unit built into a rubber collar designed specifically for keeping your dog safe. You communicate with the tracker by radio through your owner’s handset, which includes its own GPS and compass. The handset receives continual updates about the direction and distance of the collar for easy tracking of a dog on the move.
Pros
- No subscription service or cellphone coverage required
- Backlight for nighttime use
Cons
- Range is dependent on terrain but typically unable to exceed half a mile
- The 12- to 14-inch adjustable collar means the device is more suited to large and medium size dogs
- Costly at $179
- It can take up to 5 minutes for collar and receiver to communicate with each other
- Battery life of just 24 hours
Garmin GTU 10
The Garmin GTU 10 is a canine GPS system tracker inside a nylon zipper case that you can attach to your dog’s collar. As soon as you have registered the device, you will be able to view its location on a map from either a desktop computer or on a mobile device using the Garmin Tracker app. The device features some advanced features to help with keeping your dog safe including the capability to enter up to 10 geofences and a history report to enable you to view where the device has been.
Pros
- Small, lightweight
- Waterproof up to 1 meter
- Initial $200 cost of device includes first year of subscription free; subsequent years cost $50
- Unlimited range
- Easy to set up and to configure geofences
Cons
- Short battery life
- Setting for longer battery life slows down location updates
The right GPS device for you will depend on several factors including how much you are willing (and able) to spend as well as the likelihood of your dog getting lost.
