pet health and location trackers
Has your pet ever wandered away and eventually returned after you’ve earned a few grey hairs ? Pet health and location trackers take advantage of modern technology to soothe your nerves and show you where “fido” has gone trekking. Using GPS and a app for your phone, you are able to see not only where they have been but also how much time they spent running, sleeping, and playing. Some models also monitor behaviors such as scratching and licking, data that may be useful to monitor health concerns.
what do dog gps trackers do?
Different models have different features so be sure to look at our comparison table below. These are some of the available features:
- Real time location tracking
- View of your pet's day showing where they were and how active they were
- Include multiple pets, monitored on one phone app
- Email vet health report
- 90 day risk free trial
- Monitor health, fitness
- Waterproof to splashing and shallow submersion
whistle vs findster
how does whistle compare to findster ?
| Whistle | Findster | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $79.95 - $129.95 | $149.99 |
| Monthly Fees | $2.95/mo - $9.95/mo | NO Fees |
| Water Resistant | ranges from immersion depth of 3ft - 6ft depending on model | Up to immersion depth of 3ft |
| Battery Life | ranges from 10 to 20 days depending upon model | ranges from 12 hrs to 7 days depending upon if GPS is on/off |
| Vet Access | access to a Vet is available through the App (Note: website says "for a limited time" ...not clear what that time period is) | offers "Findster Care", access 24/7 to a trusted Vet |
additional features to consider in a dog gps tracker
- Battery Life : When the battery in your cable remote goes dead, it's annoying and you have to hope you have some spare, new batteries to keep binging on Netflix. You won't have an option of replacing batteries in your dog's GPS tracker if you realize they are dead while you are trying to find him. Likely the most important feature is therefore long battery life and any indicator showing the battery is getting low on power and needs to be replaced.
- Resistance to Water: If you live near any type of water... ponds, streams, swampy areas ... odds are high that your pup knows where that water is and is attracted to it like toddlers are attracted to any type of mud, sand and dirt. Making sure your dog's tracker is resistant to water is important even if you are in a more urban area because a sudden rainstorm may become a factor in drenching him and his collar/tracker.
- Separate Handheld Tracker: Although most trackers come with an App for your smartphone, if you frequently go hiking or walking in areas with limited cell phone coverage you may find value in having an independent, handheld tracker that is NOT dependent on cell service.
Can't I just use a chip ? my friends dogs have chips
What about an embedded chip ? My friends say they had a chip inserted in their dog’s skin. Can that be used to track my dog ? Unfortunately, the chip does not send out signals that can be tracked by GPS devices. A chip CAN be scanned by a Vet or someone having the correct scanning device and that will tell the person identifying information about your dog. They can learn that you are the owner and gain your address and phone information. However, this only works when they have your dog in their possession and when they have the required scanning equipment.
A GPS tracker provides more power by using the GPS system, allowing you or others to locate your dog through a smartphone app or separate handheld device. Rather than being embedded under your dog’s skin, the tracker device typically is part of his dog collar or could be attached to a harness.