The dog is man’s best friend – it is a saying as old as time. But dogs are also playful and can unintentionally get lost, especially when they’re puppies. If that happens, you as an owner get worried and fear something bad may happen. If you want to keep track of your puppy at all times and at the same time let him/her play all day, puppy tracker is what you need.
This article will give you the best possible information about puppy trackers, what they do and how they work, including examples of products with good ratings from other dog owners. This can help you decide which one is the best for you, or at least show you in the right direction for more research on puppy trackers.
Introduction To Puppy Trackers
What Are They?
Trackers are devices that use different technologies such as GPS, Bluetooth, or radio-frequency to monitor and accurately determine the location of your pet. This is their primary function, but they also come with a lot of other different useful features. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, so any dog owner can find the most suitable one for their dog.
Why Is It A Good Idea To Get One?
Besides the obvious reason to keep track of your puppy if they get lost or run away, there is a number of other reasons. You can get one for “just-in-case” scenarios because you never know what might happen. Or you can get one simply to monitor his whereabouts so he would not get hurt if he wanders too a dangerous area.
A Microchip Is Not Enough
Dogs have to be microchipped, and those are devices that store your pet’s information such as his/her name, your name and contact information. It does not use GPS technology to track your pup, but rather radio-frequency identification. Only if someone finds your lost pet and can scan and read the microchip, then they can let you know where they and your puppy are.
Things To Keep In Mind
There are several features you should consider before getting a tracker. The tracker should be waterproof, the battery should be long-lasting, it should include real-time tracking, and it should include a handheld device so you can walk and locate. Also, a scanning option is useful, so that if someone finds your dog they can read the microchip and let you know that your dog has been found.
Other Useful Features
Many trackers offer other features that can be helpful. Those are: geo-fencing or a virtual fence you set up for your pet and when they cross the lines you get notified, activity monitoring and historical track, health monitoring, medical data, and nearby vets, etc.
5 Best Puppy Trackers Reviews
Best GPS Puppy Tracker
Whistle Go/Health; Location Tracker For Pets
Model Information
The 27 g device, besides being so light, comes in many different colors. Some of them are magenta, blue, gray, and green. The dimensions of this device show you that it is made for puppies. It is a tiny device (4.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 cm) and it won’t bother your puppy during playtime.
Accurately Determines Position
This small but precise tracker uses built-in GPS to help you locate your puppy. But, to connect the tracker to your phone, you must download their app. You have to subscribe to the app, which is not the best solution, but I will leave you to decide.
Battery Life And Important Features
The battery can last for up to 7 days, depending on the usage and the strength of the Wi-Fi. The tracker is waterproof and can be underwater for about 30 minutes at almost 1 m depth. You can attach it to any collar wide up to 2.5 cm, so you do not have to worry about it falling off.
Other Useful Features
Besides the tracking, the primary function, the device also offers proactive alert option. When your pet leaves home, you can get an e-mail, app, or text notification that they have left the premises. Another feature is health monitoring, through which you can monitor their weight, food intake, and other daily activities.
- GPS for tracking
- Waterproof
- Requires a subscription
Best Bluetooth Puppy Tracker
DOTT The Smart Dog Tag
Dimensions And Weight
The tag is about the size of a bigger coin (1.5 cm radius) and weighs around 7 g. Being lighter and smaller than the previous tracker, this one also ensures your puppy’s day goes on without them feeling held back by the device. Furthermore, you can even engrave it and it is waterproof.
How It Works
This one does not use GPS technology to locate your pet, but rather Bluetooth. If your puppy gets lost, you can walk around and track the Bluetooth signal on the DOTTpet app. If other people in the area have the app as well, they can see your pup got lost and can help you find them.
DOTTpet App And Battery
Since the tag does not use GPS, the battery life is significantly longer. There is no GPS chip that consumes a lot of energy needed to power the device, so the rechargeable battery can last for up to 9 months. The app does not require a subscription and is available for both iPhone and Android devices.
Other Features
You can set up a virtual leash, so you get notified when your pet leaves their “safe zone.” You can also keep track of your pup’s activities such as walks, potty breaks, food, and medication intake, etc., so the device works as a puppy Fitbit tracker. The app also enables users to report any suspicious areas or areas where there is pet poison and similar.
- Bluetooth for tracking
- No subscription
- Waterproof
- Long battery life
Best GPS Puppy Collar Tracker
Hangang GPS Tracker
Dimensions And Battery
This device, unlike the previous two, comes with a collar. The device itself weighs 44 g, measures 5 cm in length, and the collar is adjustable for your puppy’s comfort. The battery is very long-lasting, and it can be on standby for 300 hours, and when the power is low, you get alerted.
Most Important Features
The tracker uses GPS for locating your pet, and there is a free app through which you monitor them. The app itself is free, but it does require a subscription plan for it to work. The app provides real-time tracking, as well as connecting to Google Maps so you can always keep track of your dog.
Other Useful Features
Besides the tracking, you can set up geo-fence (kind of a safe zone for your pet), you can view your pet’s historical track so you can see their movements during the day. Besides the app, tracking is possible on your computer as well (web tracking).
Setting Up The App
There are instructions on how to set up the app and the tracker when you first get it, and that is a bit tricky. You need to get a SIM card (but not 3G/4G, only 2G) which is not included in the package, download the app, and finally set APN. But if you like the device, a little hassle won’t be a problem.
- GPS tracking
- Real-time tracking
- Requires a subscription
- Geo-fence
- Low battery alarm
Best Multi-Mode-Positioning Puppy Tracker
Hangang Pet Tracking Device
Appearance
The coin-sized (4.2 x 2.5 cm), 34 g device offers a great deal. Besides being small and light, there are 2 ways of attaching it to your pup. You can either put it on the collar, or you can clip it to your dog’s outfit if they wear one.
How It Works
The tracker locates your pet using GPS, LBS, and Wi-Fi. Because of this, the positioning can be accurate up to 5 m. You have to download the device’s app which is free, but you do have to buy a SIM card, which is not included, for the device and app to work together.
Included Features
The device offers the geo-fence option and historical route. The geo-fence serves to create a virtual fence in your safe area, and if or when your pet leaves that area, you get notified by text. The historical route shows you places your pet frequents, so you know where to look if they get lost.
Other Included Features
On top all of this, there is also an SOS option, Overspeed alarm, and low battery alarm. The device is also waterproof, but it is not so waterproof that it can be submerged underwater, so you have to look out for that.
- GPS, LBS, and Wi-Fi used for tracking
- Geo-fence and historical route
- Low battery alarm
- Waterproof
Best Radio-Frequency Puppy Tracker
Marco Polo Advanced Pet Locating System
Dimensions And Weight
This device measures 15.24 x 1.5 x 2.54 cm and weighs 286 g. It is suitable for dogs of all breeds, as well as cats. A tracking tag is included, but if you have more than one pet you can buy additional ones, which are sold separately, and you can track up to 3 pets with one device.
How It Works
The device checks on your pet every 40 seconds, as it is a 2-way radio system working as your radar. It scans areas for your pet and lets you know where they are. The range is up to 3.21 km, depending on the terrain and conditions. If your pet gets lost, you can walk or drive around and when you’re in the range of your pet the device leads you to them.
It Works Everywhere
You can use the device when you travel with your pets, when you go camping, basically everywhere. You do not need a subscription because the device does not use GPS or cellular services. Besides, the battery lasts for up to 6 weeks, and it is rechargeable.
Other Features
The device is waterproof and is designed for prolonged swimming. It is also rugged and made to endure in the most challenging of conditions, including rough terrain. It is also secure when your pet is in the woods or anywhere near a lot of branches because the streamlined design keeps the tag from being damaged.
- Radio-frequency for locating
- Waterproof and rugged
- Wide range
- No subscription
Conclusion: Which Tracker Is The Best For Your Puppy?
Considering the above-mentioned devices, the Hangang Pet Tracking Device and the Marco Polo Advanced Pet Tracking System seem best. The first is here because it uses more than one technology to track you pet, in fact it uses GPS, LBS, and Wi-Fi. The Marco Polo device is here because it has the widest range of all, it is convenient to take with you wherever you go, and it requires no subscription.
If you want more information, read this article about pet GPS trackers. If you have a cat, read this article on best cat GPS trackers. You can get more general information and examples in this article on GPS collars.