By searching solution how to better watch over my dog I found a keyword phrase „GPS tracker in dogs. “ I guess that some folks misunderstand an ID microchip implant with a GPS tracker for pets.
Technically GPS tracker cannot be „in” the dog. Even the smallest size of GPS tracker is far big to be integrated into the dog or cat under the skin as a grain size microchip. At least for civil use, maybe intelligence has such technologies.
I read an article that one company’s clients ask of possibility to get GPS enabled bank card.
I believe that such a technology today exists, just how much it will cost?
Let’s look at realistic things.
It is no secret that market today is full of garbage and fake marketing products and services. How to find the more or less good offer? It is not so easy, especially if you are searching in the unknown sphere. It’s so easy to be fooled, but we are learning from mistakes.
So, how about the industry of GPS tracking for dogs and cats?
I honestly admit that have no significant practical experience except some tests with GPS tracker for the car.
Actually, no matter what is the trackable object the principle is the same. You can read more detailed in my previous posts just in the nutshell how it works.
Tracker device includes GPS receiver, power supply, and signal transmitting unit which normally is GSM cellular network but also may be Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Iridium satellite communication system, HidenSeek, and some other transmitters. On-demand or scheduled GPS tracker transmits geographical position obtained by satellites and you can see it on the screen of smartphone, tablet or computer. Very simple, is it?
Sounds great but in real life not always everything is so smooth as we would like.
I still searching the best GPS tracker for the dog in the market and hope to find one until the end of the writing the present post.
Although the main features for trackers are the same, there are also some differences between GPS trackers for cars, trackers for boats, drones and GPS tracker for pets.
How I see what is the ideal device to find my dog quickly.
I will skip advice like keep your dog at home or always keep dogs on leash. No doubt that there are some designated or not places where you should keep a dog next to you. It is the other story. Just it is well known that dogs tend to run away.
What are the main reasons for it?
-Trying to get home when you recently moved;
-Habit, somehow related to above;
-Mating;
-Loneliness or boredom;
-Something scares them;
-Something excites them;
-It’s easy and some more.
Every of these reasons has some tips to cope with like training your pup, mending fences and so.
This time, what to do and how to painlessly find your friend when it has already run away.
Finally, I have reached the topic theme, and one of the most modern solutions is GPS tracker for the dog.
What I consider is important and essential for this device and maybe not so needed for other trackers:
-time interval, how long time frame between demand and feedback from tracker;
-possibility to be found in heavily obscured places (basements, tunnels, high buildings, etc.);
-durability and waterproof;
-battery life;
-costs.
A Little bit more detailed what I mean.
Time is essential as a dog is always moving and even a couple of minutes’ delay could lead to an empty place. Even more, an accuracy of the GPS position varies and depends on many factors. So, as stronger is tracker hardware as a position of an object is more precise. One of the solutions is the possibility to receive multiple satellite systems data as Russian GLONASS and in near future European Galileo satellite navigation system. Logically, such a device would cost a lot.
One detail I forget to mention, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi feature for close range direct connection with the tracker unit to get exact position.
I would like to notice that even multi-satellite systems receiver equipped trackers cannot be located when it is under heavy cover. So, when a dog is into the deep underground spaces than a little or no chances is to find him. The only way is to follow the past track and try to use a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi feature to establish the connection between GPS tracker and your smartphone.
Maybe I miss something important. You are very welcome to correct or add and with a common effort find the best solution.
Where to begin and how to separate the search results. My favorite place is Amazon customers reviews for information. Why not start with digging in shelves of this huge online retailer?
Let’s take a look at the device which tick all the boxes, well, almost all.
Find My Pet Nano GPS Dog Tracker is the first which fell into my eyes.
From Amazon
„… WI-FI AND BLUETOOTH ENABLED: Unlike most GPS dog trackers, the Find My Pet Nano can track accurately indoors and out using existing WI-FI and Bluetooth signals, No passwords needed! How is that for peace of mind! It’s also Waterproof & has a Rechargeable Battery. “ Read more here
GPS, GLONASS, and QZSS 18mm tuned antenna.
What to add, almost everything I wished to have. Battery life never is enough, so daily recharge is only a gained habit, like an iPhone or another cutting-edge smartphone to be charged daily.
It takes a time for me to read almost all fifty reviews but it is worth to read them.
I found in some one-two stars reviews a lack of instruction on how to set up a device and app. Strange, it takes a minute to find Nano App Tutorial.
Conclusion.
It is the one to put on the must-have list. Some flaws like Geo fence issue or Tech Support slow response is not a big deal for me. Size is okay for our 6 kg Chihuahua dog and price for about $80 is quite reasonable.
Is it better than others? Never know before try.
Even though I already found what I wanted, I continued to look at others and whether they met my requirements. Correct me if I am wrong, but even amongst so popular Tractive
, Whistle
or Tagg
GPS trackers, I did not find the right one.Let’s return to the beginning of this post. GPS tracker in dogs still is a future option as the size of the device is too large and intended to be attached to the collar.
Take care of your dog.
I am not sure what you are doing in this site.Are you here to advise dog owners how to find their pets with a gps tracker or are you seeking advice as to a better way. Sorry but i did not find this site very helpful.i believe this whole site is to sell this one product.
Thanks for stopping by. In fact, I wanted to say that market is full of useless GPS trackers and I tried to find one which is more or less suitable for dog search. I set the requirements, and I found that Nano basically meets these requirements. I guess that you have more experience about GPS tracking for dogs so it will be kind of you to share an experience.
And one more thing. Many people think that the trackers are making a magic wand after reading manufacturers ads of the product. Very few know the basics of GPS (Global Positioning System) how it works and GPS tracking particularly. There are so many factors to be taken into account for good GPS tracker for dogs. I found on the net that many people think that dogs ID chip the same as GPS tracker and searching information about offers online. Thanks a lot.
Hey Andrei. I’ve just had a read of your article and to be honest I am just as confused as Douglas. There doesn’t seem to be a clear direction for your site. Nothing that gives us as readers any clues as to where you’re looking to communicate not just with this article, but with your entire site. Can I suggest that you maybe simplify things a little and rather than being too concerned with using big complex words that you just make your articles more conversational. You’ll find that if you write as if you are having a chat with your reader that things become so much easier and you’re not worrying about sounding like a dictionary. Simple is always best. I’m assuming that English is not your first language so you are doing fantastically well all things considered. This truly is a great effort. Keep it up and you’ll get there. No one get’s everything right on their first attempt so don’t be disheartened. You’ll get the hang of this eventually and be writing like a pro soon enough! Good luck and all the best on your journey xx
Thanks Rachel for criticism and advice and you are right regarding language, mistakes writing style. No one is perfect and all of us learning all the time, I hope so. When it comes to this post, I really can not understand what is incomprehensible. In a nutshell again. It is not a post just to add content to my site, in fact, I try to give a real value and advice to my readers. For the given post about GPS tracker for dogs. Hopefully for those who search for such a solution for dogs watching a GPS tracker is not an unknown solution. I just wanna warn them that need to think twice before you spend money and do not consider it to be a magic wand.
Well I didn’t even know you could get Gps trackers for dogs so I did learn something from your article. I am a toy poodle owner and think that the one you reviewed would be too big and it is quite expensive?
Finding one that is suitable would be useful as it is always a worry that your dog will get lost especially if distracted easily when off lead on the park. Thankfully this has not happened but I would be interested in your views once you have tried the product you reviewed.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Thank you, Karen, for stopping by. I definitely give you to know about my experience of Find My Pet Nano GPS tracker. I really mean to buy it if only I will not find better one.
I shared this with my wife we are looking for a chip for our dogs and this was informative.
Thanks for stopping by. I just wanna remind that ID microchip implant is compulsory almost everywhere and it is mainly when a dog is gone or lost. The chip contains information about the owner to return a pet. Size of GPS tracker does not allow implant it. It allows following the dog’s track by using GPS satellite signal and transmits a position to the owner via GSM network.
Do not forget that microchip for pets is not the same as GPS tracker.
Thanks for this article and a reminder about GPS for our dogs. I knew about this but kinda got it of my list of priorities. With Christmas coming up, I can predict that our dog is going to get a GPS present as well as his favorite cookies!
These devices are so useful. Not too expensive too. I presume they last a long time so over time they don’t work out as too pricey.
GPS for dogs (and hopefully in the near future, GPS in dogs!) can save many days of anguish for when your dog runs away. Love this product!
Thanks, Alenka for stopping by. I found another one of the smallest and latest GPS tracker with no monthly fees.
Very interesting stuff, because I was under the impression that a micro-chipped dog was a dog that was fitted with a kind of GPS locator…but as you point out that probably would be too large (and therefore too cruel) to fit in an animal.
I also like the idea of a GPS bank card, maybe even a chipped bicycle in a city (as they seemed to be stolen one a minute!). I suppose the main stumbling block for GPS anything is the price it will cost – mainly the workforce that is employed to track the said items?
Do you think the parameters offered by the My Pet Nano GPS Dog Tracker are good enough to find a dog, no matter where it ends up (tunnels etc)?
Hi Chris and thanks for stopping by.
To answer your question regarding Nano GPS tracker for your dog, I’d say that dimensions are ok just to remind that none of GPS tracker could work deep underground like tunnels you mentioned. E.g., If you ever using GPS navigation in your car and passing any tunnel the signal is lost.
But not so hopelessly when it comes to GPS trackers for pets. If your dog is in the cave or tunnel usually it is not so far from the entrance, just about 10 meters or 30 feet, you can send a request to the tracker, and it replays with the latest clear coordinates which as a rule is the entrance.
The only you have to be sure about the mounting of the tracker.
The article was at first a bit hard to follow but I ended up getting a lot of value from reading this post. I was completely unaware that there were dog GPS trackers available and it’s great to now know.
My dog recently ran away and he did not have tags on him at the time as they had fallen off awhile back and I did not replace them in a timely manner. Thank goodness someone had found my dog and posted signs that he was found right away. I am grateful that my dog was found and returned to me and now I am grateful that I know about GPS trackers for dogs.
Thanks for the information. I would recommend having a friend or family member proofread your blog posts prior to publishing them. It is good to fix the typos and make sure everything is grammatically correct. You can even hire someone on Fiverr to assist you with that.
Are there different size GPS trackers for different dogs?
Thanks again for the information and keep writing articles with great topics.
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, there are different size trackers on the market. I check the news and found one new small size GPS tracker it is Findster Duo+ Pet Tracker. The customer’s reviews are different, but the size fits for even small dogs and no monthly fees at all.
Living in this current day and age of advance technology, you would think at mini-micro sizing a GPS tracker would be a no-brainer! We have seen the desktop computer advance from being several bulky parts to a unit that fits in your hand or smaller.
I wonder if it’s a priority thing that developers don’t see this concern/need to be pressing enough to render a result of that pet owners are seeking.
Technology for micro-chipping kids along similar needs are being looked into, requiring far more technology to be applied but it too is being slowed because of requirements, size and tracking system .
NOTE: Microchips carry only a unique identification number. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number.
It has been my misunderstanding thinking that by microchipping a pet “was” a means of GPS tracking.
I see most GPS tracker type devices are falling back to a larger market of external trackers being offer in specialized clothing lines. That external for dogs and cats fall back to collars, pet license tag or clothing.
I know that the comic strip “Dick Tracy” put the ideal of a smartwatch in our heads many decades ago to only see it become reality decades later. With GPS trackers being implanted in pets and human are often exaggerated in movies today maybe that will have a similar “Dick Tracey” effect.
The need is here, the technology is here, why combining them into a suitable design that accompanies “all” the required needs is becoming a “speed bump” along the way, I have no answer.
Thank you for your research on this topic, being a dog lover, it gave me a lot more to think about in being able to keep up with our four-legged friends.
Well, well, well what the great comment, actually a mini-post!
Thanks, Donnie.
I do think that not too long and GPS tracker in the dogs will come to a reality. I am sure that it is even available Today just not for the public use, prices, security an so on. For passive GPS tracking, it is no brainer.
Thanks.
This is actually very interesting. But the fact is that most dogs are loyal to their family. If he runs away there is something wrong with the home he is in. On the other hand as dog owner it can feel secure to know where your dog is at all times if you feel like there is a risk of the dogs safety. I am not a dog owner yet but I liked the idea of keeping track of my future dog. This device seems like the right choice. Thanks for shedding light and explaining the difference between tracker and microchip.
Hi Pet. You are right that dog is usually loyal to owners and you do not need to attach GPS tracker every day. Many dog owners take pets on holiday trips and some dogs used to run away in unknown places, and here GPS tracker for pets can help a lot.
I think the idea of gps for dogs is great. I don’t have a dog now but have in the past and have had a dog stolen. We probably would have found him if he had a gps tracker. Your site explains the subject very well. I would have a gps tracker if I have another dog. Thanks for the articles, they are very interesting.
Hi Carolyn and thanks for the comment. It is better to choose for GPS tracker instead of radio tracker. Radio tracker is mainly used for hunting dogs, and the range is about the same as Walkie Talky (portable VHF radio communication means) and the price is much higher.
I hadn’t really thought about putting a GPS tracker on my dog before, but you are right…if it moves, it should be able to be tracked! I also have a small dog, though, and most of the trackers seem like they would be too cumbersome for him (especially since he’s an older dog, too). Living in a mountainous area where there is no clear range for signals is another added issue. Like you, I will keep searching for the ideal GPS for my dog, but it’s good to know the options exist!
This seems like a potentially handy device, a GPS tracker for your dog, but how functional are they out in rural areas? Doesn’t GPS need a cell phone connection to be able to communicate the location of the unit back to the owner? I live in a quite rural area with very little cell coverage. Would something like this work for me if I wanted to try it out?
Hello Craig. You’re right, without GSM coating, these trackers are unusable though I find it hard to imagine these days such a secluded place where there is no cellular network.
I think gps trackers is for owners who dont really take care of their dogs and let them run free. it’s the lazy way of knowing where your pet is!
A microchip is a much better option since has the owners name and contact details and this put the onus on the owner to take care of their pet rather than GPS look up.
my question to owners who want to put a gps on their pet would be – would you accept one first? (but i guess we already do since we take are smart phones everywhere with us! )
Hello Tarun. I totally agree with you that the master has to take care and try to look after his dog. Microchip is a self-evident thing.
Use a GPS tracker or not it’s your choice. My neighbor’s dog sometimes tends to jump over the fence and roam somewhere. Once, it didn’t return home for two days. I told him about GPS tracker, he hadn’t heard anything like that and bought Findster Duo + Pet Tracker at once. In the meantime, the dog hasn’t gone anywhere but we experimented. You can see perfectly any dog’s position except in the underground basement not because there is no GPS signal.
Technology has really evolved so much that we have GPS tracking for animals?! This is overwhelming. Dogs can getting missing most times so I support the use of GPS trackers on pets. You could easily find your beloved pet especially if its waterproof and has battery life. I’ve lost a dog before so it would be nice to have a tracker on them.
Having a simple GPS tracker is a great idea for any pet owner be it a cat or a dog, it makes it possible to be able to tell the exact location of your lovely pet any time any day. I have an insight into what you’re explaining the lack of a chip for pets as at now, available chips are too big and not made specifically for pets and so might end up harming instead of protecting the pet.
Hello Andrejs. Thank you for this interesting review. Did you find any information about how this type of GPS devices may interfere with a dog’s natural “navigation” system? I am a trained electrician following extra training in man-made and natural electromagnetic fields and their influence on health and behavior. We learnt that animals’ natural “navigation system” can be negatively influenced by man-made electromagnetic fields. These GPS trackers are electronic devices, so it’s got to have some effect on the dog… I’d be curious to hear if you found anything about that during your research on this topic? Nathalie
Hello Nathalie.
You asked a great question that I had already thought about and interested about. My thoughts are as follows. The impact of GPS and GSM on the health of the dog or cat is very minor, and these electromagnetic emissions do not harm the pet. Scientists use GPS tracker to study animal habits and migration. I think it doesn’t affect the natural navigation system either.
For whom do you need this GPS tracker if your dog usually gets home in two or three days?
I think GPS tracker is a useful thing anyway. For these two days, a dog can be in a sad situation, and a timely finding can sometimes save it even life.
Hi,
Thank you for sharing this information on tracking your dog. Did not know that there are GPS trackers for dog or cats. I certainly learn a new gadget is available for this situation. You are right some times a dog will run away and not really have a reasonable reason for it. I noticed that they can attached to the collar, so depending on the company that how the size would be? A standard style is not available? I would be interested in your views once you have tried the product you reviewed and found.
Thank you and look forward to the review article,
LadyEsther
Great article, I have been having some trouble with my dog recently, he has a tendency of finding way out of the durawall and when he does that, you may spend the whole day without seeing him. This has happened frequently in the past and may afraid I may lose him. Buying dog GPS Tracker, I think will help me know where and what he will be doing out but most importantly, it will help me find him when I need him.
Thank you so much for suggesting the Find My Pet Nano, just hope its going to be my problem solver
Hello. GPS trackers for dogs can really help find the runaway dog sometimes, but in any case, the dog needs to be looked after.
Thanks for sharing this. I have gotten ID microchips mixed up with each other before, but now, thanks to your article, I understand that a microchip will only ID who the dog belongs to if found. A GPS tracker, is just that, a tracker and I didn’t realize there weren’t really any ones that could fit animal especially a smaller dog. I see that there are some listed on Amazon, but they look quite too big at the moment and I fear they could easily come off. Thanks for sharing this article!
Thank Brian for the comment. There are different sizes of GPS trackers available on the market, including very small ones. Before purchasing it, however, consider whether it is really necessary.
I would like to say, in response to a few of the other comments:
The need for GPS tracking is very real in a few niches. My husband and our competition no-kill hunting community would benefit greatly with this. We turn our dogs out in specific areas to hunt. These areas are far from major roads because our dogs can cover territory relatively quick. We purchase very pricy GPS handhelds and collar systems that that are good for a mile or two radius and more if the territory allows (not too many deep empty creek beds or mountainous areas. When these areas are entered there are intermittent signal loss. Also when dealing with any machines you come across machine error, a need for calibration, and dead batteries or batteries that did not take a charge. A product that can be injected and the size of a long grain piece of rice, that would not create discomfort or restriction, and would allow you to get within a say 50 yard radius of your animal would be rather helpful. Regardless of cost. We do not fall in the category of “I think gps trackers is for owners who don’t really take care of their dogs and let them run free. it’s the lazy way of knowing where your pet is!” which would make this blanket statement careless and undereducated.