Dog GPS Trackers (Pros & Cons)

Everyone loves their dogs. They’re treated like a part of the family, and studies have shown that having a dog can actually help you live longer. Many dog owners think nothing of sending their pets to day care, getting their teeth cleaned or glamming them up at the groomer’s. But who hasn’t mistakenly left a door ajar, or got distracted while unloading groceries, to later catch a glimpse of their beloved animal, bounding down the street like an ungrateful scamp, as if he were escaping an abusive relationship? This article discusses Global Positioning System (GPS tracking) for dogs and if it can be the answer to helping keep pets safe!

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Lot of Money

There are many reliable methods of dog retention. Leashes, ID tags, the backyard fence and the electric fence are seen every day. More unusual is a personal GPS tracker designed for dogs.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin equipped his pooch Koni with a GPS tracking collar, in a plug for the Russian satellite system GLONASS.

In the United States, there are a growing number of companies that have adapted GPS trackers for pets. These gadget designers are betting pet owners will pay any price for the comfort of a cold, wet nose and the nuzzle of a muzzle. The other side to the debate is that GPS tracking systems for dogs are just another novelty, still in its infant stages.

Is a GPS tracking systems for dogs worth the price? The cost varies with sophistication and features, starting at about $49 to several hundred dollars. Plus, due to the real-time device’s reliance on a wireless network, the system has ongoing monthly subscription fees that range from $15 to $30 a month.

How GPS Tracking Systems For Dogs Work

GPS tracking for dogs uses the same technology common in GPS fleet tracking solutions, which have been . Today real time GPS tracking is common in many segments of society: Law enforcement, the military, business and at home.

Most GPS tracking collars for dogs utilize a combination of satellite and cellular technology called Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS). The animal’s location, time and date is recorded at regular intervals that range from 5 minutes to an hour.

When the pet goes missing, the owner can see the animal’s location on a computer or Internet-enabled cell phone. Or when they call a customer care number, a representative will give directions to the pet.

Some of the devices incorporate geo-tracking. Owners can set up a virtual fence around familiar areas such as home, the office, day care, the groomer’s and the park. The pet owner is notified by text message or email when the animal moves outside a “safe” zone.

Pet GPS Trackers Have Some Growing To Do

Some pet owners would pay a hefty sum for a fail-proof way of keeping their pets safe. The question is if GPS tracking for dogs is effective. Several drawbacks have been noted by consumers.

• Price: Some people think that paying $500 a year for a dog version of vehicle tracking is wasteful. The thriftiest of savers would argue that anybody that spends that amount of money on a beloved pet shouldn’t let it run around unsupervised in the first place.
• Power: Dog tracking devices are only as dependable as their batteries. Battery life can range by product. For continuous live GPS tracking, the batteries might have to be charged nightly.  For on-demand GPS tracker, the batteries could last several days. In either case, the unit will eventually fail without recharge. Dogs are known to wander for days, if not weeks or months.
• Coverage: Most GPS collars use a combination of cellular and satellite technologies. Wireless coverage can be inconsistent or non-existent in wooded or rugged terrain. Because Global Positioning System navigation on cell phones requires a clear line of sight to the sky, many of the locators don’t work indoors. If a pet was found by a Good Samaritan or got taken to a shelter, an ID tag would give a better chance of return.
• Size/Weight of Unit: Some GPS units designed for dogs are bulky and not recommended for animals under 10 or 15 pounds. Small dogs like terriers are breeds that tend to get lost most often. In addition, domestic animals do not like the feeling of something foreign on them. They’ll scratch and chew at the GPS tracking device, if they have the opportunity.
• Weather-resistance: Many advertisements for these products say that they are water-resistant, not waterproof. If the dog is a swimmer, it’s unlikely the tracker will survive being immersed. Likewise, if the animal is lying in the snow, the personal tracking collar’s electronics might fail.
• False alarms: With geo-fencing, several permitted areas or safe zones can be factored into the GPS tracking program. But the system would have to be reprogrammed or over-ridden if the pet lover takes the animal anywhere outside the routine, like the store or bank, or on a walk. Where the dog is permitted to go with a family member is very different from where the animal is allowed alone.

GPS Tracking Is Not Pet Microchipping

What pet owners are demanding are implant chips with GPS tracking capabilities.

As “Sad & Worrying” appeals on a pet lover’s blog: “My sweet little Westie ran off but wasn’t wearing her collar. If there was a trackable microchip we would have her home long ago. Please keep working to bring this type of technology to light for future pet owners so they won’t suffer if their dogs get lost.”

Microchips are under-the-skin implants that have been around for years and used in a majority of pets. The chip carries an identification code, usually name, breed, vet, or other information that would allow someone who scans the tag to find its home.

Microchips store data, but they cannot receive data, so they won’t reveal the whereabouts of a missing dog. An implanted tracking chip is not possible because it wouldn’t have a renewable source of power. Allison Tomek, a spokesperson for a U.S. company that makes implantable microchips commented:

“Our chips store a 16-digit identification number for medical purposes. We do not know when or if someone will develop an implantable microchip with GPS technology, but it is not an application we are pursuing.”

GPS tracking for dogs has been getting a lot of attention lately. It carries the potential benefit of tracking down a beloved pet in a short amount of time. But it does have drawbacks. Hopefully, the technology will advance enough in the next few years that the price, and the positives will outweigh the shortcomings.