If you are searching for pet safety gadgets, a GPS dog collar can be a game-changer in enhancing the security of your canine companion. But are these high-tech pet accessories truly worth your investment? Dive in to find out!

GPS dog collars are wearable devices with a GPS system to locate your pet’s whereabouts in real time. The GPS technology in these collars allows pet parents to monitor their dog’s location using a compatible device, typically a smartphone.

How Do GPS Dog Collars Work?

If your dog loves playing outdoors, a GPS collar is the perfect solution to keep tabs on your pet. If your dog goes missing, you’ll receive an instant alert on your smartphone, providing precise details about your furry friend’s location.

Most GPS dog collars also offer geofencing, allowing you to create invisible boundaries or set up safe zones like your home, where your dog can walk or play, giving you peace of mind. If your dog goes beyond these borders, you’ll receive a notification.

Does GPS Collar Shock My Dog?

The short answer is NO. The GPS collar does not shock your dog. The GPS collars are specifically designed for tracking and location purposes and do not include features of shock or buzz. These collars focus on providing real-time location details and other related features such as geofencing and activity tracking.

If your dog leaves the safe zone, such as the yard, the dog won’t get any shock, but you will promptly receive an alert on your phone notifying you about your pet’s movements. If a GPS collar includes a shock feature, it is known as the training or a GPS shock collar.

Why Should You Buy a GPS Dog Collar for Your Pet?

GPS Dog Collar is a worthwhile investment if you have an energetic dog who loves exploring the outdoors. These collars offer several benefits for pet owners:

Enhanced Safety

With the help of real-time tracking, you can pin your pet’s location and keep a watchful eye on him. So, GPS collars help a great deal in reducing the chances of your dog going missing.

Peace of Mind

Knowing you can monitor your pet’s location at any time gives you peace of mind while you are at work or doing house chores.

Activity Tracking

Some GPS collars include activity tracking features, offering valuable insights into your dog’s activities, like running or walking. This functionality contributes to their overall health and well-being.

Does my Dog Need a GPS Collar If He’s Microchipped?

A dog microchip is a small electronic device installed under your pet’s skin. It contains a unique ID number linked to the pet owner’s contact information. This number can be scanned by a microchip reader used by vets and animal shelters.

Microchipping is a useful practice to reunite lost pets with their owners. According to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), one out of three pets go missing at some point in their lives. Thus, a GPS collar prevents your dog from getting lost in the first place. These tracking collars allow you to monitor your furry friend, sending instant alerts to your phone if your pet leaves the safe zone.

4 Best GPS Dog Collar

Following are some of the best GPS dog collars you should buy to keep a watchful eye on your canine companion.

Whistle GO Explore GPS Location Tracker

If you’re on the hunt for a reliable GPS collar to keep a close eye on your pet’s movements and overall well-being, the Whistle GO Explore GPS Location Tracker is a promising choice. Using AT&T technology, this collar allows you to pinpoint your dog’s location on Google Maps, sending alerts every 15 seconds for real-time tracking.

The built-in night light enhances visibility so you can locate your furry friend in dimly lit areas. The GPS tracker monitors your pet’s scratching and licking, generating weekly wellness reports for valuable health insights. It goes the extra mile by recommending tailored activities based on your pet’s breed, age, and weight to maintain optimum health.

With its impressive features come some cons. Some users have noted a drawback with the battery life, which claims 20 days but appears to last longer only when connected to Wi-Fi. Additionally, the clasp that attaches to the collar may not offer a secure hold, leading to occasional detachment.

Despite these considerations, the Whistle GO Explore remains a valuable tool for pet owners seeking a comprehensive GPS solution that combines location tracking with health monitoring for their canine companions.

Garmin GPS Dog Collar

If you live in the countryside or have an adventurous spirit, the Garmin GPS Dog Collar is for you. Unlike other dog collars, it doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi or cell towers. Instead, it has an antenna attached to catch radio waves, enabling you to locate your dog within an impressive 9-mile radius.

This device boasts exceptional accuracy, but the convenience comes at a price. As this GPS dog collar doesn’t have an app, you’ll need to buy a handheld tracker to find your pup. The antennae receive the signals related to your pup’s location and transmit this information to the handheld tracker.

The collar comes with beacon LED lights to spot your furry friend from a distance in a dark area. With rugged construction and water-resistant features, this collar is built to withstand various conditions.

In addition to providing accurate location, this collar has a 80 hours long reliable battery, so that your pet’s location is consistently tracked. However, some users have found that the unit battery on the collar is bulky, making it less suitable for smaller dogs.

SpotOn GPS Dog Collar

The SpotOn GPS Dog Collar is a durable and innovative virtual dog collar designed for setting up invisible fences and tracking your dog’s location using GPS, Bluetooth, or cellular networks. This collar enables you to establish invisible safe zones where your dog can roam freely. It alerts your dog with beeps when approaching the fence boundary and vibrates if attempting to escape the safe zone. Also, the static correction feature can be activated, allowing you to customize the correction level from 1 to 30.

 It’s travel-friendly as users can create multiple fences, up to 20, without any acreage limit, providing flexibility and adaptability to different environments. It’s free of cost, too, so you don’t have to worry about monthly subscriptions.

The GPS technology is highly accurate, connecting to 128 satellites, thus eliminating the need for Wi-Fi to create precise boundaries. This feature makes it an ideal choice for dog owners with escape artists.

With a cellular network and a minimal monthly fee, you can activate the tracking and recall feature to locate your dog anytime. Also, the collar features an in-built light for added visibility during nighttime activities.

Although this collar has a 22-hour battery life with a quick one-hour recharge time, users are not pleased with its battery. The battery doesn’t charge overnight and saps faster than it charges. All in all, it’s an effective containment collar with an advanced GPS tracking feature, ideal for those prioritizing their dog’s safety and training needs.

PetSafe Guardian GPS Connected Fence

The PetSafe Guardian GPS connected fence comes with advanced AccuGuard GPS technology to keep tabs on your energetic furry friend. The collar alerts the dog with a beep if he tries to near the set boundary.

The fence is designed for properties larger than 3/4 of an acre and allows you to map out the boundary with 32 fence posts that will be saved to the system. Also, you can connect 8 compatible receiver collars to the system, making it suitable for pet owners with multiple dogs.

Despite being a little bit on the expensive side, it remains a cost-effective solution for pet parents. This is due to its ability to connect to 8 compatible receiver collars at once, no monthly subscription charges, and an impressive 72-hour battery life with a quick recharge time of 4 hours.

The collar correction feature provides added control for training purposes, delivering a static correction when your pet attempts to leave the boundary. You have the option to turn it off if desired.

Although this collar comes with advanced GPS technology, it’s important to note that you can experience a slight GPS sway or signal loss in wooded areas. But even after these considerations, its overall features make this connected fence a compelling choice for pet parents.

Key Features for Choosing a GPS Dog Collar

Consider the following features before you buy a GPS dog collar.

Range of Tracking

Before you buy a GPS tracker, make sure to check its range. It should have a good range otherwise you won’t be able to track your furry friend when he wanders beyond the safe zone. Today most GPS trackers use advanced GPS technology that, when fitted to a GPS collar, can track your pet even when he is in off-limit areas.

Water-resistant Design

If your pet is energetic and loves to get dirty in water, buying a waterproof tracker is your best bet. This feature protects the tracker from the damage caused by rain and splashes so you can continue to track your dog without interruption.

Subscription Charges

GPS trackers allow you to keep tabs on your pet, but that benefit comes with a cost. Although there are collars with no subscription charges, their range is often limited. However, most of the subscription plans are affordable with minimal monthly charges.

Mobile App Features

GPS trackers with apps are useful in many ways. It will send you a notification on your phone when your pup leaves the designated safe zone. Some apps allow fitness and activity tracking to keep you updated with your pup’s health. Also, features like geofencing help you create virtual boundaries.

Conclusion

GPS dog collars are equipped with GPS technology to track and prevent him from getting lost. You will get a notification on your phone when your pup leaves the designated safe zone. Also, some collars come with static correction features, but they are known as containment collars not GPS trackers. So, if you want to keep tabs on your energetic pup, investing in a GPS collar sounds like a good idea.