We're going to be welcoming a dog into our family over the next week, and I've been looking into dog trackers to keep track of him if he wanders. We'll be keeping a close eye on him, but live on acreage and will probably go running with him in bush areas - it seems like a good idea to have a GPS tracker for our peace of mind should he get lost. Looking at the options , there doesn't seem to be many quality/reputable GPS trackers with SIM built in. Has anyone got any recommendations, or experience with this kind of thing?
Many thanks in advance!
Best Dog GPS Tracker?
LQueeNZlander on 06/07/2021 - 20:14
Comments
Yes, was looking at this but wasn't too sure with the mixed reviews. Like you point out though, I might just have to go with it and return if it doesn't work out! thanks.
If it's defective and doesn't work you'll have a hard time finding it to return it.
Ahaha you make a very good point!
Airtag?
Airtag only works with bluetooth, so wouldn't be a lot of use over any distance. Might be useful if we were in the city with other Airtag users nearby, but not so in the bush. Thanks though :)
given you're in the bush, maybe those hunting trackers would be a better option?
tbh it sounds like something the batteries would go flat/you'll forget to recharge often. I wouldnt bother, just give him a phone number tag.
If it were me, i'd just give him a reflective collar, and if you have to look for him at night, you can use a spotlight.
Have a look at the toplovo.com website. I bought a alert pendant for my elderly relative directly from them. Originally just emailed asking questions and they offered to sell. The exact model that is sold in Australia for $490 only cost just over $100 including various watchbands and straps and desktop charger. I then had to pay for the DHL shipping. The same basic unit is used for various purposes. Easy to attach to a collar and it's very robust and water resistant. I bought the TL-403 as it was 4G and more future proof. There is a pet model tracker on their website but it only says 2G and IoT.
I put an Aldi Sim in it and only set the GPS tracking to update really slowly to conserve power. It lasts for over a week. If I sms it asking for an update, or if she presses the alert button it does a location check and sends the coordinates. If you program it to check location more often you can track the location on Google using data.
i bought one of ali express no subscription needed pretty simple to set up put a sim in and follow the three steps in the instructions ( the apps are very basic but it does the job not really ideal to leave on 24/7 but nothing out there atm is …
You should realize dogs wandering in the bush can do a lot of harm. Not just to wildlife but also livestock, and before you say not my little pet I have had personal experience at what they can and will do. So please either an enclosed yard , or a chain and take him / her for a supervised walk on a lead for exercise.
I did a fair bit of research into this and still haven't bought one. However, my shortlist has the Tile tracker or Telstra GPS tracker (look it up). These two seem to be the only reasonable options, especially if you don't want to spend $100+.
It’s worth noting what lesleigh above said, also you need to be wary of bait others may have laid for wild dogs and foxes. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-09/maremma-sheepdogs-poi… https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-24/1080-baiting-in-pilba… Best to invest in strategies that mean the dog won’t wander ie fenced area and training.
For some of them, you also need a plan. Telstra Locator is $10 per month and Tractive has two plans and payment options.
If you go bush, you should check for phone coverage in that area as well if it's using 3G or something.You need a proper hunting collar (i.e garmin astro/alpha)
Anything less is basically useless.What I would recommend is teaching dogs where your boundary is.
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/tractive-gps-dog-4-tracke…
Return if doesn't work or meet expectations.