In addition, we found it to be unreliable and hard to use even within the scope of its capabilities.Ī Bluetooth-based tracker like the Apple AirTag may be a better low-cost choice than the Pawscout, even though it has similar limitations and isn’t designed specifically for tracking pets. Not even the sizable cost savings-the Pawscout costs $15 plus $15 per year for optional extended service-compensates for that limitation. That means if your dog goes missing, you could track its location only when it happens to be within 300 feet of someone else who happens to be using the Pawscout app. The Pawscout Smarter, meanwhile, lacks both cellular and GPS technologies, relying instead on close-range Bluetooth connections to other Pawscout owners to find lost dogs. That potential cost savings, however, doesn’t make up for the relatively limited range of its GPS-based tracking: two-thirds of a mile in areas dense with buildings, homes, or trees, according to the PetFon website, and up to 3.5 miles in more open spaces. The PetFon Tracker II costs a relatively hefty $240 but could save you money over time because it does not use cellular service for tracking, so there’s no ongoing subscription or service fee. Two of the seven models we tested, however, lack GPS or cellular capability or both, and we can’t recommend either as a result, even though they can cost less than other models. You can read about recommended models below, and also check out our full ratings.īut first, a few important things to keep in mind:Īs their ratings indicate, all five of the trackers that use a combination of GPS and cellular service- Cube GPS Real Time, Fi Series 2, Link Smart Pet Wearable, Tractive GPS Dog LTE, and Whistle Go Explore-do a very good job (if not perfect, as noted below) at their core function: locating and tracking your pet from afar. While my conclusions largely mirrored those of CR’s test team, I noticed some nuances that might make one of them better suited to you and your pup’s needs. To add a layer of real-world insight, I also spent several weeks using the same seven devices to track Luna as she went about her daily routine, including tracking her movements in both default and “lost dog” modes as family members walked her around my neighborhood. For each model, they tested tracking ability, evaluated ease of use (including how easy they are to charge and attach to a dog’s collar), and ease of setup (including installing and connecting the app). The CR lab team performed formal evaluations of seven popular pet trackers. Sheepadoodles require a lot of activity, so these features were especially appealing to my family: It’s nice to know if we’d managed to get Luna enough exercise on any given day, or if we hadn’t and needed to extend her last walk of the day. Most of the devices also serve as a fitness tracker for your pooch, helping you set daily exercise goals based on their breed, weight, and age, and letting you know how many steps, miles, or active minutes your dog is getting each day and over time. Some also let you designate danger zones and alert you if your dog is approaching a busy street, say, or a body of water. Most GPS pet trackers also allow you to create a safe zone around your home-defined either by being close enough to still be connected to your WiFi, or by staying within a geofence that you demarcate on a map-and then alert you if your dog leaves that zone. By contrast, a GPS pet tracker enables you to actively track a missing pet in real time with a high degree of accuracy. Microchips rely on someone finding your pet, “reading” it with a specialized electronic tool, and then contacting you. These devices are very different from the small microchip identification tags that many dogs have implanted beneath their skin.
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