GPS Tags for Dogs

The Bishop Basher

Hi,

A quick search of the forum only turns up very old thread and one thread from last year asking the same question but which went unanswered..

So i'm asking the same thing again.

We had to put 2 dogs down on the same day earlier this year.

I bought a boxer pup the following day and she's been a dream from day one. I never thought I could love a dog as much again but here I am, head over heels..

Anyway, she's getting to that age where i'd like to let her off on walks up the woods. The other dogs get to run and it drives her nuts to be on the lead, even the long one. Her recall is really good as long as she's not distracted. Where we walk here is a wooded area with few distractions but lots of places to get lost. The other 2 dogs are springers and so they dive in and out of undergrowth like it's not there..

I'm not sure a gangly clumsy boxer will fare so well..

She gets a run on the beach and in nearby parks but i'd like to let her off up the woods cause I know she'll love it.

The family couldn't bear losing another dog this year so i'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe even if the family think i'm going a bit ott with the pet cam idea j/k.

I know GPS tags are far from fool proof but it would provide me with an extra level of comfort should she decide to wander into the wooded areas and get lost.

I'd love to hear from someone who's used one.

Was it any use and what would you look out for if getting another.

I see some old threads mention that the decent ones are really expensive but technology has got a lot smaller and cheaper so i assume these tags have improved considerably in the last decade or so..

I'm seeing some that look pretty decent around the €100 mark.

Anyway, if anyone has any info i'd appreciate a steer.

Cheers.

Kamili

I use a tractive on my pup, however I do not let him wander unsupervised (as a caveat)

https://tractive.com/eu_en

Its a subscription service of 100 a year and the device is 50 to buy. It does however need charging every 4-5 days or less depending on how active the doggy is.

It has an app for your phone and you can track the pup live through this. It send notification if your dog leaves his virtual fence, which is an area you set up virtually on the map, if he walks outside this it will notify you.

Its about an inch or so square, but fairly light and easy to attach to a collar. For a smaller dog or a cat I think it would be too big.

I love mine, but as noted I only use it to see where my pup goes on his walks, he's not always walked by me (a family member brings him sometimes too and yes they know he has a tracker on him) and its interesting to live track him as he toddles round. I also keep horses and sometimes let him off in the confines of the yard and its useful to see where he has gone. you can make it beep through he app and there is a little light you can turn on on it too.

wexie

Kamili wrote: »

It has an app for your phone and you can track the pup live through this.

So it's important to realize it's only ever going to be as reliable as whatever mobile coverage you may or may not have in the woods.

The Bishop Basher

Hey thanks for taking the time to reply..

I appreciate it..

I think I’ll just go get the same one so.

This is only a back up in case she went after something or disappeared and it’s peace of mind for me..

I don’t let her out of my sight so this is just backup and peace of mind for me more then anything else..

Cheers.