GPS dog trackers: what to look for before you buy
A GPS tracker shows you where your dog is on your phone. Dogs Trust says it can help you find a dog quickly in an emergency. Trackers vary a lot, so here are the questions worth asking before you buy one.
7 questions to ask
How long does the battery last?
A tracker only works while it's charged. Check how long it lasts between charges with live tracking on, and how you'll know when it's low.
How does it get its signal?
Check how it sends your dog's location to your phone, and whether that needs mobile signal where you walk.
Is there a subscription?
Check the ongoing cost as well as the price of the device, and what happens if you stop paying.
How often does it update?
Check how often the location refreshes in live mode. A slow update matters when a dog is running.
Will it fit your dog?
Check the size and weight for your dog, how it attaches, and that the collar still fits well with it on.
Is it waterproof?
Check what it can cope with if your dog swims or walks in the rain.
What else does it do?
Some offer safe-zone alerts or activity tracking. Decide which features you'll actually use.
What a tracker doesn't do
For a side-by-side comparison, see microchip vs QR tag vs GPS tracker.
- It doesn't replace a microchip, which is a legal requirement
- It doesn't replace a collar tag with your name and address in public
- It doesn't help a stranger who finds your dog contact you
- It stops working when the battery runs out
Where a PawTrak collar fits in
PawTrak isn't a GPS tracker. It's a QR plate on your dog's collar that any phone camera can read, so whoever finds your dog can message you and share their location. It never needs charging, and it works alongside a tracker.
- No battery and no app needed to scan.
- Free profile with every collar.
- Your vet and medical notes are there if your dog is hurt.
Shop collars · See what a finder sees