If you’re looking for a convenient and reliable way to keep tabs on your dog, then investing in a quality GPS dog collar or tracker is a wise thing to do. Not only can these collars be useful for training purposes, but they can also be a real lifesaver if your dog ever happens to escape from your home, too.
The best GPS dog collars come with a whole host of extra features that can be accessed using your smartphone. For example, being able to track your dog’s daily activity can be ideal for ensuring they’re getting enough exercise during the week.
Now, it’s worth noting that many of these trackers have been plagued with poor reviews over the years due to tracking inaccuracies and various other issues, but the newer designs are surprisingly accurate and offer a variety of additional useful features.
In this guide, we’re going to highlight a few of the best GPS dog collars and trackers on the market, so let’s take a closer look.
The Best GPS Dog Collars In 2020
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re looking for a high-end dog tracking system, then this option from SportDog definitely fits the bill. While it does only work in the US, it offers you a number of unique features that set it apart from many alternatives, making it a good option for many owners who wish to track their dogs over GPS satellite.
The device comes with the ability to track a dog up to 10 miles away thanks to its reliance on GPS satellite rather than cell service, and it also allows you track up to 21 dogs individually as well. Importantly, the device and collar are both fully submersible and waterproof, and they rely on rechargeable batteries to keep them topped up and ready to go.
Of course, this is a costly item that isn’t designed for only lost dog recovery, but it is a sophisticated piece of technology that can be very useful if you are likely to benefit from the advanced features that it provides.
The handheld screen comes with a number of fantastic options such as waypoint setting, tracking, compass, and geo-fencing technology that’ll allow you to know when your dog has left a designated area. Ultimately, this is one of the most powerful GPS tracking systems on the market for dogs, and while it does come with a price tag to match, it’s easily of the best options you’re likely to find.
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Garmin brand is certainly highly respected when it comes to sophisticated GPS technology, and the Garmin T5 GPS dog collar is no exception. One of the key features of this collar is the fact that it is highly sensitive in terms of GPS, so it gives you a far better reading than several other collars. The battery life gives you anywhere between 20 and 40 hours of duration, although it does use a rechargeable Li-ion battery that should last you for quite some time, and it also has a water rating of 1 ATM (10 m).
The collar itself features a one-inch strap that should be comfortable for most dogs to wear, and it is generally a relatively lightweight item that shouldn’t cause your dog much trouble when it comes to comfort. In terms of range, it offers you a respectable 9 miles at a maximum, and the use of the LED beacon lights also help to increase the visibility of your dog so you can see whereabouts they are as you get closer.
Of course, while these forms of GPS tracking are more expensive than many other units, they also have no monthly charge associated with them, and they are ideal for various training needs or whenever you’re taking your dog out into the great outdoors. Equally, these collars are favored by people who are monitoring hunting and retrieving dogs.
Another top feature is the ability to track multiple dogs, and it will easily keep tabs on up to 20 dogs within a 9-mile radius (just as long as they’re wearing the appropriate tracking collar).
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s another GPS tracker that’s well known for its high degree of accuracy in terms of GPS tracking, and it comes in a variety of sizes to suit dogs from the smallest to the largest of breeds.
The device includes a number of excellent features such as an activity monitor, location tracker, and ambient temperature alert, and it even allows you to trace various special walks and hikes that you’ve enjoyed with your dog using the adventure mode. Additionally, this mode will let you know the time duration, and it even lets you store some photos of your adventures along the way.
The subscription plan comes at a relatively low price and it gives you a vast range of additional features that allow you to keep track of your dog’s location with fantastic accuracy, and the use of the additional features such as temperature control and activity monitoring is certainly a nice thing to see.
You can purchase the device with an extended warranty which is perhaps a good idea if you’re concerned about its durability or longevity, but the reviews are generally quite positive, with the majority of buyers being happy with its performance over the long haul.
Last update on 2023-05-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Whistle 3 GPS pet tracker is perhaps one of the most popular GPS dog collars on the market right now, and it’s easy to see why it is such a popular choice.
Despite its fairly affordable price, it comes with a number of excellent features such as the unrivaled cellular GPS tracking technology that will always let you know where your dog is located whenever you need to know. In fact, the advanced tracking uses a combination of Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS technology so you’ll always be to pinpoint your dog’s location, and if you’ve signed up for the recommended subscription you’ll be able to pinpoint your dog anywhere in the country.
The app gives you a variety of notifications via text and email as well as within the app itself, which lets you know if your pet strays from any of the preset custom safe places that have been set up within the app, and this is a fantastic way to be quickly informed if your dog ever leaves home unexpectedly.
Another great feature is the activity monitor that lets you know how active your dog has been throughout the day, and this information can certainly be useful to track in order to make sure your beloved pooch is getting enough activity to keep them healthy and happy. Overall, this is our top recommendation for anyone who’s looking for a reliable and cost-effective GPS tracker for their dog.
Last update on 2023-05-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s an interesting pet monitor from Eureka Technology, and it’s suitable for both dogs and cats, just as long as they are 5 pounds or heavier in weight. One of the great things about this device is the fact that it is totally self-contained, so it does not require GPS or a cell network in order to work. Of course, this also means that you won’t need to sign up for a monthly subscription service in order to use it.
The device is relatively easy to set up once you have read the instructions, and it gives you everything you need to keep tabs on your pet. Additionally, you can expand your purchase to include up to 3 pets that can be tracked using the same system, although each additional pet will need its own tracking tag.
Another nice feature with this package is the fact that the tracking tags are relatively lightweight, so you shouldn’t find that they disrupt your dog too much, and they’re even suitable for cats as well. The battery also lasts for a very long time, giving you around six weeks of continuous monitoring without any worries.
While it’s somewhat more expensive than several other options, it’s certainly nice that it doesn’t require a monthly subscription, so a simple one-off purchase will be your own expense in this case. Of course, it also gives you many of the key features you’ll need such as safety zone monitoring and effective radar system to scan where your pet’s location, and several other useful features that make it a great buy overall.
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Garmin Astro 320 T5 has long been a popular choice for people who are training dogs or perhaps taking their dog on a hunting trip, and it offers you fantastic GPS sensitivity using the GLONASS system that’s unlikely to let you down.
The collar features a rescue mode and an LED beacon light that makes it easy to track your dog visually, and you can expect the battery life to range anywhere from 20 to 40 hours. Furthermore, the battery relies on Li-On technology that should last for quite some time, and the collar is also comfortable enough to not interfere with your dog too much.
One of the best features of this package is the sophisticated tracking it gives you, and it has a variety of displays such as the compass display and a Birds Eye Map that can pinpoint where your dog is within a relatively small location, as well as check the route they have taken. Furthermore, you can track multiple dogs using this system, although each dog will obviously need its own collar to show up on the tracker.
The 2.6-inch color display is also very nice to use, and you’ll be pleased to learn that it can track up to 10 dogs within a 9-mile radius, so it’s certainly powerful enough for most requirements.
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Tractive GPS pet tracker is another example of a lightweight, reliable GPS tracking device that gives you all of the key features you’re probably looking for in a trustworthy pet tracker. Interestingly, despite the small and compact size, it actually comes with an integrated sim card as well, which gives you reliable real-time tracking ability and very long ranges for a low-cost monthly subscription.
Additionally, the device is fully waterproof, and it can equally be used on other items rather than just a dog collar. For example, some people use these trackers for suitcases, dog apparel, or even on the children!
The included smartphone app gives you live tracking which is great for seeing what your dog is up to at any point during the day, and it can also give you alerts whenever your pet leaves a designated safe zone. As soon as your pet travels outside of this zone, you’ll receive an instant notification on your phone without any fees required.
Another nice touch is the integrated light which can help to increase your pet’s visibility in those darker, twilight hours when visibility is so important on a late-night dog walk. In summary, this is another reliable GPS tracker that tends to receive great reviews and it’s very handy indeed when you’re looking to keep tabs on your pet.
Here’s an affordable option from Find My Pet GPS, and it uses an incredibly small GPS tracking device that can be tracked using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to allow you to keep track of your pet’s location. The Wi-Fi option is certainly an interesting feature to have because it means that it doesn’t rely purely on GPS, so if you don’t have the GPS then you can still use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if your pet isn’t too far away. It also promises to work both indoors and outdoors.
The device is entirely waterproof and it uses a rechargeable battery so it shouldn’t cost you a fortune in battery replacements, and you can usually expect a single charge to last for 2 to 4 days in most cases. Like many devices, it does require a subscription in order to use the GPS service, but it does come with one month free so you can get a sense of how accurate and useful the item is for you and your dog.
Furthermore, it allows you to set up a geofencing feature which means you’ll get an alert when your pet leaves a designated safe area. It also gives you the ability to send your pet’s location to any designated recipient such as a friend or family member, which can be useful for tracking down your dog if they have escaped at some point.
The Paby 3G pet tracker and activity monitor offers you a real-time tracking feature that relies on GPS and Wi-Fi to give you a pinpoint location of where your pet can be found, and it also benefits from an LED light and sound alert feature that can be used for finding your dog if they are outside in the dark.
Additionally, it comes with a useful activity monitor that allows you to keep track of your dog’s daily activity levels, and it also features a safe zone feature that will give you an alert if your dog exits a predetermined safe area.
The device comes in a number of different colors, and the combination of GPS and Wi-Fi tracking technology means you shouldn’t have much trouble when it comes to locating your pet. The mobile app also gives you easy and convenient access to all of the different features on offer such as the virtual fence and the activity information.
The Pod Tracker is another pet locator and activity monitor that’s relatively simple and intuitive to use, and it comes with a number of useful features that a very nice to have at your disposal. Just as you’d expect, it offers you an ‘escape alert system’ that will tell you when your pet has left a designated boundary, and the activity monitoring also goes a long way towards helping you track how much activity your dog is getting on a day-to-day basis.
Furthermore, the device can record up to 8 hours of continuous movements, so you will be able to see where your pet has been over the last eight hours or so without any hassle at all. It’s also worth noting that the pod works in any country around the world, which is great news for international buyers.
While the tracker is somewhat more expensive than several other options, it does benefit from the fact that it offers an entirely free first-year subscription and a fair rate for renewal after this time has expired. The tracker is also fully waterproof, and you can expect the batteries to last up to 6 days before they will need recharging.
Last update on 2023-05-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s an interesting pet locator that isn’t precisely a collar, but it instead features a simple tag that can be attached to your dog’s actual collar without any trouble. While the tag is primarily aimed for cats, there’s no reason why you couldn’t use it for a small dog as well, and it can even be used for a variety of other pets such as ferrets or even free-range chickens! The tag is incredibly light, weighing only 5 g, so it shouldn’t interfere with your pet too much at all – which is great news for those pets that aren’t always the biggest fans of heavy or distracting collars.
The range is somewhat limited compared to some of the trackers on the market, but it does give you a respectable 400 ft range that’s ideal for when your dog is already in the nearby area. Of course, it can also help you to track down your dog quickly if they happen to escape out of your front door, for example.
Additionally, the handheld controller will give you visual and audio cues to let you know when you’re getting closer to your pet, so while it may not guide you as precisely a GPS tracker could, it’s certainly an interesting idea that can prove very useful without having a monthly subscription service to concern yourself with.
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s another compact tracker that can be used either cats or dogs, and it’s also relatively affordable, allowing you to purchase packages which include several tags, so you keep track of multiple pets in your household without too much of an extra expense.
Additionally, there is no monthly fee required to use this tracker, and it can still give you a respectable range of 500m just as long as there is a clear line of sight. Of course, this means it isn’t ideal if your pet has managed to escape a long distance, but it will certainly help you track them down if you see them escaping, for example.
Again, the buyer reviews are somewhat mixed, with some people having issues with the tracking reliability – but the vast majority of people seem to be pleased with the performance that’s on offer without needing to go the whole hog and invest in a full GPS tracker complete with a monthly subscription.
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s a GPS-enabled collar and handheld receiver that doesn’t require any monthly subscription but still gives you a decent way to track a pet if they escape, or if you happen to lose sight of them for any reason on a dog walk. The collar is fully adjustable, and it can range from 12 inches to 24 inches, so it should be able to suit most breeds, and the use of lithium batteries means that it is fully rechargeable and should last for quite some time between charges.
The GPS tracker will give you alerts every few seconds which provide you with a useful real-time monitoring system when you’re tracking your dog, and it’s generally quite reliable for this task if you’ve lost track of them on a dog walk or similar.
Overall, the buyer reviews are somewhat mixed but with a slant to the positive, and if you have your expectations in line with what’s on offer, then there’s a good chance you’ll be pleased with what this device can do for you without requiring a monthly subscription.
Next, we have another small Bluetooth tracker that’s very affordable indeed, and it’ll easily connect with Apple or Android devices to help you track your dog if they become lost. The lightweight, simple design means it’s very easy to attach your dog’s collar without any worries at all, and it should go a long way towards helping track down a lost pet if they do manage to escape for any reason.
Of course, the tracking distance isn’t extraordinary, but it should give you an alert between 15 m and 50 m depending on how you set up the device. In general, the device is best suited for those dog walks in areas where you’re concerned your dog may stray a little too far, and the collar should give you an alert to let you know it’s time to call your dog back to you. While it may not offer all of the same features as the more expensive trackers, for such a low price, it’s certainly worth a closer look.
Finally, we have this well-reviewed pets tracker and activity monitor from Tuokiy, and the lightweight and thin design promise to make it very comfortable for your dog to wear. Additionally, it offers an activity monitor that helps to make sure your dog is getting enough activity based on their breed, age, and weight, and it also comes with a diary that will allow you to record the physical movements of your pet over time.
Furthermore, it features an anti-lost feature that will let you know when your pet has strayed a little too far, so this will help you to keep tabs on your pet when you are taking them outside, which you can use to inform you of when your dog strays a little too far when they’re exploring.
In terms of battery life, it should last for around three months before needing a replacement, and a simple button cell battery is all that’s needed to keep it charged up. The effective tracking distance is around 33 feet, so it may not be suitable for long-range tracking, but it is a nice item to have when you’re walking your dog outdoors.
