If you own a dog, you have probably panicked a few times when you went to check on them and found out they were missing.
Perhaps, they were not anywhere dangerous but the anxiety that comes with not knowing where your beloved pooch is can literally make your heart stop.
What if we told you there was a way for you to know where your dog is at all times? Well, there actually is.
With the best smart dog collars, you can always track your pooch using a handheld device or Smartphone.
Sit back and relax as we take you through the buying process.
Smart Dog Collar: Comparison List
We’d like to dive right into the details that matter the most to you. And here’s a comprehensive list of automated dog collars.
| # | Name | Color | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPS Pet Tracker & Activity Monitor by Whistle | Grey | Check Price |
| 2 | Dog Activity Monitor, Health & Fitness Tracker for Dogs by FitBark | Black | Check Price |
| 3 | Smart Dog Collar with GPS Tracker & Activity Monitor by Link AKC | Leather | Check Price |
| 4 | Dog Tracking Bundle by Garmin Astro | Orange | Check Price |
| 5 | Mini GPS Dog Cat Tracker by BARTUN | – | Check Price |
| 6 | Ultimate Health & Location Tracker for Pets by Whistle | Green | Check Price |
| 7 | 3G GPS Dog Tracker by Tractive | Black | Check Price |
| 8 | Smart Dog Tag, Bluetooth Location Tracking by DOTT | – | Check Price |
| 9 | Dog Cat Pet Smart Tag Activity Tracker by PETBLE | Purple | Check Price |
| 10 | Dog Activity Monitor and Fitness Tracker by PitPat | – | Check Price |
Best Smart Dog Collars
1. Whistle Go Explore Ultimate Health Pet Location Tracker
Do you wish to know your pet’s location or activity while you are away but don’t know how? Then this GPA and Wi-Fi-equipped tracker will help you.
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The tracker shows the dog’s accurate position and the distance it has traveled straight from your phone.
Another health-wise function is to determine the frequency of the dog’s sleeping, scratching, eating, licking and many more.
Product Description
This smart tracker weighs 27.2 grams and works in any place with a 3G AT&T cellular interface.
Don’t stop your dog from swimming since the tracker can withstand 30 minutes of 3 feet deep water use without getting wet.
The device is powered by a battery that lasts for about 7 days although this may vary according to the dog’s motion or the signal strength.
Pros
- Uses GPA and Wi-Fi to track
- Durable and waterproof
- Notifies you of pets activity and location
Cons
- Battery life is quite short (not 7 days as stated)
- Includes regular subscription fees
2. FitBark 2 Black Dog Activity Monitor
Easily track your dog’s movement or health with this FitBark Monitor used by most dog owners.
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The monitor is one of the best smart dog collars bearing no subscription charges thus cost-effective and only connects to the recommended devices by Bluetooth.
Some of the devices include; a health kit, Apple watch, a google fit device, the FitBark station or your smartphone.
Product Description
This monitor weighs 9.07 grams, is toughly built, waterproof and is perfect for use on all dogs.
As pertaining to health, the device monitors the dog’s anxiety level, skin situation, barking and so on.
Similarly, the dog’s activities like distance traveled, sleep score, or calories burned each day will all be shown on the Fit Bark Health Index.
Pros
- Affordable
- Links to many devices
- Offers 24/7 dog tracking
- 6-month long battery life
- Waterproof
Cons
- You might need a base station (Sold separately) to sync to your phone when away
3. Link AKC GPS Tracker Smart Dog Collar
Unlike the above 2 trackers, this Link AKC comes with a collar for attaching the dog monitor.
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This leather made durable collar is naturally curved so as to fit your dog’s neck easily. Importantly, the tracker is not limited to be used on the included collar alone but also many others of the same width and size.
Product Description
This small-sized collar has a collar length of 9.5-14 inches, weighs 4.8 ounces and is available in different sizes.
For effective everyday movement monitoring, the device can be personalized to the dog’s breed, age, or size.
Moreover, the tracker informs you when the dog’s surroundings get too cold or hot and feature a LED light that is remote-controlled for more visibility.
Pros
- Lasts 30 minutes in a 3ft water depth thus highly waterproof
- Has extra safety features
- Tracks dog’s location and motion
- GPS equipped
Cons
- Quite bulky
- Cellular interface may be poor in some areas
4. Garmin Astro T 5/430 Dog Tracking Bundle
This ultra-modern GLONASS and GPS tracker for sporting dogs is capable of tracking about 20 dogs in a range of 9 miles.
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The monitor sends updates after every 2.5 seconds which beats its competitors that are slower. This helps you be aware of the dog’s location and how it’s behaving.
Product Description
The collar bundle measures 2.4 by 6.3 by 1.4 inches, its battery lasts for up to 20 hours when fully charged and weighs 9.6 ounces.
As an after-sale bonus, the tracker is supported by a 1-year free 100k subscription warranty from the Birdseye Satellite Imagery.
The bundle allows you to track the distance the dog has traveled, time taken, or other activities done and has the ability to track in very challenging environments.
Pros
- Displays the dog’s hunt metrics
- Expanded dog tracking capability
- Sends updates quickly
Cons
- Not compatible with smartphones
- Very expensive
5. BARTUN Mini GPS IP67 Waterproof Dog Tracker
Sometimes it is important to keep track of what your cat or dog does while you are away. For that purpose, this GPS equipped tracker will assist you to keep them safe and healthy.
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The tracker kit includes a 2G GSM sim card compatible with other networks in a related range.
Product Description
The silicone collar fits dogs whose neck circumference lies between 13.5 to 20.8 inches hence perfect for either large or small dogs.
This collar’s battery can be easily recharged by USB. Furthermore, the device will always send you a battery low alert.
The virtual fence icon allows you to set the area your dog is supposed to stay in and if it meanders away, you will be alerted via phone.
Pros
- Has a 20.6g lightweight for easy wearing
- Automatic battery low alert
- Monitors the pet’s health and actions
- Waterproof
Cons
- The results may be inconsistent in areas with poor network and low GPS signals
6. Findster Duo+ GPS Pet Tracker
The Findster pet tracker is regarded as the pathfinder GPS monitor that requires no monthly subscription fees or network coverage. This makes the device work efficiently in any given country.
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All credit is attributed to its MAZE technology that allows wireless connection between the 2 modules; one for you and the other one for the dog. That is if the devices are within a 4.8 km radius or up to 3 miles.
Product Description
The modules are small at only 0.5 by 2 by 2 inches, weighs 0.8 oz and are perfect for pets weighing above 80 lbs.
This Duo+ tracker is meant specifically for dog walks or activity and requires no remote monitoring or indoor tracking.
Pros
- No subscription fees
- Covers a wider area
- Waterproof
- Sends instant alerts to your phone
- Easy to use and maintain
Cons
- GPS limits the battery’s life
- The rubber band collar connector is cheaply made
7. Tractive GPS 3G Dog Tracker
By using this Tractive device, you will agree that there is no GPS tracker that matches its excellence.
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In fact, this collar attachment device tracks down your dog through the free Tractive GPS monitoring app or via any browser.
This tracker’s battery takes only 2 hours to charge and can last for about 2-5 days.
Product Description
This clip weighs 1.28 ounces and is offered in 2 sizes in order to fit the dog properly. For a 0.19 inch thick collar, use the device with an (a) and the one with a (b) on the back for a 0.12-inch collar.
Since the device is integrated with a sim card, you will be entitled to subscribe to a service plan.
The device pinpoints the dog’s exact location or exercise and notifies you if it gets out of the assigned area through the virtual fence feature.
Pros
- Works in more than 150 countries
- Gives instant updates after every 2-3 seconds
- IPX7 waterproof
- No range limitation
Cons
- Requires service plan subscription thus expensive to maintain
8. DOTT Bluetooth Location Tracking Smart Dog Tag
This smart dog tag by DOTT only uses Bluetooth to track your dog and doesn’t include any hidden costs.
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The tracker is used by attaching it to the dog’s collar and pairing it up with the DOTTpet app or any iOS devices.
Product Description
The app helps you track your dog’s potty breaks, daily movement, treats and so much more.
And in case your pet gets lost, report this to the app immediately to enable auto-tracking which will endlessly search for the tag’s signal.
After your report is posted, the app will also notify other users in that geographical area to team up in the search.
Pros
- Long battery life of 6-9 months
- No extra costs
- Easy to set up
- Covers a wide area of about 85 standard basketball courts
Cons
- Not equipped with GPS hence must be used within the given range
- Non-automatic manual tracking
9. PETBLE Smart Pet Tag Tracker
Dealing with recurrent subscriptions and issues related to network coverage can be tiresome or more costly.
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That’s why this PETBLE smart tracker uses Bluetooth to record your dog’s health or activity.
The tag features an in-built accelerometer for tracking the pet then syncs the information to the app on your phone.
Product Description
The package contains; a charger, user manual and a tag that can be attached to the dog’s collar through the included silicone ring.
The device weighs 9.07 grams and is ideal for all dogs regardless of the weight, breed, age or height.
Pros
- Assists you to check on the pet’s health
- Compatible with most iOS and Android devices
- Monitors the pet’s activity levels
- Features no extra costs
Cons
- Not capable of tracking the pet’s location
10. PitpatpetPitPat 2 Activity Dog Monitor
Let your dog be a dog whether it means playing in the snow, swimming or diving in the sea because this waterproof monitor is up to the duty.
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As long as your dog is old enough to wear a collar or harness then it is perfect for the PitPat. The tag has a soft Velcro strap that prevents pulling of hair and for added comfort.
Product Description
The device is equipped with a CR2032 replaceable battery that requires no charging and can last up to 1 year or over.
This tracker weighs 18.1 grams and monitors the dog’s resting time, exercise, calories burned or distance among others.
Pros
- Suitable for dogs of all ages
- Helps you observe the dog’s health and activity history
- Features a simple-to-use app
Cons
- Does not monitor your dog’s location
Buying Guide for Smart Dog Collars
Even the best behaved dogs can be unpredictable and will often go after things they see around them. Of course, you do not want to experience the uncertainty that comes with not knowing where your pooch is.
Here are several factors to consider that will help you get the best collar.
Size of Collar
Your pooch or any other person should not be able to notice the GPS in their collar. For this reason, you want it to be as small and compact as possible.
The small size also helps in not weighing your pooch down and having them fatigued.
Battery Life
Most activity collars come with disposable batteries while GPS collars have rechargeable ones. Regardless, you want to get a collar with a decent battery life.
The last thing you want is for the battery to go dead when your pooch is out there not knowing where to start looking for them.
Collar Style
GPS collars, smart collars, and dog pedometers can either be separate or be clipped into your pooch’s collar.
Separate collars are less likely to get lost while the ones for clipping in are great for selecting your dog’s collar.
Price of Collar
Because of the level of technology used in making smart collars, you cannot expect them to be cheap. However, that will not stop unscrupulous manufacturers from introducing substandard, cheap imitations to the market.
You want to have a budget in place that will influence your buying decision. This way, you will be able to strike a balance between price and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions about Smart Dog Collars
We expect questions on this topic and that is why we have addressed a few commonly asked ones below.
Q: What is a smart dog collar?
A: It is a pet wearable that monitors your dog’s activities and tracks their location. With this collar, you get to access all the useful information about your pooch through a phone app.
Q: What is the best smart collar in the market?
A: There is no such thing as the best collar in the market because there are many products from different brands that are impressive.
The features of a collar are what will determine whether a collar is worth the investment or not.
Best Choice
The FitBark 2 Black Dog Activity Monitor is, in our view, the most powerful and effective one out there. Not only is it user-friendly but also boasts a powerful battery. We, therefore, think that it represents good value for money.
Final Thoughts
Smart collars are a relatively new phenomenon so you want to pick from the latest models to ensure that you are getting an updated product.
Use this guide to make your purchasing decision and decrease your chances of making the wrong choice.
