Pet owners who diligently care for their animals may not even have considered investing in a GPS tracker.
It doesn’t immediately come to mind when thinking about what you need to care for your dog or other animals properly. However, a dog GPS tracker can be critical to keeping them safe.
Using a tracker is becoming increasingly popular with dog owners. It is one of the top ways to locate your animal if it runs off or goes missing. It can also prevent your dog from finding dangerous situations.
Purchasing a GPS tracker for your dog can be a small investment that pays off big time if the need arises to use it.
What is a dog GPS tracker?
When you hear the words GPS tracker, you might immediately think about the GPS in your car. That is likely the only GPS you currently use or in your smartphone.
However, that isn’t exactly how a dog GPS tracker works, though the fundamentals are the same.
When you put a GPS tracker on your dog, you can pinpoint their location within a designated radius. That radius depends on the actual tracker you purchase.
Some offer extensive ranges, while others are more limited. You know your dog and how far they can travel on their own. Use that information to help you determine which model is right for you.
So, if your dog ever wanders off or is taken, you can locate it. This can be a critical tool if you have a dog that likes to run off when outside or if you have one of those dogs that is a particularly talented escape artist when harnessed.
Advantages of using a pet tracker
1. Find your dog
This is the most common reason for using a GPS tracker on your dog. If your animal takes off, gets taken, or you lose sight of them, you can quickly locate them.
Most collars that have GPS in them can be used with a variety of different handheld devices. So, you’ll likely be able to use it right with your existing smartphone, which is pretty convenient.
2. Save money
If your dog gets lost, and you don’t have a GPS collar on them, you’ll likely go to great lengths to find him. This includes printing fliers and hanging them around your neighborhood. You might even offer a reward for the person who finds or returns your beloved pet.
That said, a lost pet can cost you a lot of money. Sadly, spending some of that money, say on fliers and materials, doesn’t even come close to guaranteeing you’ll get your dog back. That could be money spent on nothing.
Purchase the collar one time, and you’ll likely never have to spend money on these other tactics.
3. See where your pet is headed
One of the benefits of a GPS is that you can see in which direction your dog is heading. If you see your pet heading somewhere that could land them in trouble, you can stave off danger.
4. Get information in real-time
Dogs can be quick. This is one of the reasons they can escape in the first place. With a dog GPS tracker, you can see where they are and where they are going in real time. There’s no delay. This can be important in saving your animal, given that your dog probably moves quicker than you.
5. Prevent your dog from being adopted
When a stray animal is found, it is usually delivered to the local animal shelter. It’s then traditionally placed up for adoption. This option is scary and sad enough. However, in a lot of instances, the dog can even be slated for euthanasia if there isn’t enough space to house the animal.
If your dog wears a GPS collar when it arrives at the shelter, it will be assumed that it isn’t a stray.
The local animal shelter is far less likely to put an animal down if it is confident its owner is out looking for it. They are also less likely to put the animal up for adoption.
This gives you more time to track your dog down and claim them.