Do I Need a Location Tag for My Pet?
All products featured in this article were independently selected by our editorial team.
Location tags like the Apple Air Tag or Tile trackers are all the rage right now. They are small devices that attach to your most precious objects and sync with your phone, so you always know where they are. Their convenience and low (or no) monthly subscription costs make them a great option for your pet’s collar, but are they the best option for locating a lost pet?
Should I Add a Location Tag to My Pet’s Collar?
The official answer from manufacturers like Apple is no. Location tags like the Air Tag are specifically designed with inanimate objects in mind. As such, they are created with short ranges (800 feet for the Air Tag), and are designed for stationary objects, not pets on the move. So, if your dog is particularly far away from you, they won’t show up on your locator app.
A verdict from a manufacturer doesn’t mean people don’t do it, and there are pros and cons to attaching a location tag to your pet’s collar. While it is convenient to have your pet’s location available in an app, it does have its limitations. For example, because location trackers like Tile or the Air Tag are designed for one person, they are usually linked to a single account, so only one person can view their location.
What Alternatives Are There to Location Tags for Pets?
Don’t worry, just because these location tags may not be the best option for your pet, doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives available. The technology has been adapted for pets in several different ways, so you aren’t reliant solely on microchipping or GPS collar systems.
Many companies have created pet-specific GPS location tags that will help you find your pet from a longer distance, and while your pet is moving. These typically come with their own tags and apps that you can easily monitor, and location info is easy to share to get friends and family in on the hunt!
What Are the Top GPS Locators for Pets?
With so many GPS and Wi-Fi pet locators on the market, comparing them can be overwhelming. Here are four of our favorite options and their benefits:
Fi Dog Collar
The Fi Smart Dog Collar is specifically designed with pets in mind. It has powerful location technologies, including GPS satellite location from 3 different positioning systems and LTE-M cellular networks, to give you the most accurate location and a long range. This solution is perfect for dogs that are escape artists or long-range users.
The available app not only gives you your dog’s location, but it also works like an activity tracker, so you can keep an eye on how much they’re moving and when. They even offer sleep monitoring technology, so you can learn your pet’s habits and track their health and wellness.
Link Smart Pet Collar
The smart collar tag from Link allows you to connect with your pet and know their location 24/7. This GPS collar comes with the added benefit of being a Bluetooth tracker as well. You can set your Bluetooth beacon for short-range location tracking and know where your pet is in your home. It’s a great way to keep mischievous pets from going into rooms they shouldn’t.
This GPS tracker was designed to help you locate a lost pet, but it has added benefits built in. Not only does it offer exercise tracking, but it even has temperature alerts if your pet’s environment becomes dangerously hot or cold. Use the Link GPS smart collar for locating your pet, tracking their health, and as a positive reinforcement tool while training.
ByteTag
ByteTag redefines pet identification through QR code technology, offering an unlimited and endlessly updatable digital profile on an easy-to-use tag. It also has a GPS tracking feature, which allows you to monitor your pet's location in real-time without the hassle of batteries or charging. And since every ByteTag is designed to last a lifetime, you'll have peace of mind knowing that your pet is always protected.
Whistle Smart Pet Collar
The folks at Whistle took a different approach to developing their smart collar. They provide a health and wellness tracker with GPS location services built in. The Whistle Smart tag for pets will not only keep track of your pet’s location, but also alert you to health issues like scratching or licking, as well as your pet’s exercise, eating and drinking habits, and sleep.
Why You Need a GPS Location Tag for Your Pet
With 11% of dogs and 12% of cats going missing at least once in their lives, GPS tracking collars are another way pet parents can rest easy. Microchipping and pet collar tags with your phone number should be your first step, but they require someone else to not only find your pet, but also contact you. GPS location tags and collars are a great way to know where your pet is at any given moment. With all these additional features, it’s clear that they offer a superior safety service for pets and their owners.