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As canine homeowners, holding our furry pals protected and safe isn’t simply one of the vital essential tasks that we have now, it’s THE most essential. A technique to do this is through the use of a GPS canine collar. These high-tech collars are designed that can assist you maintain observe of your canine’s whereabouts, irrespective of the place they roam.
With so many choices available on the market, although, it may be overwhelming to decide on the proper one to your pet. With that in thoughts, right now we’ll go over the entire finest GPS canine collars out there. We’ll have a look at components like accuracy, worth, ease of use, and flexibility to find out which are literally price your cash.
FYI, this publish contains affiliate hyperlinks. For those who purchase something by means of these hyperlinks, DogVills earns a small fee at no additional value to you.
Greatest GPS Canine Collars of 2023
Whether or not you have got an adventurous pup who likes to wander or simply need some additional peace of thoughts, a GPS canine collar might be a sensible funding. So, let’s dive in and discover a number of the high choices available on the market right now.
1. SpotOn GPS Canine Collar (Greatest Tracker & Fence System Mixed)
SpotOn is my #1 decide for the most effective GPS canine collar for thus many causes. Earlier than we get into them, although, I simply need to share a bit of excellent information with you (particularly in case you’ve thought of SpotOn earlier than however in the end determined in opposition to it due to the worth).
As of three/10/23, the SpotOn GPS Fence is now $1295 as an alternative of $1500. Plus, in case you use the coupon code BARK for $100 off! That brings it all the way down to $1195.
Sure, that’s nonetheless a hefty sum of money. I’m not going to fake that it isn’t. Nevertheless, SpotOn isn’t only a GPS monitoring collar; it’s a whole digital fence system! So it actually has two major capabilities: serving to you discover your misplaced canine AND holding him from getting misplaced within the first place.
High Options and Advantages of the SpotOn GPS Collar
As a monitoring collar, the SpotOn is likely one of the most dependable GPS dog-tracking units. It makes use of 4 satellite tv for pc navigation techniques and patented True Location™ GPS know-how that can assist you pinpoint your canine’s location inside 3 ft of accuracy.
It’s additionally by far one of many best and most versatile digital fence techniques available on the market, permitting you to create and handle as much as 20 distinctive fences starting from a half-acre yard all the best way as much as hundreds of acres. You can even create Residence Zones and Preserve Out Zones (or, as I prefer to name them, “no-go zones.”)
For those who spend quite a lot of time outside along with your canine, particularly happening hikes, SpotOn has a particular Forest Mode that enhances GPS reception in areas with a lot of timber.
One other standout function, particularly when used as an invisible fence system, SpotOn collars have 30 totally different static correction ranges. Most techniques max out at about 15-20 ranges. For those who spend a bit time coaching Fido (the system even comes with coaching movies), you’ll be able to set it to the bottom doable stage.
With a bit extra coaching it’s possible you’ll not even want to show the static on in any respect. The collar points a warning beep when your canine will get too near the boundaries that you just set. If he doesn’t flip again, it vibrates. Solely in any case of that fails does it resort to static correction.
All of that mentioned, in case you’re simply utilizing it as a GPS collar (and don’t plan to create digital fences with it), you don’t actually need to activate the static correction function in any respect.
Drawbacks and downsides
As with something, there are a number of downsides to this collar. The primary is the elephant within the room…the worth. As I mentioned earlier, I do know that even SpotOn’s new lower cost it’s nonetheless a very good chunk of change. I’m not going to attempt to sugarcoat that. I actually do suppose it’s a good worth for what you get, although.
One other downside is the subscription requirement. If you wish to use the entire options that include the collar (together with utilizing it as a monitoring machine), you’ll must subscribe. As you’ll see in case you maintain studying by means of the remainder of this publish, although, this draw back is way from unique to SpotOn. It’s one thing you’ll discover with just about each GPS collar nowadays.
For a extra in-depth have a look at the professionals and cons, read Technobark’s detailed SpotOn collar review here. For those who’re prepared to purchase, make sure that to get it from the official website. I’ve observed an uptick in scammers promoting GPS canine collars on doubtful web sites, particularly in the case of the extra premium choices like SpotOn and Halo (which is subsequent on our listing). Don’t neglect to make use of the SpotOn coupon code BARK at checkout!
2. Halo 2+ GPS Good Collar (Greatest Possibility with Well being Monitoring)
Halo rose to fame again in 2020, largely because of the celeb coach title connected to it (Cesar Milan). Since then, they’ve made quite a lot of tweaks and launched the Halo 2+ mannequin. Whereas I wouldn’t have positioned the unique mannequin anyplace on this listing, the newer model is unquestionably worthy of its second-place point out.
Halo 2+ Options & Benefits
Like SpotOn, Halo is each a monitoring collar and an invisible fence system. Technically, it additionally doubles as (or ought to I say triples as) a coaching system. Nevertheless, DogVills doesn’t endorse utilizing shock collars for coaching functions, so we will’t actually advocate it for that function.
As a GPS collar, the Halo 2+ can observe your canine’s location to inside 10 ft of accuracy. By that, I imply you could anticipate finding your canine the place the app says he’ll be, give or take 10 ft.
The collar additionally comes with a 21-day coaching program created by Cesar Milan. For those who’re not a fan of Milan’s controversial type of canine coaching, although, you don’t have to comply with his program to make use of the collar.
Halo additionally acts as a well being monitor. Whereas Halo isn’t distinctive with this function, it does do it uniquely nicely, if that is smart.
Downsides & Drawbacks
As soon as once more, the worth is the best downside. Whereas the Halo 2+ is available in at about half the price of the SpotOn, it’s nonetheless a very good chunk of change. Nevertheless, like SpotOn, it’s greater than only a monitoring collar since you need to use it as a digital fence.
Together with nice GPS monitoring, it additionally acts as a well being monitor AND an invisible fence. I extremely advocate checking our large review on the Halo 2 dog collar earlier than shopping for it or checking the present worth here (use the official web site solely to keep away from scammers).
Take a look at Technobark’s in-depth Halo 2+ dog collar review for extra particulars.
3. Tractive Canine Collar (Greatest Price range Decide)
Tractive is by far the most cost effective GPS canine collar on this listing at slightly below $50. Don’t fear although, it’s not “low-cost” when it comes to performance. It’s truly fairly a bit powerhouse of a collar! Let’s go over the main options and advantages.
Tractive Canine Collar Options & Benefits
First, let me level out that the Tractive isn’t a collar itself however quite a monitoring machine you could connect to your canine’s present collar. Together with the Fi down there beneath #5, the Tractive is likely one of the lightest canine trackers out there proper now. It weighs nearly 1.2 ounces. It additionally boasts one of many longest battery lives, with a single cost lasting 2-5 days relying on how you employ it.
The monitoring options are extraordinary, particularly when you think about the low worth. Its dwell monitoring mode updates your pet’s location each 2-3 seconds. You’ll be able to view that location on a completely interactive map that permits you to swap from a daily to a hybrid satellite-imagery view. However the coolest half is the augmented actuality map (solely out there within the cellular app when utilizing LIVE monitoring)!
Together with discovering your misplaced canine, you may also use Tractive to see the place your pooch has been previously, because of the historical past function. For those who’ve ever been inquisitive about how briskly your canine runs, Tractive even exhibits you your canine’s velocity.
Tractive additionally doubles as a GPS fence, permitting you to create “protected zones” to your pets with a radius of no less than 164 ft. Nevertheless, it’s not fairly as highly effective an invisible fence because the SpotOn or the Halo.
Tractive is a superb price range decide if you wish to monitor your canine’s well being, too. It tracks Fido’s day by day exercise ranges (together with time spent sleeping), steps taken, energy burned, and distance traveled. All of this will get translated right into a “Wellness Rating.” You’ll be able to even examine your canine’s wellness to different comparable breeds.
Downsides & Drawbacks
Given the low worth level, you may anticipate Tractive to have fairly a number of drawbacks. That’s not the case in any respect, although. I can solely consider two issues that actually stand out as “downsides.”
First, the subscription plan is a bit dear for my part. A “Primary” Plan prices $13 a month as of proper now in case you go month-to-month. You will get that all the way down to $6 a month in case you pay for 2 years upfront, although. The Premium Plan doesn’t have a month-to-month choice. It’s a must to pay for no less than one yr upfront, which is able to run you $108 (once more, as of April 2023).
Second, Tractive WILL NOT perform with out a cell sign. That’s not an enormous downside nowadays given you could even get nice reception in Yellowstone Park. However there are areas of the nation that also have less-than-stellar protection. You’ll be able to plug your deal with in earlier than shopping for to see simply how good the protection is in your space, although.
All in all, Tractive is a superb little GPS tracker for canine. Even with the subscription, it nonetheless is available in at a a lot lower cost level than each different choice on this listing.
4. Garmin Alpha 200i Canine Monitoring System (Greatest for Out of doors Adventures)
For those who keep in mind the times earlier than each smartphone had GPS, likelihood is you’ve heard of Garmin. They had been pioneers within the consumer-grade GPS market, they usually’ve tailored nicely to ever-changing know-how. Their Garmin Alpha 200i Canine Monitoring System is a major instance of that.
A phrase of warning, although, this child isn’t low-cost! At simply over $1100 for the collar and handheld unit, it’s the second-most costly collar on this listing. It’s definitely worth the cash, although, in case you’re on the lookout for one thing that you need to use whilst you’re searching or trekking by means of the wilderness.
Garmin Alpha 200i Options & Benefits
One of many high options of the Garmin Alpha 200i is the truth that you don’t want a smartphone to make use of it. The sturdy and light-weight handheld touchscreen unit tells you all the things it’s good to know. The system makes use of inReach know-how, a Garmin-exclusive that not solely tracks your canine but in addition permits you to ship and obtain messages, ship out an SOS, and immediately share your location to coordinate with emergency companies.
One other neat function is you could observe as much as 20 canine from as much as 9 miles away. Nevertheless, you’ll want collars for each (in different phrases, it doesn’t include 20 collars). The machine measures your canine’s velocity and distance traveled as nicely.
For those who’re a hiker (or simply entering into adventuring outside along with your canine), the Garmin Alpha 200i comes preloaded with 100 totally different US maps.
Downsides & Drawbacks
You’ll want a subscription to entry the entire inReach options, however your buy comes with a 1-year subscription. So, you’ll simply must pay after that preliminary yr ends.
Some customers additionally complain concerning the lack of “dwell buyer assist” when reaching out to Garmin. You’ll see that’s additionally an enormous criticism with the subsequent collar on our listing. On this case, although, I’ve greater expectations for excellent customer support, given the worth.
Drawbacks apart, in case you’re a hiker, hunter, or simply spend quite a lot of time in unfamiliar terrain, the Garmin Alpha 200i isn’t simply probably the greatest GPS canine collars, it’s probably the greatest units to maintain YOU protected as nicely.
5. Fi Good GPS Canine Collar (Greatest Subscription-Primarily based Decide)
Fi’s worth construction makes their GPS canine collar probably the greatest for these on a brilliant tight price range. With most choices, you purchase the collar first, then pay a month-to-month payment for the subscription. With Fi, you get the collar as a part of your subscription.
It sounds complicated, but it surely actually isn’t. Let me run by means of the options, execs and cons first. Then, I’ll rapidly go over the shopping for course of with you.
Fi Options & Benefits
Apart from the pricing construction, the Fi Good Canine Collar has a number of notable options that set it other than the competitors.
First, out of the entire GPS canine collars available on the market right now, Fi’s has the most effective battery life by an extended shot. It lasts a few month on a single cost. It’s additionally lots lighter than collars that mix GPS monitoring and invisible fence techniques.
When it comes to monitoring, the Fi Good collar makes use of each GPS and LTE-M networks. This combo permits you to observe your location inside 7 ft of accuracy. The LTE-M community communicates with the GPS tracker throughout lengthy distances or in low-power conditions. It permits Fi’s collars to achieve as much as about 30% greater than the same old networks can attain.
Fi’s design can also be probably the most trendy out of the entire GPS canine collars. Now, design is normally fairly far down my listing of “most essential options.” I care much more about how a collar works than the way it seems to be, as I’m certain you do. Nonetheless, it’s good to know that you’ve so many choices. For those who don’t love any of the 8 customary colours, you could find a whole lot extra designs by means of the Fi Maker program.
Downsides & Drawbacks
This will likely sound unusual given what I mentioned earlier, however the pricing mannequin can also be one of many greatest drawbacks. You can not simply purchase the collar. You MUST subscribe to their plan to be able to get it. You additionally MUST decide to no less than 6 months.
Nevertheless, you’ll be able to attempt Fi for 30 days. For those who hate it, return it and get your a reimbursement. I extremely advocate that you just do that since you’re 100% locked in as soon as that 30 days is up.
Fi additionally has some very hit-or-miss critiques when it comes to customer support. If it’s good to attain out to them with a query, particularly if that query is about your billing, that might be problematic. Truthfully, you’re going to seek out that’s the case with any of those collars (or any product in any respect, actually), although. Generally, you’ll get tremendous useful customer support reps and different occasions, not a lot.
The way to Order a Fi Collar
- First, head over to Fi and choose your collar. You’ll be able to select from XS to XL and one among 8 totally different colours.
- Subsequent, choose your membership. As you’ll be able to see within the screenshot under, they provide a bunch of various choices for each price range. Longer subscriptions value much less general, in fact. However in case you’re pinching each penny proper now, they do have a month-to-month subscription choice for $19.90 per 30 days.
That’s it! Simply go to checkout and end the ordering course of. It’s truly SUPER easy!
Editor’s Note: Portions of this post originally appeared on Technobark.com, which was recently acquired by DogVills’ parent company, Pawsitivity Pets. If you’d like to check out the full list, read the 10 Best Pet Trackers & GPS Dog Collars over on Technobark.
Final replace on 2023-04-27 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photographs from Amazon Product Promoting API
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