Dogs can escape from gardens, cars, and houses, and it is a worry that every dog owner has. It is completely natural to feel anxious about your dog escaping and therefore, every dog owner should invest in a dog tracker. Then if worst case scenario happens, the likelihood of locating the dog is much higher. However, purchasing a tracker can be stressful as the market is oversaturated and can feel overwhelming to pick the right tracker for your dog. It is such an important decision, and we are here to help! Your first thought as a dog owner might have been to use an Apple air tag to track your furry friend. Let me tell you 5 reasons to why you shouldn’t. I am sure it will change your mind!
Apple AirTags are designed for stationary objects
Apple AirTags have increased in popularity over the last few years, from tracking suitcases on flights to finding your house keys. Apple air tags are designed to locate stationary objects and are great at doing so! The air tag functions by connecting to other Apple designed devices which uses Bluetooth to locate an object. This can get particularly tricky when trying to track and locate a running dog.
Apple AirTags only work when near a compatible device
Apple AirTags work great in big cities surrounded by thousands of iPhone users. However, the issue with dogs is they love to escape to fields, rivers, parks, and open spaces where they can run freely, which is very likely there is no Apple product nearby for the air tag to ping on to be able to locate the dog. Even if the AirTag gave a location, it is highly likely by the time you arrive, the dog will have moved onto their next adventure.
Apple AirTags are difficult to secure to dog collars and harnesses
As Apple AirTags are designed to be placed in stationary objects, they are not meant to be applied to dog collars. There is a possibility whilst the dog runs, jumps, rolls, and plays, the AirTag will come lose from the collar. Let’s not even talk about what would happen to the air tag when dogs get the zoomies! There are much more secure options on the market so why take the risk?
Not everyone has an iPhone
An undeniably great feature of the Apple AirTags is the lost mode function. This means when the air tag is put on lost mode, whenever a user nearby scans the air tag, contact information and a message will appear. This sounds great for anxious dog owners; however, a traditional dog tag works just as well and if not even better. There is no guarantee that the person who finds the dog will have an iPhone, or even know how an Apple AirTag works. Whereas, with a traditional dog tag, all the information is readily available.
Even Apple doesn’t recommend air tags for dog trackers!
If the manufacturer of the AirTag doesn’t want customers using it to track dogs, then you should probably listen to them! There is an amplitude of great dog trackers on the market which are 100 times safer and better at tracking and were specifically designed with dogs in mind.
Dog trackers designed for dogs
So, what tracker can I use instead? Below are three trackers that we recommend that will keep your dog safe and why we think that they are great!
Whistle Go Explore
Starting with a tracker from the brand Whistle, which is priced at the higher end of the dog tracker market. This dog tracker is great for giving an exact location for you dog in less than 15 seconds and can go up to 3,000 miles away. The tracker comes paired with an app, which has information personalised to your dog’s activity, health, and nutrition, which can then be emailed to the vet. Another function of this tracker is the feature which sets safe zones, where if your dog wonders outside a specific area then an alert is sent to the owner’s phone. Lastly, this tracker gives access to veterinary assistance, which gives help and guidance on your dog’s health. The tracker is waterproof, has a 20-day battery life and built in light function for when your dog is out in the dark. This tracker does require a subscription at $8.25 a month.
Pawfit GPS Tracker
Next, this tracker is a more affordable price points and still has great features. This tracker gives live updates of the dog’s location every 5 seconds and is waterproof. The tracker has activity monitory features too and owners are notified when a dog leaves their designated safe zone. The special feature of this tracker is the remote voice commands. This enables the owner to be able to speak to the dog when they’re out of earshot. Additionally, if the dog is lost, when the power button is pressed, a message is played which includes information that the dog owner has given. The battery life lasts up to six days and only takes two and a half hours to recharge.
Tractive GPS Tracker
The third tracker is the lowest price and has many benefits. The first is the tracker is waterproof. If you have a dog like mine (Black Labrador) that jumps in every puddle, river, lake, and ocean then you need a waterproof tracker. This tracker also acts similarly to a Fitbit but for your dog! It tracks activity, can set goals and identifies sleep patterns. One of the best functions of this tracker is the ability to set safe zones, where if your dog wonders outside the area then an alert is sent to the owner’s phone. A downside to this tracker is a monthly subscription fee is required, however they do a 30-day free trial where you can see if you like the tracker before committing to the subscription. The batter life lasts around 2-7 days.
If you want to learn more about other dog products, check out our other blog posts, click here!
