Retrievist / Reviews / Dog Collars / Best Dog Activity Trackers and GPS Collars
Best Dog Activity Trackers and GPS Collars
These days, it seems like everyone is tracking their steps and exercise in some way, but what about your dog? Dog GPS collars and activity trackers are basically canine Fitbits, logging the amount of exercise your dog gets and sometimes making recommendations for improved health. What’s more, many can be used to trfack dogs if they wander off on walks or get loose from the yard. We’ve scoured reviews for the very best dog activity trackers, so you don’t have to. You can see our favorites below.
- lightweight
- durable
- Works worldwide
- Excellent battery life
- Easy to use
With this tracker, there's no ongoing monthly fee, so it will cost you less than some other options. This is the ideal choice if you just want to monitor your dog's activity but don't require GPS tracking.
It provides a range of data, including distance traveled, calories burned, and quality of sleep. You can even link it to your own fitness d...
It provides a range of data, including distance traveled, calories burned, and quality of sleep. You can even link it to your own fitness device to improve your health alongside your dog's. It has a 4.3 rating on Amazon from over 1,000 reviews.
This lightweight, waterproof tracker can comfortably keep up with your dog in any terrain.
What Humans Love:The long-lasting battery life, ease of use, and versatility make for an all-around solid activity-tracking choice.
With this tracker, there's no ongoing monthly fee, so it will cost you less than some other options. This is the ideal c...
It provides a range of data, including distance traveled, calories burned, and quality of sleep. You can even link it to your own fitness device to improve your health alongside your dog's. It has a 4.3 rating on Amazon from over 1,000 reviews.
- helps them get home
- can use same collar
- lightweight
- monitoring in real time
- alerts
- tracks activity
This relatively inexpensive tracker hooks onto your dog's current collar and offers live location monitoring via a phone app. You can even set "safe spaces" that will alert you when your dog leaves your backyard — as well as when they return. You can track other neat stats such as active time, rest, and calories burned to keep up with your dog's fitness.
This relatively inexpensive tracker hooks onto your dog's current collar and offers live location monitoring via a phone app. You can even set "safe spaces" that will alert you when your dog leaves your backyard — as well as when they return. You can track other neat stats such as active time, rest, and calories burned to keep up with your dog's fitness.
This relatively inexpensive tracker hooks onto your dog's current collar and offers live location monitoring via a phone...
- Waterproof
- Secure
- Helpful
- Customizable
- full of features
- Smart
The Whistle Go Explore activity tracker has a host of features to help you keep tabs on your dog's exercise and nutrition. It tracks location in real-time and can even monitor behaviors like licking and scratching. The Whistle can be submerged in up to six feet of water and has a battery life that lasts up to 20 days.
This waterproof activity tracker will keep working while dogs swim, and it sends helpful alerts to keep owners informed.
What Humans Love:Reviewers appreciate features like scratch and lick alerts, real-time location tracking, and three-mode night light.
The Whistle Go Explore activity tracker has a host of features to help you keep tabs on your dog's exercise and nutritio...
- Lightweight
- durable
- waterproof
- Can set activity goals
- Simple interface
- designed with vets
This little device is a true activity tracker, collecting data about overall activity, distance traveled, calories burned, and other relevant data. You can track trends over time to improve fitness and notice early signs of health issues before they get serious. What it doesn't do, however, is provide GPS location for your dog.
The app is user...
The app is user-friendly, and the tag is reliable, but the system does have a few niggles.
- Can set activity goals
- Simple interface
- designed with vets
- Lightweight
- durable
- waterproof
This little device is a true activity tracker, collecting data about overall activity, distance traveled, calories burne...
The app is user-friendly, and the tag is reliable, but the system does have a few niggles.
- good for small dogs
- can use current collar
- cellular connection
- large GPS range
Using a built-in SIM card, this GPS tracker connects to cellular networks, giving you accurate information about where your pet is. The rechargeable battery lasts anywhere between 10 and 60 days, depending on how active your pet is, and you can set up notifications if your dog crosses any boundary you set in the app. You'll even get notifications when it's t...
There is a subscription required, but reviewers found that it's easy to hook onto your current collar and gives a pretty precise location.
- cellular connection
- large GPS range
- good for small dogs
- can use current collar
Using a built-in SIM card, this GPS tracker connects to cellular networks, giving you accurate information about where y...
There is a subscription required, but reviewers found that it's easy to hook onto your current collar and gives a pretty precise location.
- light
- small
- inexpensive
- community component
- can ping pets nearby
This small tracker is inexpensive, yet gets the job done. It goes beyond tracking and connects you to other Pawscout users in the area, which allows you to notify others of dangers or a missing pet, discover pet-friendly businesses, and just share cute pictures. In fact, when you mark that your pet is lost in the app, the tag will send alerts to all nearby P...
While it doesn't give you a precise location, it does alert you when your pet is within 300 feet of your phone, which should give you a pretty decent idea of where they are.
- inexpensive
- community component
- can ping pets nearby
- light
- small
This small tracker is inexpensive, yet gets the job done. It goes beyond tracking and connects you to other Pawscout use...
While it doesn't give you a precise location, it does alert you when your pet is within 300 feet of your phone, which should give you a pretty decent idea of where they are.
- good for hunting
- comfortable
- wide GPS range
- water-resistant
- long battery life
For a seriously heavy-duty tracker, this one from Garmin was made for the elements. Water-resistant up to 10 meters and with up to 80 hours of battery life, it's meant for the active hunting dog. There's also an LED light for easy spotting during nighttime and when paired with a compatible Garmin handheld, it can show you where your dog is, up to nine miles ...
It's a great purchase for those who set their dog loose during hunting season as an extra precaution if they don't respond to your recall.
- wide GPS range
- water-resistant
- long battery life
- good for hunting
- comfortable
For a seriously heavy-duty tracker, this one from Garmin was made for the elements. Water-resistant up to 10 meters and ...
It's a great purchase for those who set their dog loose during hunting season as an extra precaution if they don't respond to your recall.
- easy to attach to collar
- lightweight
- waterproof cover
- SIM card
- lifetime warranty
- worldwide coverage
Offering worldwide coverage, this GPS activity tracker is also small and light, making it easy for your dog to wear. It comes with an embedded SIM card and waterproof cover.
The life of its rechargeable battery can last up to five days. Plus, this device comes with a lifetime warranty. You'll need to pay a monthly fee for use, but prepaid plan...
The life of its rechargeable battery can last up to five days. Plus, this device comes with a lifetime warranty. You'll need to pay a monthly fee for use, but prepaid plans are available.
- SIM card
- lifetime warranty
- worldwide coverage
- easy to attach to collar
- lightweight
- waterproof cover
Offering worldwide coverage, this GPS activity tracker is also small and light, making it easy for your dog to wear. It ...
The life of its rechargeable battery can last up to five days. Plus, this device comes with a lifetime warranty. You'll need to pay a monthly fee for use, but prepaid plans are available.
- attaches to current collar
- waterproof
- long battery life
- monitors health and activity levels
- tracks calories burned
This dog tracker provides feedback on your dog's overall health. It can help you monitor calories and sleep, as well as the development of certain health issues or how your dog is responding to a particular treatment.
The battery life can last for up to six months. Notifications will be sent to the free app when your battery needs to be repl...
The battery life can last for up to six months. Notifications will be sent to the free app when your battery needs to be replaced.
It can attach to dog collars that measure up to 1 1/4 inches wide.
It can attach to dog collars that measure up to 1 1/4 inches wide.
What Humans Love:This dog tracker can help you monitor calories and sleep, as well as the development of certain health issues or how your dog is responding to a particular treatment.
This dog tracker provides feedback on your dog's overall health. It can help you monitor calories and sleep, as well as ...
The battery life can last for up to six months. Notifications will be sent to the free app when your battery needs to be replaced.
It can attach to dog collars that measure up to 1 1/4 inches wide.
What Is a Dog Activity Tracker and GPS Collar?
A dog activity tracker is a device that monitors your dog’s movements throughout the day. This may include tracking walks or activity at home, monitoring sleep patterns, and tallying calories burned. It may also give you personalized activity recommendations for your dog, based on factors such as breed, weight, and age. It's fairly common for dog activity trackers to combine GPS location tracking, helping owners find dogs (should they go missing).
Most dog owners would love to spend more time with their pups. Keeping track of daily activity and rewarding good behavior can help ensure happy and healthy dogs. Thanks to technology, no matter where you are, you can do all of those things and more. By incorporating pet-centric technology into your daily routine, you can enrich your dog’s life, improve yourself as an owner, and strengthen the bond between you and your pup. At the end of the day, any information given on your dog's behavior or sleep patterns can provide valuable insights into their health and well-being.
The majority of dog activity trackers are either waterproof or showerproof. Waterproof trackers can withstand being fully submerged in water (if your dog goes for a swim, for instance), whereas showerproof models can withstand rain but not full submersion.
Yes, many dog activity trackers incorporate GPS tracking, so you can keep an eye on your dog's location in real-time. However, not every dog activity tracker has GPS tracking, so it will depend on the individual model.
Generally, you'll need to first download the relevant app, turn on Bluetooth, and then follow the prompts on your phone to sync the tracking tag. However, this can vary between models, so check the instruction manual if you’re unsure.