GPS Tracker Collar

[Steven Raccoon]

I'm looking at gps tracker collars for my dog. I've looked online but would rather have a real animal lover's opinion and/or recommendation. One of my dogs is a sneaky bastard. She will actually crawl behind the bushes surrounding my house until she's out of my sight then zoomies the hell out of there. It's happened 3 times and I'm spending 3 or 4 hours looking for her. And each time I get a call from a local vet telling me that she's in the vet's office (She's microchipped. Get your animals microchipped).
What I've seen online for gps trackers are basically 3 types.
1) Shitty ones with a crappy battery, requiring a monthly subscription or a sim card/phone line from a phone carrier company.
2) decent ones that don't require a subscription or phone line, has an app for your smartphone and doesn't write your dog's entire biography.
3) ludicrously high priced ones that have helicopter blades pop out of the collar and airlift the dog back to you when you press the rescue button on your app.

I'm looking for the 2nd type that is just a gps tracker, has an app, and long battery life. So if any of you have had one or know about one and could give me info about it and whether I should get it or not.
Appreciate it much.

 

[Labraguy5]

I never bought one but did look into them. The thing to remember is they need a data connection to send back your girl's GPS location.
Option 2 relies on a "mesh network" using Bluetooth to send the location back via other users but she would need to be in range (about 30 feet), which might be okay in a city with loads of other users but in reality they're pretty useless.
Option 1 is the best as long as there's 2G/3G/4G service wherever she decides to go, I don't know about over there but here one of the mobile providers have their own pet tracker and the price wasn't that bad. Charging the battery will be a pain but will just take habit before letting her out.
Option 3 I've never heard of, but that sounds pretty awesome I'm guessing blocking her escape route isn't an option.

 

[Octavian]

I've got a smartwatch with GPS that I occasionally put on my dog when we hike just to see how far she walks compared to me, since she zig zags and runs all around. I have to sync it through Bluetooth to see the results, but it's capable of GPS tracking without Bluetooth if I paid for a data plan, which is only $5-10 a month. Maybe look for an inexpensive used smartwatch and sign up for a cheap data plan? Probably cheaper than buying a higher end tracking collar.

 

[Labraguy5]

I've got a smartwatch with GPS that I occasionally put on my dog when we hike just to see how far she walks compared to me, since she zig zags and runs all around. I have to sync it through Bluetooth to see the results, but it's capable of GPS tracking without Bluetooth if I paid for a data plan, which is only $5-10 a month. Maybe look for an inexpensive used smartwatch and sign up for a cheap data plan? Probably cheaper than buying a higher end tracking collar.

The GPS trackers for dogs are not that expensive here, usually about £50 and then you get your own sim card. And most come with bluetooth and a fitness app for your dog, so your phone can tell your dog off for being too lazy

 

[Michioliphant]

Only seen it used on a human couple who each wore one to know the others location.