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I love tracking my activity with my Apple Watch. Not only does it hold me accountable to move, but it can also give insights into my health, including calories burned and more. Technology has come a long way for pets now, too.
Our dog can now get in on the activity-tracking fun also (think Fitbit or Apple Watch for dogs). We use it to track his whereabouts, but it’s also fun to see how many steps he’s taking to keep him healthy. There are various options to pick from, but I wanted to share these top-rated options and our personal experiences that helped us make our selections.
| Winner | Runner-Up | Budget | Training |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
| FitBark GPS | Fi Series 3 | Tractive | Halo Collar 4 |
| View on Amazon | Visit Website | Visit Website | |
| Read Review |
What Are Dog Activity Monitors?
Dog activity monitors do just what they sound like they would do: they monitor the activity level — or lack thereof — of your dog. Somewhat similar to Apple Airtags, they can also locate your dog’s position. However, these devices are far more capable than Apple Airtags. You can use them to track when your dog plays, naps, or the number of steps taken in a day. In addition to exercise and sleep patterns, you can even turn on escape alerts or lost dog mode to find your pup if they are lost.
From GPS tracking and fitness monitoring to goal setting and comparing your dog’s mobility to others of the same breed, you are going to be blown away by all the things you can do with a dog fitness tracker. You can also use it to keep tabs on who’s hanging out with your dog when you’re not around.
5 Features To Look For In A Dog Activity Monitor
- GPS to track your dog anywhere, anytime for real-time location tracking (dedicated GPS dog collars also work similarly) in case they get lost
- Bluetooth capabilities to see who’s with your dog at any given time
- Progress trackers to monitor how often your pup is active (compared to similar dogs)
- Messengers and to-do lists to keep all your dog’s caretakers in the loop
- Goal-setting capabilities to proactively help your furry friend live a healthier life
Best Dog Activity Monitor
Now that you know how “Fitbit for dogs” works, I’ll share my top picks for each category. Then, I’ll share some other popular dog activity trackers below and compare them side by side. When looking for the best dog fitness trackers, I considered their popularity, how long they’ve been around, their reputation, customer services, features, customer service, support, and more. I also factored in price, customer reviews, and our team’s personal experiences.
Winner: FitBark GPS Review
View on Amazon | View on FitBark
The bone design of FitBark’s on-collar monitor is cute and smaller than most other monitors. The app performs well, and the pet activity tracker is easy to use. The monitor is strong and durable, so it will survive your dog’s adventures.
It has a long battery life of up to six months, has GPS to help you track your dog’s activity more specifically, and can link to your fitness tracker (Fitbit, Apple, Google). FitBark uses GPS, Verizon/ AT&T/T-Mobile coverage, and WiFi to work — the subscription starts at $5.95 per month (for a three-year commitment).
Key Features
- Tracks: Activity, sleep quality, distance traveled, GPS location, calories burned, overall health, behavior, licking, sleeping, scratching, and weekly wellness reports
- Waterproof up to one meter for 30 minutes (IP67)
- Compare your dog’s activity to other dogs of the same breed
- Share your dog’s activity report with your vet
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free iOS and Android apps
- 2-year limited warranty
Our Personal Experience With FitBark
We have two dogs, but Lily is the one who is always running around the yard and getting into trouble with the wildlife. So, we thought it would be interesting to see how her activity tracks throughout any given day using the FitBark. We have only had it for about a week, but Lily has exceeded her activity goals every day so far, and the well-designed smartphone app keeps us current on her activity and rest for every hour of the day. It is really neat to see how often she plays vs. being mildly active, and it even surprised us to see that one night, she did not sleep so well. An added bonus that we had not anticipated was that when Lily’s activity was pacing below her goal for the day, the app sent a notification to let us know. That motivated us to take both dogs on a walk right away. So, the activity monitor is encouraging its owners as much as its wearer (maybe more so, ha!) to be more active.
– Michelle Schenker, Rescue Dog Parent, Co-Founder of Canine Journal
Price
In-Depth FitBark GPS Review
Read my full review of FitBark to learn more about this tracker’s features, subscription plans, and more.
Video: FitBark Overview
Watch this two-minute video to see how this tiny, comfortable clip can provide endless insights into your furry friend.
Runner-Up: Fi Series 3 Smart Dog Collar Review
Fi Series 3 Smart Collar gets rave reviews from users for its functionality and performance compared to many similar devices. With Fi, you can keep track of different health stats like steps taken, calories burned, and heart rate while also setting daily fitness targets for your furry friend. But Fi goes beyond tracking your dog’s activity; it also monitors their rest periods. You’ll receive notifications about any shifts in your pup’s sleeping and activity habits, providing you with important information about their health. Plus, you can see how your dog’s activity levels stack up against others nearby.
Just as impressive is this collar’s GPS capability. Fi uses GPS and the LTE-M cellular network to provide real-time location updates. You can set up custom safe zones in your yard and get lost-dog-mode escape alerts if your pup goes out of bounds. The collar comes in five sizes to accommodate nearly any breed and is quite lightweight compared to the Halo Collar. Plus, you get a free subscription membership for a year.
Key Features
- Tracks: Activity, sleep quality, distance traveled, calories burned, heart rate, GPS location
- Set fitness goals for your pup
- Built-in GPS
- Waterproof and chew-proof collar
- Nightlight
- Free iOS and Android apps
- One-year warranty
Price
Best Budget-Friendly: Tractive GPS Tracker For Dogs Review
Attach the Tractive to your dog’s collar, and it sends data directly to your smartphone. The tracker collects data 24/7, so you know precisely what your pet is doing. Your dog gets points for their daily activities, and you get notified if your pet is lazy. It also has a built-in GPS so you can track your dog’s whereabouts in a cellular-accessible area.
It tracks ambient temperature so you can see the correlation between the environment and your dog’s behavior. The tracker is waterproof, so your dog can still play in the water. They have recently launched a more robust Activity Tracker, which is custom to your dog’s breed and age and gives your dog a wellness score based on their calories burned, sleep, and more.
A subscription plan is needed and starts at $4.99 per month for a premium plan with a five-year commitment. Unfortunately, it only works on pets who weigh at least nine pounds. The battery recharges in two hours and can last two to five weeks.
Key Features
- Tracks: Activity, sleep, location, distance traveled, location history
- Ability to create virtual fences
- Get notified when your dog’s activity and sleep patterns change
- Connects to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile LTE
- Built-in GPS
- Immersive waterproof up to one meter (IPx8)
- Free iOS and Android apps
- One-year warranty
My Personal Experience with Tractive
Our dog has been using Tractive for years, and we love it! The tracker fits on his harness and lasts for several weeks without a recharge. I get notified (on my Apple watch) when he leaves his “Safe Zone” when on walks and then returns back home. That way, I know if/when my husband is walking him when I’m not home. We don’t use the heatmap or stats that often, but I should really utilize that data more to stay motivated on walks. I’m more concerned about tracking his location via GPS.
Price
In-Depth Review Of Tractive
Check out our full review of Tractive for more details on this system’s features and how it works.
Best For Activity + Training: Halo Collar 4 Review
Halo Collar 4 is an activity tracker and smart fence in one. Backed by the famous dog expert Cesar Millan, this wireless system uses GPS to keep your dog in any pre-defined area and also tracks daily, weekly, and monthly activity. That way, your dog can run freely and get exercise without running away from home.
It comes with a 21-day training program to teach your dog how to adapt to the system (and many other indoor and outdoor training tips) taught by the dog whisperer himself. Halo has a hefty price tag, but if you’re considering upgrading your wireless fencing system, then it might be worth it to have a super high-tech dog collar that can keep track of your dog’s activity.
The Halo Collar 4 has some excellent upgrades to address customer feedback about the original Halo collar specifically. These improvements include a 30-hour battery life, enhanced coverage, lighter and smaller design, adjustable size, better location accuracy, a much more rugged collar with a Pro-case that can withstand chewing and harsh terrain, as well as better cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth performance.
A Halo subscription plan is required to enable data storage for fences, GPS location services, activity tracking, and premium training content from Cesar Millan (depending on the plan you choose). The basic plan starts at around $6 per month and gives you most of what you’ll need for the system to work. But you may want to check out the higher-tiered plans for additional perks.
Key Features
- Tracks: number of walks your dog takes, time spent active vs resting, etc.
- Ability to create up to 20 virtual fences by walking the boundary or via the map in the Halo app
- Customizable feedback to keep your dog in bounds: vibrations, sound, and static
- GPS tracking keeps tabs on your dog’s location, even if he goes beyond your set boundaries
- Encouragement feedback feature to guide your dog back home
- Comes in 5 colors, including high-visibility blaze orange
- For use with dogs 5 months and older
- IP67 waterproof rating
- 1-year warranty
My Personal Experience With Halo Collar
Having tested Halo 2+, 3, and 4, and the Halo Collar 4 has greatly improved GPS tracking accuracy and less delay in where you and your dog are moving on the map. Similar to Tractive, you set up your dog’s “safe zone” and get alerts when they leave. The biggest difference is your dog gets an alert, too. So you’ll need to turn off the alerts when your dog is safely out on walks.
Price
Coupon Code
Our readers save $25 off Halo when you purchase through this link (discount automatically applied).
In-Depth Halo Collar Review
Read our full review of Halo Collar to see our step-by-step personal experience using this GPS collar and wireless fencing system.
Best Dog Activity Tracker Comparison Table
As you can see below, there is a wide range of features to consider in an activity tracker for your dog. Depending on what you are looking for, there is something for every pup. Note that all the trackers in this review have built-in GPS and are waterproof.
| Tracker | Activity | Sleep | Distance | Calories Burned | Virtual Fences + Training | Safe Zones | Plan/Mo* | Battery Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FitBark2 |  | | | | | $5.95 | 3-5 weeks | |
| Fi Series 3 | | | | | | n/a | 3 months | |
| Halo 4 | | | $7.99 | 30 hours | ||||
| SpotOn Gen 2 | | | $7.49 | 25 hours | ||||
| Tractive | | | | | | $5.00 | 2+ weeks | |
| Petcube | | | | | $5.00 | 30 days | ||
| Whistle | | | | | | $6.95 | 20 days |
What About Petcube, SpotOn & Whistle?
Below are other dog activity monitors that we’ve reviewed. Although they didn’t make it into our top categories, one may be a good fit for your pup.
Petcube GPS Tracker Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy | View on Petcube
Petcube, one of the leading interactive dog camera monitoring systems, entered the pet tracking space in the fall of 2024. Their GPS tracker stacks up to the competition with an affordable tracker that has a few extra features, including an LED light and audible buzzer you can control from your smartphone for feedback.
Similar to other devices, it tracks steps and calories burned. You can set up a virtual fence and get alerts when they go outside the safe zone. You can also set daily goals (like Apple Watch) and get vet advice when you need it. Plus, if you have any Petcube cameras, you can bundle the subscription plan under one account.
Key Features
- 24/7 GPS tracking (updated every few seconds) with virtual boundaries
- Tracks activity, steps, favorite routes, calories burned,
- Sends alerts in real-time (additional monthly fee)
- Waterproof
- LED light & buzzer
- Glow-in-the-dark silicone case
- Rechargeable battery lasts up to 30 days (in power save mode)
- Works with most collars
- Share dog’s data with family or friends
- Optional online vet chat and free help
My Personal Experience With Petcube Tracker
I tested the Petcube tracker in exchange for an honest review. The lightweight and neutral tracker blends well with any collar color or design. However, the silicone case was a bit tricky to thread through our dog’s collar, but you can pop the tracker out of the case to charge without having to take the case on and off, which was nice. The tracker charges quickly and the light is bright and clearly lets you know when it’s full. The buzzing and sounds startled our dog, so we don’t use that feature, but the light is a nice feature for walking at night. I get timely alerts when he is out of the boundaries we set with the app. I appreciate the power-saving feature when back in the safe zone to extend the battery life. One cool feature we haven’t had to use yet, thankfully, is the “Lost Pet Mode,” which activates when you leave the power saving mode so you can quickly access the light and sound to find your dog. Overall, we are very impressed with this tracker. Its quality is a terrific value at a low price.
Price
In-Depth Petcube Review
Be sure to read my thorough review of Petcube to learn more about its activity monitor and variety of pet cameras.
SpotOn GPS Fence Review
If you’re looking for a virtual fence and have a bigger yard, SpotOn GPS Fence Gen 2+ Omni edition could be a good fit for you! SpotOn has advanced GPS features, including the ability to set up overlapping virtual fences (it can store unlimited at a time) by walking the boundary or via the map in the SpotOn app (iOS app | Android app). It also includes step-by-step training instructions plus a 30-minute training consultation with a certified SpotOn trainer.
Get instant alerts if your dog leaves the yard and real-time tracking, which automatically updates every 6 seconds (requires their cellular subscription). Subscription plans start at $5.95 with a 2-year commitment. The only downside is it doesn’t keep track of as much activity data as most others. The collar is more for containment purposes than tracking, making it an alternative to an Invisible Fence.
Key Features
- Can create multiple, overlapping wireless fences over 100s of acres
- Rechargeable battery lasts up to 22 hours in containment mode and 14 hours in tracking mode
- SpotOn dog collar comes in 3 adjustable sizes, ranging from 10″ to 26″ neck circumference (extenders are available for larger necks)
- IP-67 waterproof rating
- 1-year limited warranty
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- $50 discount on multi-collar purchases
Price
Coupon
Use coupon code CANINE to get $75 off SpotOn when you purchase via this link.
In-Depth SpotOn GPS Fence Review
Check out our full review of SpotOn GPS Fence for more details on this all-in-one system. You can also watch our firsthand SpotOn video.
Whistle Go Explore Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
The Whistle Go Explore’s sleek and attractive design does three things at once: tracks your dog (or cat)’s GPS location, activity, and pet care history. This clip-on-collar activity monitor tracks rest patterns, allows you to set fitness goals, and gives you easy access from your smartphone at any time via the free app. It even gives you a map of your dog’s steps down to the exact paw up to 3,000 miles away.
However, Whistle’s accuracy and advanced features come at a price. There’s a monthly subscription plan required (starting at $6.95 per month with a two-year commitment), which uses AT&T’s cellular network and is only available in the U.S.
If you were a fan of Tagg, Whistle acquired this product a few years back and has brought much of its technology and data into its current products.
Key Features
- Tracks: Activity, location, sleep quality, distance traveled, calories burned, overall health
- Waterproof for splashes, rain/snow, showers (IPx7)
- Keep track of medications, a food log, or make notes of things you noticed that day
- Nightlight (in the Go Explore version)
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Free iOS and Android apps
- One-year warranty
Price
An Active Dog Is A Happy Dog
Wondering how your dog’s breed activity level compares to others? Check out our activity data analysis from FitBark to see how your dog competes within its breed, geographic area, etc. If you want to enhance your dog’s smart life, you should consider adding a dog camera and smart ID tag. Then, your dog will be the most tech-savvy pup on the block.
