Best GPS Dog Collar: Garmin Astro Vs Alpha Vs Trackimo Vs Tractive Vs Halo Vs SpotOn & More

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Want to take your dog hiking with you off-leash? Or do you have a Houdini hound at your home? A Global Positioning System (GPS) dog collar or tracking device could be just what you need. These tech-savvy devices allow you to keep track of your dog’s location and where she’s heading via tracking technology located in a device on their collar. See which GPS dog collars and other solutions we recommend.

At A Glance: Best Dog GPS Trackers & Collars

ValueSmall DogsVirtual FencingNo Monthly FeeTraining
Tractive
Trackimo SpotOn collar and appPetfon2Garmin Alpha 100
TractiveTrackimoSpotOnPetfon2Garmin Alpha
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Benefits Of GPS Collars

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) found in a study that 14% of lost dogs are never located. The best way to find a lost dog is to scour your neighborhood and make sure your dog has an accurate ID tag on her collar.

On the other hand, imagine if you could know the instant your dog roams away and track where she’s heading. The peace of mind is worth it. Also, if you take your dog hiking off-leash, she’s free to explore far away from you without you having to worry about where she is.

GPS Microchip vs Standard Microchip: What’s The Difference?

When you hear the word microchip associated with pets, you typically think of microchips embedded subcutaneously. But there are some significant differences between an internal microchip and a GPS microchip for dogs and how they allow you to keep track of your dog.

GPS Microchip

A GPS chip for dogs is external, usually worn on your dog’s collar. The GPS chip sends a continuous signal to the global satellite system, which allows you to see your dog’s exact location in real-time. Some GPS pet trackers can also feature message alerts and information about your dog’s activity levels and health.

Standard Microchip

A standard microchip for dogs is implanted under your dog’s skin and contains information like the chip ID, breed, owner details, and more. You can’t track your dog’s whereabouts at any given time with a standard microchip. It’s only helpful if someone finds your dog and takes them to a shelter or a vet’s office with a particular scanner to read the chip.

Best GPS Dog Collars And Trackers

There are many variations of GPS dog collars and GPS pet trackers, so we’ve broken down our reviews into categories we think will help you choose the type you need. We chose our top picks based on many factors, including performance reliability, tracking range, battery life, cost, customer support, user reviews, and more.

Best Value: Tractive GPS Tracker For Dogs Review

Tractive GPS Tracker For Dogs and app

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The Tractive GPS Tracker for Dogs combines excellent location accuracy, a reliable signal, and other great features at a nearly unbeatable price. Its live-tracking mode geolocates every 2 to 3 seconds (more often than many other devices) and lets you see where your dog has traveled and where she’s heading.

You can also set up a safe zone via the app and receive a text alert if your dog leaves the area. This waterproof device attaches securely to most collar types and has an LED light to help you locate your furry friend at night. It also monitors your pup’s active and rest times and calories burned.

Like most GPS dog trackers, Tractive’s technology relies on LTE connectivity (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile), so it won’t work in remote areas without a cellular signal. And the LTE functionality requires a monthly service fee. But Tractive works in over 150 countries.

Our Personal Experience

Tractive App Screenshot

“Our dogs love to hike with us, and Tractive is great at telling us where and how many minutes our dogs were active once we connected to a cell signal or WiFi. It even shows their whereabouts visually on a detailed map. If our dog got lost in a populated area that was well served by cell service, this product would be a tremendous help! However, the GPS wouldn’t connect to the app when we didn’t have a cell signal during our mountain hikes, so the tool would prove unhelpful if they got lost during our off-the-grid adventures. And, while it tracks the minutes of activity, the data is less detailed than with traditional activity trackers.”

– Michelle S. Canine Journal
ProsCons
Excellent valueRelies on cell service, so it may not work in remote areas
Easy to set up and activateRequires a monthly service fee
Lightweight device for dogs 9 pounds or moreSome consumers complaints about short battery life
Unlimited range (as long as you have LTE connection)
Receive text alerts if your dog leaves her safe zone
Mobile apps get fantastic reviews
Batteries last 4-7 days, and it fully recharges in 2 hours
30-day money-back guarantee
1-year limited warranty
Users report excellent customer support

Price

Monthly Subscription

required monthly subscription gets you access to your dog’s location and activity.

  • Month to Month Basic: $13/month
  • 1-Year: $8-9/month ($96-$108 billed annually)
  • 2-Years: $6-7/month ($144-$168 billed every 2 years)
  • B-Years (Premium Plan Only): $5/month ($300 billed every 5 years)

Best For Small Dogs: Trackimo Review

Trackimo

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Trackimo is similar to the Tractive GPS Pet Tracker in that it relies on cell service and requires a monthly service fee. But Trackimo is more compact than Tractive, making it an excellent option for smaller dogs.

You’ll end up paying more upfront for Trackimo, but it offers a free year of service, and then you’ll end up paying $5 per month. Since Trackimo relies on cell service, it’s not ideal for remote areas. But if you live in an area with reliable cell service, Trackimo is another excellent option for pets who tend to roam.

ProsCons
Easy setup and activationIt relies on cell service, so it may not work in remote areas
Lightweight and extremely compact deviceYou must pay a $5 monthly service fee (but the first year is free)
Battery life up to 96 hoursSeveral customer complaints that the location tracking isn’t accurate
Receive text or email alerts if your dog leaves her safe zone
Compatible with iOS and Android smartphones
1-year limited warranty

Price

  • Trackimo 4G GPS Tracker + 1 year LTE Subscription: $198.90
  • Trackimo Mini Dog and Cat GPS Tracker+ 1 year LTE Subscription: $239
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Monthly Subscription

required monthly subscription gets you access to the GPS tracker and alerts.

  • $60/year (after the 1st year included with device)

Best GPS Virtual Fencing: SpotOn GPS Fence Review

SpotOn tracker and phone

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SpotOn GPS Fence is another fantastic option if you want a wireless fencing system, GPS tracking, and more. It works much the same way that Halo Collar does with some notable differences. First, it’s much more expensive. But SpotOn allows you to create unlimited overlapping fences (Halo does not). It also has more customizable correction levels than Halo.

The SpotOn system uses data from 25-30 satellites from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou to keep your pup within your set boundaries. Training materials are included, and you also get one-on-one training sessions with one of SpotOn’s certified dog trainers.

While a subscription isn’t mandatory, the system is limited without a plan. While the fences work without a subscription, you must have SpotOn’s AT&T or Verizon cellular coverage service to receive alerts that your dog has left your yard and to be able to track in real-time his whereabouts on your smartphone. You can get a 90-day free trial if you sign up for the one or two-year plan.

Our Personal Experience With SpotOn GPS Fence

We had the opportunity to try SpotOn’s collar with our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in exchange for an honest review. The collar itself was easy to set up, attach the contact points, and adjust the size. After activating the collar and creating an account, you can walk with your dog on a leash to create your virtual fence in real-time. I was impressed at how detailed the fence line was and how accurate the invisible fence lines were.

When getting close to the “edge,” it makes a loud beep. As you get closer to the boundary, there is a two-tone alert. And if you cross the boundary, the collar vibrates. There’s no subscription required for the fence feedback, but if you want GSP tracking that is an additional monthly fee. If you’re looking for a way to contain your dog without a need for wires, this training collar is worth the investment.

– Sadie C., Canine Journal
ProsCons
Can create multiple, overlapping wireless fences over 1,000s of acresExpensive
Easy to set upRequires a minimum of 1/2 acre
Real-time alerts and accurate GPS trackingLikely won’t fit very small or very large dogs (10″-26″ neck sizes)
IP-67 waterproof ratingMust pay a monthly fee for tracking feature to work
Battery life is 14-22 hours depending on the mode you’re using
Mobile apps get good reviews
1-year limited warranty
90-day money-back guarantee
10% discount on multi-collar purchases

Price

SpotOn offers a 90-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty.

Monthly Subscription

An optional subscription get you access to the GPS tracking (without a plan you can only use the device and app as a fence and get alerts if/when they are out of their safe zone). A 1 year or 2 year plan comes with a 90 day free trial.

  • Month to Month: $9.95/month
  • 1-Year: $7.95/month (save 20%)
  • 2-Years: $5.95/month (save 40%)

Coupon

Use coupon code CANINE to get $100 off your SpotOn purchase via this link .

Full SpotOn GPS Fence Review

GPS Honorable Mention: Halo Collar Review

Halo 2

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The Halo 2+ Collar is an all-in-one smart wireless dog fencing system, GPS activity tracker, and remote training collar. Halo uses GPS/GNSS, LTE, Bluetooth, and WiFi technologies to set boundaries, track your dog’s location, and send you escape alerts via the app.

You start by setting up to 20 virtual fences by walking the boundary or via the map in the Halo app. You can customize Halo to keep your dog in-bounds via vibrations, sound, or static pulse, and it comes with dog expert Cesar Millan’s 21-day training program to teach your dog how to adapt to the system.

Since the original collar hit the market in 2020, Halo has made several excellent upgrades to specifically address customer feedback. These include enhanced GPS coverage and better location accuracy, battery life, and other features.

ProsCons
Ability to easily set up 20 customizable virtual wireless fencesExpensive
Uses GPS/GNSS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and LTE technologiesRequires monthly subscription
IP-67 water-resistent ratingNot for very small dogs (minimum neck size is 11″ and minimum weight is 20 lbs)
Battery life averages 21 hours
Covers up to 10 square miles
Apps get generally good reviews
1-year limited warranty
30-day return policy
Customer service and tech support via live Zoom sessions, phone, and email

Price

Monthly Subscription

required monthly subscription gets you access to the GPS tracker, training tools, and activity monitoring. Each plan gives you different features and advanced tracking, feedback, and support.

  • Basic: $4.49/month
  • Silver (recommended): $9.99/month (+ custom support, custom ranges, advanced tracing, instant feedback)
  • Gold: $29.99/month (+ premium training lessons each month, live sessions with trainers)

Coupon Code

Use this link to get $25 off your Halo Collar purchase and unlock a special discount.

Full Review Of Halo 2+ Collar

Best For No Monthly Fee: Petfon2 Pet GPS Tracker Review

Petfon2

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Petfon’s collar device is the only no-monthly fee pet GPS tracker you can use with your smartphone. Petfon combines GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and long-distance wireless technologies (LPWAN) for accurate real-time tracking. Since this technology doesn’t rely on cell service, there’s no monthly fee. Just keep in mind the upfront cost is higher than some other GPS dog collars. But the upside is it works in very remote areas where there’s no cell service.

You can set up safe boundaries and get alerts when your pup goes outside of her zone. And Petfon also features anti-lost radar searching, a pet activity monitor, and a built-in LED light. You can also record voice commands to share with your pup remotely.

The downside is that the tracking range is limited compared to other devices (up to 0.65 miles in dense, urban areas and about 3.5 miles in an open environment). It also has a shorter battery life, ranging from 6-18 hours. Still, many users say it works extremely well for their needs.

ProsCons
No monthly feesLimited range compared to other devices we review here
Excellent for hiking or camping in remote locations without cell serviceShort battery life
Real-time alerts and accurate GPS trackingA bit of a learning curve to set up
Small, lightweight device fits on most collars
Comes with portable charging case
30-day money-back guarantee
1-year limited warranty

Price

Best GPS Dog Training Collar: Garmin Alpha 100 TT System Review

Garmin Alpha 100

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Although ideal for multiple sporting dogs, the Garmin Alpha 100 makes an excellent GPS tracker and training collar for avid hikers, campers, and those living on large, remote farms.

One of Garmin dog trackers’ most prominent selling points? It’s a self-contained GPS unit (that doesn’t rely on cellular service) and has GLONASS reception that performs better in challenging environments.

The waterproof GPS collar transmitter has a sturdy, adjustable steel antenna, which transmits your dog’s position as often as every two and a half seconds to your handheld receiver. The signal is strong enough to track your dog’s status even in heavy tree cover or deep canyons.

The receiver has a three-inch color display, which lets you see your dog’s current location and a trail of her previous path on the map. The Garmin Alpha 100 is feature-rich with an electronic compass, enhanced map drawing capabilities, BirdsEye Satellite Imagery compatibility, and much more.

ProsCons
No need for cell service and no monthly service feesExpensive
Range up to 9 milesNot suitable for small dogs (too large for Beagles)
Rechargeable battery (optional, not included)Challenging learning curve to set up and use
Receiver unit expandable up to 20 dogs (extra collars not included)
Collar is waterproof
Vibration alert if your dog leaves your designated safe zone
Uses rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
1-year limited warranty

Price

How Does Garmin Alpha Work?

Check out Garmin’s video below to see all the great features you get with its Alpha 100 TT system.

Need An Activity Monitor Or Training Collar?

If you’ve found our GPS dog tracker reviews helpful and are interested in learning more about other types of dog collars, be sure to check out our dog activity monitor reviews, smart collar reviews, and our dog training collar reviews.

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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