GPS TRACKING COLLAR – TIPS AND BUYING GUIDE

Life with a pet is full of surprises. Whether he is a newborn or older, he will always have so many tricks to play on you. Sometimes he gets into decorating by ransacking your yarn storage, is so cuddly that he won't let you work, and sometimes he wants to play hide and seek. This last point often represents a stressful problem for the owner. He doesn't just hide in the garden, he disappears without warning and you find him miles from your home. Sometimes you can't even find his trace. For man's best friend, the dog, runaways are more and more recurrent. Dogs run away for several reasons. It can be a fault in the training, a difficulty of adaptation, or other possibilities of cause.

In general, this is always a response to a natural instinct. His survival instinct will lead him to run away in search of food if he is undernourished, for example. Like any living being, the dog draws its energy from what it eats. Likewise, he will run away if he does not feel safe. This is especially observed in dogs whose education is not adequate to their character: the master is too strict or mistreats him. Dogs also run away during storms. They can't stand the noise and try to find a more comforting place. The dog may also run away because he lacks affection or activities. Walks, hugs, etc. are very important for animal development.

Single dogs often run away during periods of heat. Female or male both feel the need to satisfy their desire, to respond to their reproductive instinct. To remedy this problem, some owners opt for castration. Thus, non-breeding males no longer face this crisis. An adopted dog might go in search of his old life or his old family.

The reasons differ from animal to animal. The important thing is to define the cause of the repeated runaways in order to adopt the appropriate dog training to remedy it. Note that an animal that disappears is not necessarily on the run. He may have gotten lost along the way or was just looking for company. As soon as you notice the disappearance of your dog, first visit your neighbors who have dogs as well as places familiar to the animal before alerting the animal protection services.

The real danger does not lie in the escape itself but especially in the obstacles that the animal could face. By running away, he could get lost and not find his way, confront dogs more aggressive than him or even be run over by a car. Especially since in France, a dog gets lost every 20 minutes. A dog is not safe from danger even if he is tough and robust.

To find your wandering dogs, advanced technology has GPS tracking or tracking collars, or trackers. Thanks to it, you can locate your pet on your smartphone or tablet. The collar transmits the exact position, or a few details, of your companion. So even if you misplace it, you will find it easily.

This tracking collar works in different ways depending on the need: connected GPS, radio/GPS trackers or beep sound. Each category of owner chooses the device according to well-defined criteria. Especially since a multitude of brands offer this necklace. Each animal will have the collar that will be adapted to it.

Location issues don't just present themselves to individuals. Even professionals deal with it. Finding your pack at the end of the hunting day is not always an easy task. Thanks to these GPS collars, the master will only have to follow the plan and pick up his animals where they are. This device has therefore been specially designed to find your dogs easily, whatever the reason.

FOR WHAT TYPE OF DOG?

PET DOGS

Not every owner has the ability to keep an eye on their dog 24 hours a day. Others prefer to leave free will to their companion. In addition, we cannot always run after the animal on walks, when he wants to have fun with his fellows. In order to make life easier for both parties, the dog and the master, the daily use of the GPS collar is essential.

HUNTING DOG

Hunting dogs move and cover the maximum ground for good result. An owner cannot always keep pace with his companion. This is even more difficult when working with a pack. With a GPS collar, the master can follow the movements of his dogs and easily find them at the end of the session.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRACKING COLLARS

Tracking collars all give the location of the dog, but they do not work in the same way. Types of tracking collars are:

CONNECTED GPS COLLAR

This type of tracking collar works from your phone's GSM network. This means that the coverage area of the device depends on that of your phone. As long as the animal is in this area, you will find it. The range of the device is therefore almost unlimited. The collar will be able to transmit its signal to your smartphone as long as the dog is within the coverage area. Owners who like to travel opt for this type of tracking collar because of this very beneficial option for this purpose.

To take advantage of these features, all you have to do is install the Android or IOS application corresponding to the collar of your choice. It should be noted that you need internet access from your GSM network. As long as you have internet, you can use it from any terminal. Three conditions must be met in order for your gadget to work at its best.

These three conditions are: the GSM network, the connection to the manufacturer's server and the GPS location. The more its conditions are available, the more the localization will be precise. Mostly, a connected GPS collar requires a subscription of 3 to 5 euros per month. Some work with your own SIM card, others are imposed by the brand. Be sure to check your instrument, some only work with at least a 3G network.

The connected GPS collar has several advantages. First, its value for money is quite acceptable. By using it, you won't feel like you got ripped off or spent money on features that don't even exist. Then, the collar is easy to use. You can easily connect it to your smartphone or computer and follow your pooch's movements the same way. The top of the connected GPS collars can have up to 10 days of autonomy.

This is a real record for devices of this kind. In addition to helping you find your dog, the device offers other very useful options: alert by SMS when the animal exceeds a safety zone that you have defined, follow the movement live, i.e. at the very moment it moves, etc. And finally, you can use the necklace for your car, your suitcases and even for your children. So you will be sure to always find them.

That said, the Smart GPS Collar has a few downsides as well. Its use is based on the GSM network. Therefore, good network coverage is required for its proper functioning. If you are in a basement or in a place where there is poor reception of the network, the collar will not work as you would like. Interference will occur.

Then, in addition to the price of the kit, you will have to pay a monthly subscription to be able to use the collar. Not to mention that an additional 5 euros can be added to the bill for the service. And finally, this type of collar has a latency in the transmission of the animal's reaction time. The distance given by the device also lacks precision.

The average price of a connected GPS collar is €220. This may increase or decrease depending on the brand and product features. TR Dog is an excellent brand offering quality GPS collars!

RADIO/GPS TRACKER

Radio/GPS tracker collars work much like walkie talkies. They do not use a GSM network and can reach a range of 15km if the area is clear. As a result, this device does not require a GSM network to operate and is reliable even if the animal is not in a telephone coverage area. This type of device brings together old and new technology.

It works thanks to a radio signal and a GPS. A couple of features that earn it its unparalleled precision. Compared to a connected GPS collar, it is considerably more accurate. The radio / GPS tracker is mainly used by professionals and hunters, because of its precision, its limited range but also its high price. The most efficient of this type of tracker benefit from an ultra-sensitive GPS and a more powerful radio antenna than the others. Hence maximum efficiency.

Radio / GPS trackers have several advantages. First, radio waves allow them to be very precise in the position of the animal. With GPS, you have an address, a precise point, and not a search perimeter. With this device, you can track up to 20 dogs at the same time. In addition, you do not depend on the GSM coverage area. Even if you are in the deepest part of the countryside, you will not have a signal problem. These last two criteria make this type of collar the ideal instrument for hunters. To satisfy you even more, radio / GPS tracker collars can have additional functions such as electrical stimulation, vibration, safety zone, etc. Everything you need to control your dog.

The main disadvantage of the radio/GPS tracker collar is its price. This can reach 1000 €. On the autonomy side, it does not exceed 2 days. Which can be a problem if you don't have a power source when you're hunting for a considerable period of time. Despite the precision of radio waves, they have a limited range. You can therefore only locate your animals if they are in the area covered by the waves.

BEEP TRACKING COLLARS

As the name suggests, you can spot your dogs by this type of collar thanks to the beep sound it emits. The collar makes different sounds when the dog is on or off. For example, the beeps are spaced out when the dog is running and they get faster when the dog stops. Thus, the master can easily recognize that the dog has reached a prey. As a result, the beep tracking collar has been specially designed for hunting dogs, especially pointers. You can recognize the signal by different melodies, beep frequencies and volume. The operating modes and settings available depend on the make and model.

The main advantage of the beeper collar is that you can easily find your dog after a hunting session. All you have to do is listen and as soon as the stop signal activates, you will only have to locate it. So you won't waste time looking for it everywhere, you'll know where to look for it and find it quickly. The device is simple to use. You don't need to make complex settings or repetitive adjustments. Also, the battery life of some collars can last up to 6 months. Hunters can spend a whole season quietly, without having to recharge the battery of the collar. And to top it off, beep collars are mostly waterproof and shockproof. This gives complete freedom to your hunting dog.

As for the disadvantages, it starts with the lack of precise monitoring of the animal. Unlike connected GPS collars or radio / GPS trackers, these are independent. You cannot connect them to your smartphone or to a box to have the precise location of the animal. So you can't follow it visually. However, you can hear it. The collar has an audible range. In the woods, it will be difficult to find the hunting dogs. Although the battery of some collars lasts up to 6 months, others can last only 2 or 3 days.

WHAT CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLAR?

The choice of a GPS and tracking collar must be done carefully. To do this, you must take into account the following criteria:

THE PRICE

Set your budget first. The price of GPS collars can reach 1000 €. In order to stay within your means, check that the cost corresponds.

FONCTIONNALITIES

Some models offer additional functions to make your job easier. Know that the more functions there are, the higher the price will be. Because of this, be careful not to spend on features you won't even use. The GPS collar can be used as an anti-runaway collar. Some devices are equipped with electrostimulation, vibration or beep modes. Others will send you an SMS alert when your pet tries to cross the "safe zone" that you have defined yourself.

“Guarding zones” are defined in relation to dangerous zones such as ravines. The activity tracker allows you to follow all the movements of your animal: route, distance, speed. Some collars even have a real-time tracking system. The trace update time can be adjusted up to 2 seconds.

GPS collars are generally waterproof, and therefore robust. That said, be sure to check that the sturdiness suits your pet. A Chihuahua doesn't need a heavy collar, for example. Finally, available maps and application interface may vary depending on the device. The standards are satisfied with Google-Maps. The others have created their own maps: IGN, TOPO or BirdsEye maps. These do not require an internet connection and you can configure them in advance.

THE ACCURACY OF THE TRACKER / COLLAR

Radio/GPS collars are more accurate due to the combination of old and new technology. Connected GPS collars have less precision but show the area where the animal is.

THE SIZE

Check that the collar is suitable for the size of your dog. There may be special collars for large or small dogs. Make sure that the device does not interfere with the animal, especially if it is a hunting dog.

BATTERY LIFE

The collar is battery operated. Choose the one that suits you best. Also, check that the autonomy of the device corresponds to your needs and your modes of use. If you go hunting for a long time where there is no electricity source, do not opt for a collar with 2 days of autonomy.

THE NETWORK / PORTABILITY

Do you prefer a collar directly connected to your smartphone? If so, those working with a GPS network will suit you. Some brands require a 4G internet connection to operate while others have built-in Wi-Fi. Other models operate by radio waves but require the use of a special box, which could become cumbersome. But thanks to its association with GPS, you can pick up the signal at any time.

TRACKER DATA UPDATE RATE

At what time interval do you need to know the position of your animal? This can vary from 2 to 30 seconds depending on your needs.

THE SCREEN

The position of the animal can be transmitted directly to your smartphone or computer. Some models come directly with a special tablet or device. You choose the one that will be most convenient for you.

THE RANGE OF THE DEVICE

The range generally depends on the network used. If it works by GSM, the range corresponds to the telephone coverage area. If the collar works by radio waves, the range does not exceed 120 km without obstacle.

NUMBER OF DOGS

Basically, a collar is used on a dog. But now, some kits give you the ability to track up to 20 dogs.

WHY USE A GPS SYSTEM?

This state-of-the-art technology gives you peace of mind and saves you stress with your pet. No more stress of not finding it in the garden when you get home or always worrying about where it may be. The GPS system is the ideal device for hunting dogs, wild dogs or runaways. In all three cases, you give him total freedom while keeping your calm, since you are sure to find him.

Thus, you will be able to carry out training remotely and even have the possibility of monitoring it in real time, knowing its movements within a few seconds. You can use the GPS collar as an anti-runaway system or take advantage of the additional features offered on certain models.