Does your dog have poor recall or high prey drive?
As an owner of Alaskan Klee Kai, I’m cautious about allowing my dogs off leash because they’ve got high prey drive which makes them a flight risk.
Having swapped the city for the countryside, I was eager to find a GPS tracker for dogs that could provide me with peace of mind when on long walks in the fields and hills in my area.
Fortunately, there are a number of companies that offer pet trackers that can also double up as training devices, activity monitors and identity tags.
In this article, we’ll take a look at three of the leading options within the dog tracker market to help British dog owners find the right GPS device for them.
We’ll take a close look at Weenect Dogs 2, Tractive GPS Dog 4 and Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker, examining the functionality of the devices, customers reviews and provide our verdict.
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Best Dog Trackers UK
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker |
|
• 2G Coverage • Temp Monitor • Voice-To-Text | Buy Now | |
| Tractive GPS Dog 4 |
|
• Activity Monitor • Social Sharing • Worldwide Coverage | Buy Now | |
| Weenect Dogs 2 GPS |
|
• Smallest Dog Tracker • Ring & Vibration • Geofence | Buy Now |
What We Looked For In A Dog GPS Tracker
In my search for the right GPS tracker for my Alaskan Klee Kai, I took into account a number of factors. These included:
• Coverage – There’s no point having a GPS tracker for your dogs if the coverage is poor. I selected three companies that have a proven track record in this field, ensuring that you’ll be covered throughout most of the UK.
• Live Tracking – I wanted to have the ability to see where my dogs are in real time in the event they run off after some small prey and their recall training fails. It’s important that I can track my Klee Kai using the device’s app on my smartphone.
• Training – As someone with a breed that is known for having poor recall, I wanted a device that could double as a training device, whether it be through noise, vibration or voice.
• Activity – I love to run with my Alaskan Klee Kai so I wanted to be able to monitor their activity. I was also wanted the ability to learn which of my dogs is more active on a daily basis.
• Subscription – While I was aware that GPS tracker for dogs would require a subscription plan, I didn’t want to pay high fees every month just to track my dogs.
1) Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker
Where To Buy: www.pawfit.com
Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker (Photo: Pawfit)
Who Are Pawfit?
Latsen Technology are the brains behind Pawfit, a smarting pet tracking solution. Their website explains that Pawfit is their first pet care product that the company has taken to market.
Pawfit’s mission is to make the lives of pet parents easier to ensure dogs can live their best lives along with their human companions.
They want to provide dog owners with the comfort of knowing that their dog is healthy and safe. Therefore they’ve created Pawfit to help all pet parents to track the location of their pet as well as their wellbeing and mood.
Main Points
• Real-time Location – Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker provides real-time location tracking so you can keep an eye on your dog at all times. Their website writes that the location updates every 5 seconds in live mode.
• Activity Monitoring – While the primary function of Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker is to monitor your dog’s location, the device has the ability to monitor activity and health. Dog owners can keep track of their dog’s activity trends and set activity goals.
• Alerts – Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker has an alert system that will bring to the attention of dog owners when their four-legged friend leaves pre-defined zones. Additionally, Pawfit provide environmental alerts if their temperature gets too hot or too cold.
• Audio ID Tag – Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker provide an audio ID tag so people can hear your pet’s name as well as desired information. So if you lose your pet or pet tracker, you have a better chance of recovering them.
• Subscription – Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker offer a range of subscription options. You can get a one month at £4.79 a month, 6 months at £3.99 a month and a 12 month plan at £3.59 per month.
What Customers Are Saying
Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars based upon 260 reviews on Amazon UK – 66% of their reviews are five star.
Berry gave the product a glowing five-star review.
I have just rehomed a Terrier who has little to no training and didn’t feel confident even letting him out in my secure garden in case he found a way out. This product has given me confidence that if he escapes either from the garden or out on a walk that I will be able to track him down. Actually catching him once I’ve found him is another issue!!
Paul was delighted with Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker.
Unfortunately our 11 year old cocker spaniel is losing his hearing. He has always been walked in safe places off his lead and enjoys this freedom. We have had recently a couple of incidents where we are unsure where he is and he cannot respond to his whistle or calling. With Pawfit we can accurately determine where he is, and find him rather than the other way around. The ‘fit-bit’ element is also brilliant to gauge how far we walk him in a day. Overall the product does everything that we wish it to do and is programmed to both mine and my wife’s phone.
Dave couldn’t speak highly enough about the Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker.
This is my 4th dog tracker after giving up on previous products one by one. The problems I’ve had with others have been they’re either too big/heavy, lack features, very short battery life, lose GPS signal or not able to secure properly to my dog. I’ve been using this tracker for 2 days now, and while I might be a little premature in saying this – I absolutely love it! It’s very compact and light so my 15kg spaniel doesn’t even know she’s wearing it. The battery life so far seems the best of all I’ve tried. After four 45 minute walks (using live GPS tracking) in 2 days the battery is only down to about 80%.
Price
Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker is priced at £54.99 on Pawfit’s website. Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker offer a range of subscription options. You can get a one month at £4.79 a month, 6 months at £3.99 a month and a 12 month plan at £3.59 per month.
Our readers can save 10% on their Pawfit device when using the discount code ‘BARK10’ at the checkout.
Any Negatives?
While Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker have text-to-speech technology, it does lack the vibration element that some other pet trackers have.
However, the reviews on Amazon were effusive in their praise of Pawfit’s text-to-speech technology, especially for dog owners who have pups that are prone to wandering off or have a high prey drive.
Conclusion
Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker appears to be a good option in the pet tracker market.
If you’re a British dog owner looking to get a pet tracker that can provide live tracking so you can monitor your canine companion at all times, you won’t go wrong with this device.
The Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker allows pet parents to monitor their dog’s daily activity as well as set daily goals for your furry friend (and by default, you!). It’s also waterproof!
I liked the additional inclusion of alerts surrounding your dog’s temperature should it become abnormal.
Don’t forget if you prefer to go with Pawfit, our readers can save 10% when using the discount code ‘BARK10’ at the checkout.
2) Tractive GPS Dog 4
Where To Buy: www.amazon.com
Alaskan Klee Kai wearing the Tractive GPS tracker for dogs (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Who Are Tractive?
Tractive are an Austrian company that have also been operating since 2012.
Their website outlines that their mission is to strengthen the bond between pets and their owners by leveraging technology to ensure a healthier, longer and safe life together.
They look to develop easy-to-use apps to allow dog owners to keep tabs on their pets, providing the most intuitive and reliable application experience.
Tractive can ship their products around the world so they can take care of British dogs and their owners. They provide worldwide tracking and activity monitoring.
Main Points
Alaskan Klee Kai wearing the Tractive GPS tracker for dogs (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
• Live GPS Tracking – Tractive offer live GPS tracking that allows dog parents to get updates every 2-3 seconds.
• Virtual Fence – You can set up a safe space and get notifications every time your canine companion leaves or gets back into an area you’ve marked as safe.
• Activity Monitoring – Tractive offer the added bonus of allowing pet parents to keep track of their dog’s fitness and activity levels. You can also compare how they’re doing compared to other dogs in the neighbourhood.
• Dog-Friendly Design – Their website describes their GPS tracker as comfortable and flexible, fitting onto collars and harnesses. They’ve also got a dog-safe power button so your pup won’t accidentally switch it off.
• Subscription – Tractive offer two different subscription models with different pricing. Their basic subscription plan can be purchased monthly (£6.99), yearly (£54.99 or £4.58 a month) and two years (£3.75 a month). This comes with GPS tracking, unlimited LIVE tracking and activity monitoring. Their premium subscription plan can be purchased yearly (£64.99 or £5.42 a month), two years (£4.17 a month) and five years (£3.33 a month). Premium includes the same as Basic as well as public and family sharing, worldwide coverage, 365 days location history, GPS Data Export and premium customer service.
Our Verdict
Alaskan Klee Kai wearing the Tractive GPS tracker for dogs (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
I was sent a Tractive Dog to test and I opted to use it on my younger Alaskan Klee Kai, who is very active.
The Tractive GPS tracker was easy to set up and sync with the app, you just follow the simple steps provided.
I enjoyed using the app’s interface – allowing me to upload a photo of my dog. Of the apps that I reviewed, I found Tractive’s to be the easiest and most enjoyable to use.
The tracking was detailed and accurate despite living in the British countryside where the coverage can be suspect at times.
What Customers Are Saying
Tractive get 4.4 stars out of 5 based upon over 5,449 reviews on independent review website Trustpilot.
Emily described the product as an absolute must for dog owners.
I say this for several reasons, firstly tracking our german short haired pointers active minutes has been incredibly useful. Previously I would only count walks as his exercise, I hadn’t taken into consideration that when I’m working at home he’s playing with toys or wondering around. This has allowed me to better plan our day so that Quinn gets scheduled rest times. He’s a very challenging dog and we notice his behaviour gets worse when he’s over tired. Secondly we trail run with our dogs and whilst tractive should not be used as a substitute of a leash to prevent your dog running off, its great to have piece of mind that you could track them via GPS.
Jessica underlined the peace of mind that Tractive has provided.
Tractive has given me peace of mind when I leave my dog at home to go to work. Having family come in and out of the house, there’s always risk of her getting out and I’m the only one who can bring her back. The tracker is very accurate and I love that Tractive will give you the path she’s taken and how to get to her when she’s left the virtual fence.
Brian revealed how Tractive has helped with dog-sitting his daughter’s husky.
We have our daughter’s husky from time to time. The Husky loves to get out and run. We have spent many hours out looking for her and worried sick. Having Tractive has been great so far. I wish the battery lasted longer(3-4 days) but that is expected on most devices this size.
Price
Tractive’s website explains that new Brexit-related regulations means Tractive can’t sell their products directly to customers in the UK. However, you can order Tractive GPS Dog 4 on Amazon UK, where it costs £49.99.
Bear in mind that you’ll need to purchase a subscription plan in addition to the initial cost of the Tractive device.
Their basic subscription plan can be purchased monthly (£6.99), yearly (£54.99 / £4.58 a month) and two years (£3.75 a month). This comes with GPS tracking, unlimited LIVE tracking and activity monitoring. Their premium subscription plan can be purchased yearly (£64.99 / £5.42 a month), two years (£4.17 a month) and five years (£3.33 a month). Premium includes the same as Basic as well as public and family sharing, worldwide coverage, 365 days location history, GPS Data Export and premium customer service.
Any Negatives?
Tractive GPS Dog 4 isn’t available to purchase directly from their website due to Brexit rules. Therefore, you’ll have to open an Amazon account if you want to purchase their tracker.
I did notice a lot of reviews on Trustpilot that mentioned the battery life. However, the long-lasting battery is supposed to last for up to five days. I find I need to charge my trackers every 3 days.
Conclusion
Tractive GPS Dog 4 is one of the leading pet trackers on the market given the company’s experience in the market.
They’ve got worldwide location tracking and activity monitoring, including a LIVE mode that updates every 2-3 seconds.
This waterproof GSP tracker for dogs has a virtual fence so dog owners will be notified if your dog leaves your home (or other safe area).
If you do decide to go with Tractive GPS Dog 4, your device will be delivered in plastic-free packaging.
3) Weenect Dogs 2 GPS Tracker
Where To Buy: www.weenect.com
Alaskan Klee Kai wearing the Weenect GPS tracker for dogs (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Who Are Weenect?
Weenect are a French company founded in 2012, bringing eight years of experience to the GPS tracker market. Their website describes Weenect as “experts” in their field and outlines their mission to make your dog’s life safer.
They understand the importance of pets to your family so they’ve designed a series of GPS trackers to ensure pet parents are never separated from their canine companions.
Weenect’s website explains that they use the best GPS technology to allow dog owners to monitor where their furry friends are at all times, while they’re working towards offering intelligent monitoring of the health of dogs and cats.
It’s worth noting that Weenect work with professionals within the animal world, such as vets, to ensure to their GPS tracker meet the needs of dogs and cats all over the world.
Main Points
• World’s Smallest GPS Dog Tracker – The biggest selling point of the Weenect Dogs 2 is arguably the fact that it’s the world’s smallest GPS dog tracker. If you like to take photos of your dog on your walks in countryside, forest or mountains, you can do so while having peace of mind you’ve got a GPS tracker that won’t be an eyesore in your photos.
• Safe Zone – Weenect allow dog owners to create a geofence. This is a safe zone that can be used to prevent your dog escaping. For example, you can set your address as a geofence and if your pup leaves the safe zone, a notification will be sent directly to your phone.
• 99% Coverage Of Europe – Weenect say on their website that their dog tracker works even in most remote areas. They claim their product’s integrated SIM card works all over Europe and covers 99 per cent of the territory. Using a 2g network, their sim cards are multi-country should you take your dog on a road trip through Europe with you.
• Ring & Vibrate Features – Weenect offer a ring and vibrate feature that can be used to help train your dog to return to you when they feel the vibration or hear the ring. Their website says this feature makes the Weenect Dogs 2 a dog training collar as well as a GPS tracker.
.• Multi-pet – If you’ve got more than one dog and you want to use multiple Weenect dog trackers, you can do so using just one account.
• Subscription – Weenect offer monthly (£7.90 per month), one-year prepaid (£5 per month)and two-year prepaid (£3.75 per month) subscriptions.
Our Verdict
I was sent a Weenect Dogs 2 tracker to try on one of my Alaskan Klee Kai. My female Klee Kai is particularly sensitive so I liked the compact size of this GPS pet tracker.
Once I charged it fully, it was easy to use. I downloaded Weenect’s app, created an account and paired the device with the app without any complications.
I followed the simple instructions to activate Weenect Dog 2 and I set up a geofence in my home. It was as simple as entering my postcode and the safe zone was created.
The silicone case was easy to fit onto my dog’s collar and Weenect Dog 2 was indeed waterproof, withstanding the winter weather in the British countryside when we put it to the test.
The app is simple to use but it could do with a more appealing interface.
I was impressed with the ring and vibration feature, which I used to train my dog to come back to me when she heard the sound or felt the vibration.
What Customers Are Saying
At the time of writing, Weenect had an average of 4.1 stars out of 5 from 2,867 reviews on independent review website Trustpilot.
Laura was delighted with her Weenect Dog 2, highlighting how she used it as a GPS tracker and dog training collar.
It arrived quickly (even given Covid 19), packaged smartly and easy to set up. Impressed with the clarity of the tracking. Best bit is that it turns out my dog finds the ring very unnerving so returns to me immediately when he hears it, without any training – so works really well as a recall for cheeky dogs that prefer to chase hares!
Shannon explained why she bought six Weenects for her gang of cats and dogs.
We have SIX Weenects (4 cats/2 dogs), as after much trial and much error from other GPS offerings, we realised that this superb piece of software was the best one on the market… Our two year experience with the Weenect customer services has also proved to be very pleasing due to their efficient, friendly and prompt service. I personally have found the Weenect to be more or less spot on and I love being able to ‘follow’ where my cats are with the live feed. I bring them in at night and all I need to do is to locate them on their Weenect and then go and call them in.
Mike gave Weenect glowing five-star review based upon his successful experience with the collar.
After researching a number of dog trackers I decided to purchase one from Weenect. Their service and responce was fantastic. I used the the tracker on holiday and was really surprised how good it was. All the time I needed to see where my dog was the tracker located him. My dog always returns but thats not to say that one day he might get lost. I now keep the tracker on his collar all the time he is out walking. It is fantastic and recommend this tracker and company to anyone.
Price
Weenect Dogs 2 is available to purchase directly on their website at £49.90 plus the subscription fee. Weenect offer a range of subscription options, ranging from monthly (£7.90 per month), one-year prepaid (£5 per month) and two-year prepaid (£3.75 per month) subscriptions.
Any Negatives?
It’s important to note there are some white zones, which are places where the 2G network is particularly weak. Weenect say on their website that their dog tracker won’t work properly in these white zones, which could potentially include some remote countryside or forests.
However, you can check your phone network before you decide to allow your dog to roam off leash with the Weenect tracker to ensure you have coverage.
Weenect say on their website that their 2G network means it works without any distance limits and GPS is monitored in real time.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a small GPS tracker for dogs that will provide you with peace of mind when you take your dogs out for a walk or even allow them to go up the garden, Weenect represents a good option.
By setting a safe zone, you will be alerted with a notification if your dog leaves the geofence established within the app.
As mentioned above, Weenect Dog 2 can also be used as a dog training collar thanks to their ring and vibrate options. My Alaskan Klee Kai quickly associated the vibration with the command to return to me.
Reasonably priced at £49.90, the Weenect Dog 2 represents good value for dog owners in the UK looking for a GPS dog tracker that can provide coverage in the UK and in Europe.
Anything Else To Consider?
While all the pet trackers in this article promise comprehensive coverage, it’s worth noting that there may be white areas where they struggle to get reception. In some remote forests or hikes, it’s worth checking the reception in the area before you decide to allow your dog to roam off leash.
As you’ll have noticed above, the dog GPS trackers reviewed in this article all require a subscription plan. Prices start from as little as £3.59 per month and range up to £6.99 per month.
Wrapping Up
Alaskan Klee Kai wearing the Tractive GPS tracker for dogs (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
We’ve reached the end of our review of the best dog trackers in the UK.
There’s little to choose between the three leading options in the UK at the moment: Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker, Tractive GPS Dog 4 and Weenect Dogs 2.
Pawfit 2 Pet Tracker has great text-to-voice technology that allows dog owners to program their dog’s name, their address and telephone number in the event your dog goes missing and is found by a stranger.
You can also save 10% off your Pawfit order when you enter ‘BARK10’ at checkout. Just click this link
Tractive GPS Dog 4 have an easy-to-use app that makes monitoring your dog enjoyable and effortless. If you’re competitive like me, you’ll enjoy Tractive’s platform of dog users so you can share your activity with the rest of the community.
I like that Weenect Dogs 2 GPS tracker is the smallest GPS tracker for dogs on the market, especially given my Alaskan Klee Kai are small canines. I found the ring and vibrate buttons useful in terms of recall.
The three trackers have largely the same features with a couple of unique selling points to each device. Your preference will depend on your specific needs.
