Dog tracker recommendations please (1 Viewer)

[reckless]

On our recent trip (yay!) our 3-yr old cocker trotted away from us out of sight oblivious to our calls and whistle. Nose in the air, on a mission. First time we've been worried we may lose her. Fortunately someone met her and herded her back to us.
So we've decided to get a tracker and looking for recommendations. Not too pricey nor too heavy and we don't want to pay a monthly subscription.
Thanks, Karen

 

[Ian Bosman]

On our recent trip (yay!) our 3-yr old cocker trotted away from us out of sight oblivious to our calls and whistle. Nose in the air, on a mission. First time we've been worried we may lose her. Fortunately someone met her and herded her back to us.
So we've decided to get a tracker and looking for recommendations. Not too pricey nor too heavy and we don't want to pay a monthly subscription.
Thanks, Karen

Do a Google search for a dog tracker chip?

 

[reckless]

Do a Google search for a dog tracker chip?

Yes lots to choose from. I like to consider personal recommendations if possible.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ian Bosman]

Yes lots to choose from. I like to consider personal recommendations if possible.

All are attached as like a collar, implants are impossible due to the battery, GPS components, size etc

 

[dulvil]

Tractive, been using them for a few years now

 

[AndrewB]

Another vote for Tractive. We lost our dog on a mountain in Scotland and only managed to find her some 15 hours later because she had her Tractive tracker on and fortuitously returned to a summit where there was signal. A couple of points to bear in mind:
1. The battery will only last 4 days at most. I believe there are systems with bigger batteries.
2. It only works where you have network. I believe there are systems which use bluetooth or radio if your dog is close to you.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[AndrewB]

Having reread the OP's question I note that they don't want a subscription which the Tractive does, so it won't suit.

 

[reckless]

Having reread the OP's question I note that they don't want a subscription which the Tractive does, so it won't suit.

I'll take a look anyway, can't put a price on her really

 

[Speve]

I would suggest keeping her on a lead when in areas that you don’t know and save yourself some money

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[AndrewB]

Agreed. Ours now has a harness, is never off the lead (she hates that, poor thing, but it is in her own interest) and has the tracker attached to a separate collar. The tracker is really just a backup in case something like a door being accidently left open lets her out when we aren't watching.

 

[Pjdow]

I spent hours looking and went for a tractive.

I have a 2.5 year old Cocker Spaniel who likes to wonder off exploring on her own.

I have given up with it. On the many occasions I had need to use it there was no signal as I (or she ) was in the woods and there is no signal.

It is now in the cupboard with the rest of the expensive gadgets that are never good as claimed.

 

[Guigsy]

We've got a Tractive on the cat. It's not perfect, but it's better than bluetooth or radio beacon based equivalents.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Downsie]

I had a Tractive for my cocker but stopped using it as it didn’t work in wooded areas where one needs it most. Fine in a wide open field. It also kept dropping signal if I wasn’t holding it in my hand. I’m very interested to hear of successful alternatives.

 

[Wilberforceftw]

I've used pawfit and found it very good. Signal loss at times but it is a mobile signal after all. Some other features such as alarm feature, geo fence (can set perimeter on a map) if they leave you get notified. Happy with mine. If your interested in pawfit I can give a referral code for some free subscription for you and me I think. For info I've had mine for over 12 months.

 

[pandas]

The best type is called a lead!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[reckless]

I would suggest keeping her on a lead when in areas that you don’t know and save yourself some money

We normally do just that. We thought this particular location was suitably secure for her to let off steam tearing between us for her rewards. We were wrong.
If there's a next time, we'll keep a trailing lead on her.

 

[Speve]

We normally do just that. We thought this particular location was suitably secure for her to let off steam tearing between us for her rewards. We were wrong.
If there's a next time, we'll keep a trailing lead on her.

We have had working cockers for 30+ years and not Had one yet that wasn’t prone to disappear on a good scent so if in unfamiliar territory always on a lunge lead. It’s to stressful worrying about them

 

[reckless]

We have had working cockers for 30+ years

Do you want another one?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Wilberforceftw]

Mines a runner hence the tracker. If he gets chance he goes. Its what I get for having a crazy sprocker. Never needed tracker in anger but feel glad it's there for the couple of quid a month

 

[Speve]

Do you want another one?

In a heartbeathowever on a bit of a serious note our lovely Seve has Lymphoma and has be on treatment since Christmas and doing very well but don’t think he will be with us this time next year but we are enjoying him while he is well

 

[Speve]

This Seve after I gave him a trim thanks for hugs

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Phill D]

This Seve after I gave him a trim thanks for hugs

View attachment 500229

dont think he looks too impressed with your handy work...

 

[Speve]

dont think he looks too impressed with your handy work...

No he hates me trimming him but he gets so shaggy I do it about six week intervals

 

[Pjdow]

I thing I am going to give an apple airtag a try.

£29.00 plus a holder

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ridgeway]

Our border lived it to his slogan of "Borders are bolters"...

We put a bell on him, small one that was used for goats. We generally found that he wondered no more than a few hundred metres away and we could find him 90% of the time. The bell was on a clip on collar that we only put on when we went for a walk. He did stray much further about twice a year (as you said on a mission) and on those times a tracker would have been needed, preferably one coded to an Exocet

 

[Guigsy]

I thing I am going to give an apple airtag a try.

£29.00 plus a holder

There are already reports that they work really well in busy urban areas where there are lots of iPhones, but not so much once people aren't continuously inside its limited range.

 

[Guigsy]

Our border lived it to his slogan of "Borders are bolters"...

We put a bell on him, small one that was used for goats. We generally found that he wondered no more than a few hundred metres away and we could find him 90% of the time. The bell was on a clip on collar that we only put on when we went for a walk. He did stray much further about twice a year (as you said on a mission) and on those times a tracker would have been needed, preferably one coded to an Exocet

The Tractive ones can be set to beep and flash (although the flashing is pretty useless). Still depends on it getting a mobile signal though.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheBig1]

One of ours is blind and has managed to get out of the van two or three times now to explore. Twice in the pitch dark on caravan club sites. We send the older dog to go find her and bring her home. Looked into the trackers a few times but the very mixed reviews are a concern. Only good if the signal for the phone sim is strong. We even considered putting a micro type phone in a holder in her harness, which we could set to auto answer to talk to her etc